Comments on: Wearing Red http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/ a place to reveal | a place to hide Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:13:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: steelwool http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/comment-page-1/#comment-16724 steelwool Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:28:49 +0000 http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/#comment-16724 i would think that the 'adulthood' of the nation is indicated by the maturity of its citizens. from the array for comments being commented in this thread, it seems like we're not all there yet, but its a start nonetheless. i would think that the ‘adulthood’ of the nation is indicated by the maturity of its citizens. from the array for comments being commented in this thread, it seems like we’re not all there yet, but its a start nonetheless.

]]> By: acroamatic http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/comment-page-1/#comment-16721 acroamatic Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:47:24 +0000 http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/#comment-16721 Frantz Fanon. I had to read some of his work while I was in Uni. But I can't remember what it was! =P What jumps out at me from that quote is "adult nation". Are we an adult nation? What <em>is</em> an adult nation? Frantz Fanon. I had to read some of his work while I was in Uni. But I can’t remember what it was! =P

What jumps out at me from that quote is “adult nation”. Are we an adult nation? What is an adult nation?

]]> By: steelwool http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/comment-page-1/#comment-16719 steelwool Mon, 13 Aug 2007 11:36:00 +0000 http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/#comment-16719 Just highlighted from my readings,"The soldier of an adult nation is not a simple mercenary but a citizen who by means of arms defends his nation. That is why it is of fundamental importance that the soldier should know that he is in the service of his country and not in the service of his commanding officer, however great that officer's prestige may be." Fanon, Frantz. "The Pitfalls of National Conciousness" in The Wretched of the Earth. Hammonsworth: Penguin, 1970, 164 I suppose "commanding officer" can be substituted for "political party." Just highlighted from my readings,”The soldier of an adult nation is not a simple mercenary but a citizen who by means of arms defends his nation. That is why it is of fundamental importance that the soldier should know that he is in the service of his country and not in the service of his commanding officer, however great that officer’s prestige may be.”

Fanon, Frantz. “The Pitfalls of National Conciousness” in The Wretched of the Earth. Hammonsworth: Penguin, 1970, 164

I suppose “commanding officer” can be substituted for “political party.”

]]> By: acroamatic http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/comment-page-1/#comment-16714 acroamatic Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:08:33 +0000 http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/#comment-16714 My goodness, it took me quite a while to just skim through all those comments. A very wide range of feelings and issues were brought up. Frankly, I am not surprised. In the popular imagination of many Singaporeans, the nation and ruling party are one and the same thing. It was quite obvious from <a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.com/2006/09/duty-honour-country.html#comment-115817014059901720" rel="nofollow">one of the comments</a>: <em>Just becos u r born in s'pore, doesn't mean u have to be loyal to s'pore. If war starts, i'll NOT put my life in danger for s'pore. PAP doesn't give a shit abt u, so why should u defend those bloodsuckers in wartime?</em> I'm not sure how that perception can be countered. No doubt many people feel disenfranchised politically (and increasingly economically). But how much of it is hot air? So many people claim they will leave the country if war comes. Why not leave now? If they hate this place that much, they'll find a way. And if war comes, it might come swiftly and suddenly. What are they going to do then? If it builds up over a long time, when is the point-of-no-return that they decide to leave? If I have to fight, I'll be doing it with thoughts of my family and friends. I certainly won't be charging towards the enemy thinking that I'm "defending those bloodsuckers". My goodness, it took me quite a while to just skim through all those comments. A very wide range of feelings and issues were brought up. Frankly, I am not surprised. In the popular imagination of many Singaporeans, the nation and ruling party are one and the same thing.

It was quite obvious from one of the comments:
Just becos u r born in s’pore, doesn’t mean u have to be loyal to s’pore. If war starts, i’ll NOT put my life in danger for s’pore. PAP doesn’t give a shit abt u, so why should u defend those bloodsuckers in wartime?

I’m not sure how that perception can be countered. No doubt many people feel disenfranchised politically (and increasingly economically). But how much of it is hot air? So many people claim they will leave the country if war comes.

Why not leave now? If they hate this place that much, they’ll find a way.

And if war comes, it might come swiftly and suddenly. What are they going to do then?

If it builds up over a long time, when is the point-of-no-return that they decide to leave?

If I have to fight, I’ll be doing it with thoughts of my family and friends. I certainly won’t be charging towards the enemy thinking that I’m “defending those bloodsuckers”.

]]> By: Lam Chun See http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/comment-page-1/#comment-16711 Lam Chun See Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:33:49 +0000 http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/#comment-16711 When I blogged in support of NS (<a href="http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.com/2006/09/duty-honour-country.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, I got so much flak from young people who equate serving NS with serving PAP govt. When I blogged in support of NS (here, I got so much flak from young people who equate serving NS with serving PAP govt.

]]> By: acroamatic http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/comment-page-1/#comment-16698 acroamatic Sat, 11 Aug 2007 16:15:58 +0000 http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/#comment-16698 Speaking of wearing red, our teams are playing tomorrow. Not that I think United won't do well this season but after what happened earlier, I should adopt Sunderland as my 2nd team. Wonder how Arsenal will do without Henry... Speaking of wearing red, our teams are playing tomorrow. Not that I think United won’t do well this season but after what happened earlier, I should adopt Sunderland as my 2nd team. Wonder how Arsenal will do without Henry…

]]> By: vantan http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/comment-page-1/#comment-16697 vantan Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:32:25 +0000 http://deadpoetscave.com/2007/08/wearing-red/#comment-16697 Agreed. There is a difference between supporting one's country and a political party. It is NATIONAL day we're celebrating, not 'political party' day. Wearing red and white was also not mandatory at my workplace, but many of us turned up for the observance ceremony in the colours, and had a great time. Agreed. There is a difference between supporting one’s country and a political party. It is NATIONAL day we’re celebrating, not ‘political party’ day.

Wearing red and white was also not mandatory at my workplace, but many of us turned up for the observance ceremony in the colours, and had a great time.

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