diver-hloc: "What SG lost is more than one NS man... what SG lost is the sense of fairness, and that anyone that has some skill and personal ambition... could skip/defer his/her national responsibility when they so chooses.... while others with less 'skills', will be expected to do their NS. I'll bet good money if Davis WASN'T going to play for some top EPL club... but instead some other football club in Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand.... Singaporean won't have reacted so strongly as we did. If we minus the fact that he is playing for a top EPL Club... but instead lets said he is going to French and training to be a Street Poet... what would be your reaction ?? And further more... what are the percentage of willing, non-disgruntled teenager that serve NS yearly ?? You mean there us no one else who see NS as 'wasting' 2.5yrs of their live beside Davis ?? No one who wish to continue their education aboard ?? No one who wish to be doing something else... beside NS ?? Therefore... disgruntled or not... he'll have to serve, much like everyone else."
me: But the fact is that he IS PLAYING FOR A EPL CLUB that makes it significant. because, so far in our short history, nobody, not even Fandi have the chance! Life is not fair, some are more talented, some are richer while most others, like me, are just plain normal.
Like if you said that what if he were to be a street poet, then its like comparing apples to durians, as one can go be a street poet anywhere anytime, there are no contracts, no time limit, so he can finish his NS and go wherever the F he want to sing and dance on any street he wants. totally missing the point.
but you agreed that 2.5yrs is a waste of a teenager life. To me, its not a waste of 2.5 years, I enjoyed it and would I like to do something else besides it, yes...I think as much as there are people who thinks its a waste of time, there are as much who thinks otherwise. about studying abroad, one can always do it after NS, I did that and I never miss a single ICT, even when there was once where I was called up twice in one workyear and never requested a deferment. and I was not even an officer. thats my obligation to my country, but that does not prejudiced me to be against Ben Davis' case.
diver-hloc: "And you don't see a problem with that ?? A Singaporean since he is 5yrs old... having passport from 2 other countries when dual citizenship is NOT allow in Singapore... and can use all the benefits, privileges and protection that comes with being a citizen... and yet can 'Leave' when it suits him or his family.... this, my friend, is why some Singaporean distrust non-local born Singaporean... and stereotype them as untrustworthy and is basically here just to make use of our system. Giving real immigrants to our country... a bad name. Therefore NO... he should be treated the same as everyone else... local born or foreign born, you follow our laws and rules if you live here... especially when NS Obligation is written in bold red letters when you applied for PR and/or Citizenship..."
me: Its a true fact that many immigrants are here to make use of our system. and why Singapore government did not demand that they surrender his other passports before giving him citizenship? (anyway, side fact, i am a first generation Singaporean and my parents came here before WWII, I am proud to be born and raise here) but what are "real immigrants"? Even the government put in millions to import sports talents, in a bid to help win medals for Singapore, in the end, the best was olympic silver and they promptly went back to where they came from, taking our tax money along. but our dear Schooling, the sacrifices his family had to make, despite seeing millions given to the FT...btw, I am not sure, but, did Singapore import any male sporting talents? did any of them win anything? did they go NS?
diver-hloc: "Again... if we minus the fact that he is going to play for some Top EPL Club and is going to be a street artist or poet... or even just to experience life fully when young.... are we going to defer everyone ?? I'll admit that I'm NOT a football or even much of a sport fan... therefore who he is playing for meant little to me... so, just by looking at the fact that he is playing for the Club... not for SG. Gaining fame for the Club... not for SG. Earning top $$$$ for himself.... not for SG. Is enough reason for me NOT to support his deferment..."
me: Why do you keep wanting to minus the fact of him playing in EPL? its like asking if Hitler is a good person if minus the fact of the Jews Genocide or if he becomes a painter instead of a dictator! and I have said earlier about being a street poet, so not repeating here. totally missing the point. also, can everyone get a EPL or any of top European leagues' club contract? it definitely not the same as "just to experience life fully when young". even if you are not a football or sports fan, how do you feel when Schooling won the nation's 1st ever Olympic gold medal? Ben Davis maybe playing in a foreign club, but what if he can lead the national team to greater glory because of his eventual exposure and experience gained there?
If he plays in a top European league, he will most definitely be in the national team, and that will have a positive effect, in terms of inspiration and leadership. many top players in Europe's national team don't play in their own national leagues, and they make their name in a top club level before becoming a national player.
and about earning money, well, of cause they keep what they earn. did Fandi share his earnings? Schooling? the FTs who won Olympic silver medal? do you earn money for SG or for yourself?
diver-hloc: "Ambition for Sports achievement must not come before Singaporean sense of Fairness or our National Obligation.... again, if he wasn't playing for a EPL Club... would the average Singaporean still be as emotional about the issue..."
me: what is "Singaporean sense of Fairness or our National Obligation"? heard of white horse? as above-mentioned, what about the FT imports for sport achievements? so it ok for them and not for local boys or non-white horse? and its precisely about playing for EPL, or any of top European leagues, that, in itself is an achievement that none in Asean have done before.
diver-hloc: * As a father myself... I understand and have sympathy for their situation.
* As a Citizen... I expect those who live here, follows the law and rules of the land. Especially when you willingly took up Citizenship.
* As a Local Born Singaporean... Don't you even dare trying to blackmail me or the country because your son have skill. Quit and Migrate the F*** off if you want... but that would be after your Son, who have enjoy all the Benefits/Privilege/Protection as a Citizen, finish his national obligation...
PS... at the beginning of this Story... I have NO objection if MINDEF had approved his deferment, even when I think they shouldn't. But what harden my disagreement and p*sses me off, is when his father, in my mind, trying to blackmail/threaten the Nation with his attitude of simply having his son 'throw' his Citizenship for greener pastures. I would have more respect for Mr Davis if he had told his son to give up his citizenship and never return to SG quietly, away from Media attention... then the stereotyping of 'New-Citizen' as fair weather friends that would move on as soon as they find something better...
* Took me almost an hour during work to write and explain my thoughts... and all these, are just my own opinion. I'm sure someone else will have a difference opinion to mine... and thats alright. This will be my last reply as I have a full time job to do.
me: thanks for your thoughts and since its your last reply, would not expect any replies from you, as you have a full time job, which I guess many here do as well. and I can see that you are most upset by his father trying to threaten/blackmail the country. Don't take it too personally, though I don't know his father, but its probably spoken out of desperation and love. Quietly or not, this issue will be exposed some how, especially if he makes it to be a top footballer and people will lament why did he went away.