Cash Bonuses

A Gesture of Appreciation is slated to be handed out to the NS men (the young and able men of Singapore) in the form of cash bonuses.
Not yet confirmed, but Government is determined to recognise the services and contributions to these poor sorry souls, for spending 2 years of their lives serving the nation and training to be soldiers.

These bonuses are proposed to range between $100 to $200 for NSmen and ex NSmen. Additional bonuses will also be proposed to be handed out t those who have ORDed.

What is it with rewarding NSmen now? Recognising their efforts and contributions to Singapore?

Screw the bonus.
Haven't they been rewarded enough?

In all previous NSS and ERS, these NSboys were already given additional rewards all just because they are serving the nation or once served the nation.

Right, so it is a very noble thing for them.
But haven't you wondered? They were never given a choice.
You don't reward someone for something they do not have a choice in.

These boys are forced to enter National Service for 2 years. If they don't, they'd be charged and fined (amount depends on your fame and occupation after you siam NS)
The remaining bunch of boys are forced into it. Nobody asked them if they want to opt out of NS, nobody asked them if they are willing participants.
It is simply a mandatory waste of their 2 years training for something perpetually impossible. Defending ourselves against the great many other supernations.

I've said this before, and I will say it again.
It only takes a nuclear bomb to annihilate Singapore.
Just one.
It doesn't matter if the men in Singapore are operationally ready. You can't defend us, with these boys or those machines.
You can only defend by fostering good relationships with the rest of the world.
That is, you suck up to the rest of the world. Simply because we are at mercy to the rest of the world really.

Why waste resources appreciating those poor boys, when they do not have a choice? You will not make them feel any much better. Handing out a pathetic bonus of $100 to $200 to those NSboys and ex NSboys won't make the 2 years spent in army sweeter. Nor will they feel more motivated to fight for their country.
Let's face it.
The Singapore population is oh-so-small.
And how many guys are there are willing to lay their lives down for the country in times of war? The figures, I reckon are definitely less than that of what you see in Hollywood war flicks.
It's not for Honour and Glory when it comes to the real thing.
Yeap, it's easy to say.. how much you would fight for the country, be a hero.
Heroes, are foolish people.
Really.

Ain't our NSboys rewarded and appreciated enough?

You have a place waiting for you in Universities (for most of the A level boys), you easily find a job that generally pays more than females (just because you served the nation). You have a ready topic to break the ice with other fellow men you meet at any possible event. At weddings/baby shower/company functions/dinners/press release/business meetings, when 2 men come together. They somehow at some point of time would bring up their NS history. And it becomes a ready topic anytime anywhere.

Did I also mention the NSboys already receive more NSS and ERS than the rest of us, all because they served the army?
Excuse me.
But I don't get the point here.
Why should they be getting more than the rest of us?

Are they living a separate life?
Even then, this coming round of proposed Gesture of Appreciation, is it still necessary? Haven't they had enough?
Nobody appreciates us women.

The ones who are usually at the receiving end of endless whines and complaints.
Nobody appreciates the mothers who have to worry for the safety of their sons, who washes their dirty (and seriously gross) looking uniforms. Nobody appreciates the ones who help ensure these boys are well taken care off during weekends when they finally get to book out and be with the rest of the civilisation again.
Nobody appreciates the girlfriends of these NSboys, who have to put up with their long periods away, tired weekends, endless whines and complaints, ugly haircut, smoking which they pick up in camp, yelling vulgarities in a moment of anger etc. Nobody appreciates those girls, who innocently hang out in clubs, but are annoyingly disturbed by these NSboys, who once are let out, cannot help but be horny.

Everybody is focused on appreciating the NSboys.
Who appreciates us? The ones who have to put up with the NSboys?

Why don't the Government hand me $200 to show your appreciation to me, for having to put up with a whiny sissy who cannot stop complaining about how NS was a waste of his time, how he suffered and was tortured in NS. $200 will definitely make listening to those army stories over and over again (each time with different intensity) much easier. That money will also make me feel better everytime he has to go off for reservist.. and comes back with more stories of the terrors he went through.

Why is it, nobody thought of appreciating me?