Tue 19 Sep 2006
(Seoul, Korea) Army kids watches as life passes them by
A person whom I know spent the last half a year (edit: its actually 18 months) in limbo hiding out in a foreign country. He was waiting for his asylum application to be processed as he was on the run from the Singaporean army, which he had served for months as a conscript before realizing that humanity should not be subjected to such indignity. During military service, he considered committing suicide and was placed in a mental institute (where conditions are truly appalling).
At first, the country was reluctant to process his application as they did not understand the sacrifice involved in subscribing oneself to a system that stood in utter disdain for freedom of action and mind. That person faced being deported back and spending years in military prison for his action, and I can almost imagine the fear and depression that he must faced in such a situation.
However, I am glad to hear that his asylum application on grounds of conscientious objection to forced military service has been approved. I am happy for him and glad that he is able to move on with his life. I served two years and two months in the military despite my strong personal objections against the lack of community service options for conscientious objectors. Those two years and two months made me happy to hear that someone else who did not fit into the rigid and inequitable structure of the Singaporean military is able to escape it. And to be able to take such risks is truly admirable. I wish the person the best in his future.
I am not against the military. I am also not entirely against conscription. However, I feel that existing terms can be significantly shortened, existing conditions drastically improved and options for conscientious objectors implemented. Those who did not conscientiously object, who did not value their freedom and individuality to similar extents, cannot understand the pain of forced conscription to the person whom I knew.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:34 pm
I, for one, do not believe that the conditions associated with military service in Singapore are all that bad (having survived BMT, SISPEC, Jurong, AETC and Sungei Gedong). Whilst the principle of conscription does fundamentally infringe on the absolute freedom of action and thought, one must always balance that perspective with the particular necessity of having a conscript army in our specific geopolitical circumstances.
My opinion on individuals who are ‘conscientious objectors’ to military service on the grounds of mental anguish or the like is that, on the basis of my own yardsticks, these are individuals who do not possess the requisite mental strength to survive in life with all its ups and downs. The question that should be asked is how we can help them develop that strength rather than applaud their efforts in escapism altogether.
True. I probably cannot understand the pain of forced conscription to this particular category of individuals. However, stretching that argument to its logical end, no one individual can truly understand the pain / suffering / joy / happiness / any emotion of another individual since no two individuals are the same in terms of their fundamental beliefs, ideas, priorities and thoughts. Using this yardstick as a measure of policy changes is fundamentally flawed.
September 19th, 2006 at 11:45 pm
i believe that “conscientious objectors” such as said friend are allowed to take non-combat positions, such as clerical work etc.
while i can see how some could see this as a waste of time, i cannot admire a guy who makes a big hoo ha to escape what many of his peers go through, for the sake of their country. not just in singapore but israel and a few other small nations also.
in a word: whiner
September 20th, 2006 at 12:20 am
The first 2 responses are exactly the reason why your friend did the right thing.
September 20th, 2006 at 12:27 am
I actually was on the run for 18 months and 16 days, as opposed to half a year.
Now that this is over, I can finally express myself freely. Conscientious objection as understood by most Westerners is almost always a religious idea. It is not readily associated with civil liberties. When I had my hearing, the presiding board member, who determines claims, seems not to understand the meaning of conscientious objection. Up until the point when I received my positive decision, it was rather much that the whole of Canada was biased against me. I had my character and intentions impugned by the Refugee Officer and the Immigration Officer, and even by the bank teller. It was not pleasant. Conscientious objection is a new and recondite right and more has to be done by authorities and civil elements to explore and understand that right.
On another note, I have to agree with you that conscription is useful. In fact, it is extremely beneficial for society. When I write “conscription”, I actually mean more of a labour liability, rather than a military liability. Conscription for social purposes provides a forced civil labour that is independent of uncontrollable market forces, and that allows the cost-effective and efficient operation of a nation’s social and infrastructure industry responsibility. In an increasingly fractious world, market forces have ceased to be predictable, central and independent of foreign influence, thus unbalancing the labour market. Conscription for the military allows for international political credibility, while conscription for the police allows for national political credibility, stability and general security. Conscription also allows for the training of the mind, such that immaturity, sloth and anti-social mentalities and proclivities will be removed or reduced from society. The effect of conscription is that philosophy of any nature can be drilled into the mind of the conscript, thus allowing for great potential in thinking and behaviour modification. The onus of responsibility of proper “education” thus lies on the authorities to facilitate good morals or social ideals being indoctrinated. The potential of conscription, when in its myriad of manifestations, prove to be immense and extremely beneficial for society.
September 20th, 2006 at 12:44 am
anyway.. i just read the first 2 comments.. really brings back memories! wow.. the use of such terms like “specific geopolitical circumstances”.. where did u learn that from? did they teach u that in school? u cant talk about balance in such a pedantic n cavalier way. some things just cannot be infringed, like the rights of a conscientious objector. if u can just reflect for a bit, u should note that u have a very intolerant mentality n its very likely induced by conscription itself! giving rise to the “i did it u didnt u r a loser im strong!” come now. u didnt do anything. u just followed orders! like the soldiers in bangkok now pulling off the coup! u have nothing in ur intellectual n human capacity to be proud of, apart from ur peerless competence in blind obedience, up to the point of repeating “specific geopolitical circumstances” that is very much some sophists invention. escapism is nothing really to be proud of. its something to be relieved about actually. im not proud i escaped the system. im just relieved i did it, n im just relieved the human rights system of free nations work, n that i can be a reference to other conscientious objectors in the world who r in my shoes, who dont need to be part of the statistic like the korean system, in which there is approximately 1 suicide/month.
and for mr. new idea, i understand if i dont win ur admiration. but u must understand that the same sentiment is reflected. n in country, do u actually mean society or do u mean the government? well.. i didnt know i whined, but ur words just show how mature u r, n i presume uve been through ns.
September 20th, 2006 at 1:32 am
Following orders while not particularly appreciating the circumstances (nor the person (s) giving those orders) requires mental fortitude that I do not expect you to appreciate. These are the realities of the world - both in the public service, in the corporate world, or in any organization with a hierarchy (human rights CSOs included).
I am in no way suggesting that “i did it u didnt u r a loser im strong!” I am suggesting that, in line with my last paragraph, escapism (in any circumstance) is hardly a reflection of mental strength and that there is a perhaps a more important question that needs to be asked in light of this rather than merely applauding the act.
Why can’t the rights of a conscientious objector be infringed? I do not see you offering a justification for this particular argument that is central to your beliefs. Human history, from the model Athenian city-state to modern America, has demonstrated that the concept of rights has been infringed at every level when the powers-to-be deems the circumstances necessary. These actions certainly exist, even in the supposed bastions of human liberty.
Re: specific geopolitical circumstance
Admittedly, I did learn the the principles behind the phrase in school. Unfortunately, it was not in Singapore given that I was hardly the most attentive child. In fact, it was at one of the tertiary institutions in one of your preferred ‘free nations’ that taught me those concepts, grounded primarily in the study of international relations, history and international law.
Finally, I admit (as I did in my previous comment) that I find it hard to empathise with your particular circumstance. However, I have also pointed out the flaw in attempting to establish policy based on individual yardsticks.
I hope you are able to reply in a calm and rational manner as opposed to the emotional lashout that seem to frame the last response. I’s like to believe that I have something to be proud of in terms of my intellectual and human capacity, thank you. =)
September 20th, 2006 at 1:36 am
Kristian,
Do elaborate on your comment. =)
September 20th, 2006 at 1:36 am
I am sure I speak for all singaporeans male that if given the choice, none of us would have wanted to serve NS, no matter what your reasoning is.
I wasted 2.5 years of my life in the army like many others, but I did emerge a better man, both mentally and physically stronger. But if I was to be given the choice again, for purely selfish reasons, I still would have choose not to serve so as to concentrate on my studies/careers.
The difference between your friend here and the rest of us lies in the fact that, not many of us, and certainly not me, have the $$$$$$ to hide out in some foreign country.
September 20th, 2006 at 2:09 am
To the Escapee.
We all served our time. We fucking hate it. Who in their right minds would like bearing arms and regimentation? Conscientious objectors? Then, everyone is one. You’re hiding behind some fancy words. High-minded principles. BAH! I can call you a coward but I won’t. Go think it through.
Not everyone is built for the army. Not everyone is fit either. For many of us, the fear of the physical hardships, the punishments, regimentation, are there. We went through it, we lived.
September 20th, 2006 at 2:19 am
Just some food for thought because it occurred to me. I might be wrong but:
Has anyone wondered why the most liberal states in terms of military conscription are usually states that are arguably the most geographically and politically secure? that is, separated from potential military dangers by a significant body of water that deters invasion or through iterated interactions with their neighbours that have mitigated the perception of threat?
I mean, interestingly, the most illiberal states in this regard - are located in the historically less ‘pacifist’ parts of Europe.
=) hmmnnn just a thought.
September 20th, 2006 at 2:31 am
Running away from NS is not something to be proud of. Abusing a system put in place to protect people who have a genuine fear for their life, is even worse.
I did not enjoy my time in NS, but like most singaporean males, i put up with it and served every day of my term.
The provisions for a ‘conscientious objector’ would be grounds for ‘persecution by military authorities with a fear for life’.
I don’t believe the guy’s life was at stake , all he has done is misuse a system used to protect people who have a genuine fear for his life. All he’s afraid for is that he will waste 2 yrs of his life, 2 yrs that can be spent at uni, starting a career or just bumming around.
September 20th, 2006 at 2:35 am
Hi Eugene,
that is a good point. I totally missed that one.
September 20th, 2006 at 2:40 am
“Conscientious objection as understood by most Westerners is almost always a religious idea.”
There’s a reason for that you know. People object when they feel strongly about an issue, strongly that their moral or social values are being violated. Like being asked to kill someone. Which you aren’t, by the way. In fact, just who is being hurt by being conscripted into NS? It’s not society as a whole, it’s not your family, in fact, it’s probably just you yourself, being too selfish to see that there are needs to be fulfilled, and that some level of sacrifice is necessary. So the rest of us, why, we suck it in, put in the time and effort. While you hide from the law, knowing you will never be able to return.
September 20th, 2006 at 3:10 am
From Wikipedia:
A conscientious objector (CO) is an individual following the religious, moral or ethical dictates of his or her conscience that are incompatible with being a combatant in military service, or being part of the armed forces as a combatant organization. In the first case, conscientious objectors may be willing to accept non-combatant roles during conscription or military service. In the second case, the objection is to any role within armed forces and results in complete rejection of conscription or military service and, in some countries, assignment to an alternative civilian service as a substitute for conscription or military service. Some conscientious objectors may consider themselves either pacifist or antimilitarist.
Wait wait…so the escapee is against the notion of the military itself? That sentiment is not obvious in his responses.
It cannot be that he objects solely to being a combatant. For if that were the case, then surely a clerk’s / storeman’s role would suffice in placating his concerns.
If its not the above, I wonder what the real reasons are?
Care to clarify?
September 20th, 2006 at 3:30 am
virgin_undergrad
=)
September 20th, 2006 at 3:53 am
The testerone is ah-flyin’!
‘…these are individuals who do not possess the requisite mental strength to survive in life with all its ups and downs’
Oh c’mon, Kevin, how do you know that? Because they couldn’t blaze through a system that emphasizes obedience and conformity? I could say that our objector had more mental strength than our conscriptees: the balls and audacity to break the system and put his life on the line. In either case, it wouldn’t matter: neither you nor I have the instrument to determine mental strength (mental dumbbells, maybe?)
Get real! Can choose to be a clerk or storeman meh? Last I checked, you could only geng your way there, legitimately or not.
And stop contradicting ourselves: we all hated the 2 and a half years (well, if you liked it, good for you!). Yet now that someone’s escaped the system, we go ‘boo! boo!’. I’m not going to pull a Rambo on you, if I had a choice, I wouldn’t have wanted to be in the army either…just like I wouldn’t have wanted to face the hardships involved in being an accountant, the mental complexities in being a chemist, the hardships involved in being a toilet cleaner…but I do have a job in a field I enjoy and do well in. I’ll use my God-given talents in the best way I can, thank you very much.
Hey, Objector, I wouldn’t have done what you did, but neither am I gonna judge you. You made a choice with consequences that aren’t gonna negatively impact anyone else but you and your immediate family (if anyone’s going to take the slippery slope arguement of ‘if he does it, everyone else is gonna blah blah’ please forget it), so you’re gonna have to live with those consequences.
For good or ill, it’s up to you. I think what you did needed considerable mental fortitude, which you’re probably still gonna need. For what it’s worth, I hold the ideal that all men are innately free to decide their own life, even if I don’t always live it. Good bye and good luck.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:41 am
kelvin, you seem like someone destined to work for someone else. those who want to ensure their destiny is their own and not decided by any ‘heirarchy’ deserves the respect of the world.
this is why we hav such a shortage of entrepreneurs. we need ppl who want to beat the system. if they dont know how to, having the want is the most fundamental attribute.
September 20th, 2006 at 4:42 am
what kind of dick gets a definition from wikipedia anyway?
see, taking the convenient way out again.
September 20th, 2006 at 7:26 am
am i safe to assume that you applied for asylum in the UK?
September 20th, 2006 at 9:32 am
I may have served my time, but the difference with those sanctimonious chaps who try to champion their views onto everyone, is that I would be glad to fight alongside/or defend someone who has the guts to follow his path and dream in life.
Specific geopolitical circumstance? States which are not insecure, have no need to limit the options available for National Service.There are more grounds to look at the marginal inefficiency of NS today in its current system. Our geopolitical reality is one that is largely mitigated by a concept, not by a singular military unit. Soft power is what we can effectively project, a Peace-Corps like influence..
I have seen a similar question put towards a ranking Colonel in the SAF regarding COs and he had no decent answer for it. It surely says a lot about the intellectual capability of the people that run the show here eh.
To the person concerned, I sincerely wish you success in your new life, and I don’t think I ever had the guts to do what you did. But if I have to defend your actions, I would.
Because I was nearly in your shoes..
September 20th, 2006 at 5:55 pm
Great discourse.
Big Al: As pointed out by others, breaking the system at the possible expense of actual refugees is not exactly the most desirable action on the part of our escapee. In any case, it is one thing to redefine the rules of the game and ‘beat the system’ if you will, and another to choose explicit escapism from hardship. The first, as kindly pointed out by a few, is laudable. The second, which our escapee seems to be advocating, is considerably less so.
Re: the question of being a storeman / clerk. This is a disagreement with the operation of the system, not a rejection of the principles of military conscription so there is really no need to address this.
Bob: Personal emotional attacks aside, the truth is hierarchy is everywhere as that is the optimal organization to mobilize resources. The question is whether you strategize to get to the top of the particular hierarchy you target.
The idea of making your destiny your own is simply the re-creation of alternative hierarchies where you conceivably sit on top. This is however, ultimately an attempt to delude yourself since whatever it is you create will always come to face with the realities of the world whereby you have to force yourself to scale other hierarchies. The exception being when you sit in a mountain cave for the rest of your life.
P.S. I’d rather take a definition from Wikipedia, likely to be contributed by individuals through research and intepretation, than take a dictionary definition no? and if I were to supercede convention and offer my own definition, surely you’d accuse me of bias. So what to say? you win?
kevin: there is a long discussion about the validity of soft power vis-a-vis realist visions of the international order. Joseph Nye himself recognises the limitations of his soft power thesis in its failure to pin down the manifestations of it without realist military backing.
Frosse: well, the best illustration I can think of is when LKY(even LKY at this age gets something right once in a while) in the recent interview at the LKYSPP discusses the fragility of the ‘red dot in a sea of green’. It seems dangerous to belittle the significance of such a position.
September 20th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Bob: as mentioned. Beating the system and changing the rules of the game is very different from withdrawing from the system altogether. I’m sure entrepreneurs don’t spawn from the latter.
September 20th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
All of us are citizens of a country. It comes with certain obligations. I went through the army for a number of reasons. Not least because I know we need it; and if my country needs me, why shouldn’t I serve. In the end, I’m serving my friends, my teachers, my family and relatives; those who have contributed to my well-being and lives in this country.
I think any able-bodied man - or even woman if the army is open to them - can serve.
September 20th, 2006 at 9:00 pm
I should clear the record about the refugee process. When you land, you declare your intentions to the immigration officials, wherefore you will be granted welfare assistance, the privilege to acquire a free lawyer, and a work permit. So, finance ceases to become a factor in refugee determination. I am not rich anyway.
I read some of the comments here, though I did not read thoroughly or all. All I can say is, those of you who went through NS certainly went through a difficult experience. I hope that you understood and accepted the commitment sincerely, and did not serve simply because an authority told you to, or believed in some justification as provided while in a subdued state of mind, which you probably would not accept if you were thinking in normal circumstances.
Please do not be disgruntled with me. I am but a voice of a minority in Singapore who is not being represented. I can only simply assure that where conscription without reasonable provisions occurs, there will be people like me. It is perhaps impossible to ask for radical change, but I am simply but the first of a new wave of individuals who wish to embrace their own philosophies. It was not too long ago that China had pre-arranged marriages. Now in which part of China does that still occur? I believe such a custom died so quickly and easily because parents did not have the power to imprison disobedient children. The bottomline is that ultimately you determine what is right and fair, and you determine what you want to believe.
September 20th, 2006 at 9:21 pm
[…] Oikono’s post on evading National Service seems to have attracted interesting comments. While most will say that I’m unqualified to comment on NS matters, here are quips by two Singaporean males, one who has already received a green card, and another who will be receiving one soon: […]
September 20th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
Escapee:
Granted. Just as you feel you should be free to embrace your own philosophies and justifications, some of the commentators are also free to measure you by their own beliefs and yardsticks regarding whether you are an weak-willed escapist or an unjustified refugee. Therefore, you certainly cannot feel aggrieved to be getting stick for your decision. Liberal ideas cut both ways.
and oh, an apology would be nice since I am assuming, based on your last comment, that you have backtracked on your accusation that I only follow orders and that I have nothing to be proud of. =)
September 20th, 2006 at 11:32 pm
Response to L’oiseau Rebelle’s post:
My suspicion that it is a decision made on the basis of escaping physical and mental hardship is based on the fact that the escapee has spent some time in service before fleeing. If it had been a matter of principle, then surely such objection should have been raised prior to entering into the service. I mean, its not like it is a surprise that NS is looming right?
There is certainly no argument regarding the difficulty in integrating into another culture and lifestyle. I can understand that, having been away from home for a number of years. However, the question is how one views those obstacles relative to 2.5 years of servitude in the military, facing the abovementioned physical and mental hardship (assuming one ends up in an active military unit). If it was a choice made on the perceived ease of the former as opposed to the latter, then certainly one could still be accused of escapism.
As for facing grey wall…=) it is only a hard decision if you assume that there is a desire to return at all.
I think it is hard to make the comparison between NS dodgers and scholarship bond breakers because of the differences in the implications for the individuals involved both in terms of remaining where they are as well as leaving the country. Good try though.
September 21st, 2006 at 5:19 am
Chill, folks.
Having gone through NS, I’m sorely tempted to go the “WTF? I did it and this fella can siam?!” route.
But nah, its a matter of choice right?
If he wants to run from Singapore, then by all means he’s free to do so.
Perhaps the experience is different for all, but in NS you kinda learn that sometimes there’s really nothing you can do and you’ll find ways and means to work around problems. An experience that is invaluable in the workplace.
Before anyone accuses me of being another “non-entrepreneurial, will always work for others type” of person, let me say this. Perhaps they are right. Maybe I am. But then again, in the real world, just because you are your own boss, does that mean you dictate everything? In starting up a company, you will come up against difficulties. Stubborn suppliers, distributors, salespeople and customers.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that people learn life’s lessons in their own way and pace.
A last point?
If he’d actually stayed in Singapore for the last 18 months that he’s been on the run, he’d almost be done with NS already.
And Singapore would still be on his list of “visitable” countries.
To the dodger: I am not judging you, nor do I hold any opinion as to what you should or should not have done. What you have done is merely information to me. I’m pretty much neutral. It IS your life after all =)
September 21st, 2006 at 6:24 am
Having served 2.5 years and coming to the end of my reservist liability having served 10 years (3 low key, 7 high key including 2 operational duty) on Sep 2006, I personally think NS is still a waste of time.
Yes, it builds character, makes you a man, defence of the country blah blah blah but the country is going to the dogs with the way we run Singapore like a hotel and letting foreigners drive the economic engine by giving them jobs and careers while letting male Singaporean citizens be inconveienced and sometimes killed through training accidents (including taking IPPT tests).
Even during Ops duty, the wayang element is so strong because we pretend to be a real army that can fight when instead of get paralysed by logistical cock-ups and worry about turnout and bearing while guarding key installations.
Even f**king 10 year reservists are subject to stupid wearing of jockey cap going to the cookhouse. Getting talked down to by the S3 like we are 3 year old children and being checked, double-checked by all the crabs coming to make sure we f***ing do our f***ing duty.
By all means, if you can escape the system, do so. NS imposes an economic burden on the male citizen labour force and exposes us reservists to risks of death, injury and disability without commensurate benefits. SAF can take their SAFRA club, $2000 to $3000 tax relief, extra progress package and shove it up their ass as I go into my MR.
F*** the SAF too.
10th year reservist (ROD Loh!)
F*** the stupid ORD and ORNS terms.
Reservist means f***ing reservist.
September 21st, 2006 at 9:05 am
Watch Zo Peng, about army: www.hosaywood.com
September 21st, 2006 at 12:00 pm
National Service is an act of responsibility. Anyone who actually enjoys serving NS is probably an idiot in my opinion. But it does not diminish the value of having an army to protect your home, your loved ones, and your future.
Can you imagine how the neighbouring countries will bully us if we are without a force? Sure, we could be a no man land like Switzerland, an have a walkthrough agreement, but if others attack us, we will have nothing left by the time UN and US comes over to settle the war, if they do bother in the first place.
NS is all about wayang, simply because we do not have the capabilities to fully defend ourselves. But we inform all countries who wish to “eat” us up that they can take a bite, and we could do the same. Whoever can bear more pain wins.
NS is also not about getting fully prepared. How many of us really put full efforts into what we learnt in camp and during reservists? It is more of getting to know what to do in times of need and knowing who your teammates are & if they can be trusted to guard your back.
So I absolutely hate it, and so do many of my friends. But please do not undermine the importance of NS. Not unless you wish to stay in a place where there is no army, much like our colonial days when the British army left us with almost no soldiers and the Japs ran us over with 1/3 our force. And our women were raped and men killed because they felt like it.
And to the guy who escaped the system, I have only these things to say to you.
“Please do not come back, ever. When the going gets tough, you get going.. So leave. We dun need people with no balls like you. Noob.”
September 21st, 2006 at 12:35 pm
I’m a female and not in the military. In fact, I harbour anti-military ideals.
But even I realise that armed forces are a necessary evil. As Naskes mentioned, can you imagine a small, relatively properous country like us surviving without some kind of self-defence? It’s not like another country (who shall remain nameless) hasn’t tried invading (or at least infiltrating) us before, and I don’t just mean WW2.
It hence becomes a contract with your country - in exchange for living here (and being male), you have to give something back in return and have to train to protect us all. It sucks, but that’s life. Every relationship has some give and take. Singapore has lots to give - even if there are so many things we all are unhappy with, don’t forget what we ARE happy with. I’m no fan of this almost-autocratic government we have, but it has provided enough for us to be able to even be able to sit back and debate ‘zhao’ NS in front of our computers.
What I’m genuinely curious about, dodger boy, is what was so intensely unbearable about your months in NS? What were you going through that made you consider suicide and eventually putting up with those unpleasant procedures in order to leave behind your life here? Every NS boy has a different experience, and I’ve heard of some guys who had a seriously shitty time in there and had good cause to descend into depression. Was it bad experience, or was it not being able to reconcile it with your ideals that made you want to leave?
September 21st, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Good question, Daphne.
How about an answer? I’m sure we are all very interested.
September 21st, 2006 at 6:36 pm
Naskes,
The concept of “balls” is highly subjective. What the guy has done, is just another form of expressing his “balls” vis-a-vis the state’s desired outcome.
Much as it might feel like a slap in the face of those who have lived through National Service, it’s definitely not something I would condemn, because individual agency is something we cannot ever deny. He made his choice, there’s a marginal price he has to pay for this act, i.e not being able to step foot in Singapore unless one fine day, he possesses diplomatic immunity yada yada..
So, has he really taken the system for a ride? I don’t think so, because he will not be staying here and be another user of subsidies (well, this is for those who love the economic imperative)
September 21st, 2006 at 6:53 pm
Of course, deserters in war are just expressing their courage to go against common expectation. =)
September 21st, 2006 at 6:57 pm
Doesn’t anyone wonder why, if it is a matter of principle (civil liberties and all), our escapee does not raise his protests prior to enlistment and run away then? After all, its not like you didn’t know that NS is coming at a certain age. Many people have done so successfully and you really cannot begrudge them for standing stoutly by their principles (much as you might disagree with them).
Perhaps the answer is that the principles our escapee holds are those that eschews pain and suffering. But its all guessing at this point.
Why not enlighten us?
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