I got a call from the Navy HQ today. An admin staff wanted to hand-deliver a service medal, a coat-of-arms pin, a commemorative watch, and a certificate of appreciation that says… ‘In recognition of your contribution towards national defence through the faithful discharge of your National Service duties* for the security of our nation.’ When I met her at my neighbourhood subway station control, I smiled and asked ‘Wow! Thanks, but how come there’s personal delivery service?’ She replied that there’s no choice (‘bopian’) but to do so, because many NS personnel did not turn up to attend the ceremony for receiving the stuff. As the watch costs a bit, she had to make sure the package is signed for. [*National Service in my time involved 2.5 years of full-time military training plus 10-13 one to two week long annual re-trainings. Turned out I only had to attend 7 of these.]
I remember receiving the call some months ago, inviting me to attend the ceremony. I semi-patronisingly replied that I’ll get back on whether I’ll turn up, after which I conveniently forgot to. (Sigh… Bad karma!) When I got the package today, I wondered why I lacked the enthusiasm to get what I lawfully deserve. The truth is, I do believe in defence, and am happy I did my share in NS, in having completed the series of In-Camp Trainings, but the repetitive nature of the trainings is quite samsarically cyclic. As much as they were necessary, I’m glad they’re over. However, I never expected any reward for NS because I saw it as part of the collective karmic obligation of being reborn a guy here! That’s probably why the award stuff wasn’t enticing. We are karmically responsible for the peace we enjoy. Of course, the gals have better karma – which is why they don’t need to serve NS, while they enjoy the peace!
Once, an officer asked me while I was doing lookout duty at sea – ‘Sng! (my surname in Teochew) You’re Buddhist right? What will you do if we go to war?’ Was he assuming that peace-loving non-violent Buddhists might run away (AWOL)? I grinned and replied, ‘Singapore will never attack right? Defence is okay (since it is to prevent more killing).’ He was satisfied with the answer. On hindsight, reality is much more complex. Sometimes, in warfare, a ‘good’ offence is considered the best defence. The differences between offence and defence then become blurred. When is fighting righteous and when is it rationalised wrongly? To go to war or not becomes a tough koan that involves the lives and deaths of many. Do we simply trust our commanding officers? Wouldn’t that be blind and dogmatic? But how else should we know what should be done or not? Hard questions, that I hope no one ever has to answer… though there already are other countries elsewhere at war. May peace reign everywhere for all.
Are you, by any chance, with TDS in Tuas?
You did your part, don’t think about it anymore. When the time comes, we’ll have an answer =)
btw, is that girl pretty?
Yes, I was from TDS (Tuas Defence Squadron) – posted onboard a PV (Patrol Vessel).
Is my part totally done yet? Dunno! Still liable to be recalled as am now placed in the reserves for times of emergency (though no more ICT).
To answer the last question, er…. it’s kinda beside the point? Tough job delivering all over the island I think 8/