Chao Kengs rarely exists.
-
Hi don't know if this is the right place to post this essay, but i feel GP teachers will be best at vetting this. It might be a little controversial, but what i am doing is providing an alternative view point.
Please read and drop your comments.
Thanks a lot!
“Without a strong economy, there can be no strong defence. Without a strong defence, there will be no Singapore. To maintain a strong economy and a strong defence all on a narrow base of a small island with over four million people, the government must be led by the ablest, most dedicated and toughest. The task will become more complex as more educated and confident electorate believe that Singapore has created a sturdy base and need not be as vulnerable as before. What will never change is that only the best can lead and secure such a Singapore.” – Lee Kuan Yew
Why we need the Army and Economy.
Lee Kuan Yew has made it clear in a recent book that the economy and defence are closely interlinked. Without robust economic growth, the Singapore’s Armed Forces (SAF) cannot keep up on its technology which, even after taking into account the SAF’s size force, gives us a competitive edge over our neighboring countries. Not that we, Singaporeans, are desperate to reckon ourselves as a leading military force in the region. However, we happen to be strong military force due to the influence of external factors in the past when the British left us (the Vietnam war, insurgency in Malaysia, and the PKI (Communist Party of Indonesia) influential in Indonesia) and presently (the Pedra Branca dispute and many more of which are only made known to a “fraternity” who makes decisions on whether Singapore should react with any sizable amount of force or not. Fortunately, the answer is often not to react and hence we, the general public remain oblivious of those threats).
If you read up on Singapore’s history and some pro-propaganda books by Lee Kuan Yew and his counterparts, there is a high chance you will come to a conclusion that a strong a decision military force is essential, if not imperative, to deter any external threats, or in some cases, tyrannies. And once again, as pointed out by Lee Kuan Yew, to maintain an impregnable armed forces, we need a strong, convincing economy.
Why we need the best?
“What will never change is that only the best can lead and secure such a Singapore.” – Lee Kuan Yew
I take my hats off to Lee Kuan Yew, he can make all the absolute and controversial statements in life and yet get away with it. In guide books and marketing brochures absolute statements are frequently used. Why? Because if you want to sound convincing, you cannot say this method could be the best, because that makes you sound only 80% sure, and no one is going to invest their life savings on something you yourself are not sure about. You have to sound confident by saying, this method is the best. Likewise, by using absolute statements all the time, Lee Kuan Yew makes himself sound decisive and confident.
I will not deny that only the best can lead and secure such a Singapore. If you read into context when he made that statement, Lee Kuan Yew was referring to a board of leaders, known as the government. Though in some cases, the government has been diluted and can be substituted by the PAP. These people lead our country and only the best will and can lead Singapore. Likewise, this logic can be promulgated everywhere in our society. It is logical to let the best lead, be it a group, a platoon, a company, a union or a government. It might sound elitist, but look at it from a panoramic view point; The best will provide the best for themselves and the not-so-best. Or would you rather the not-so-best provide the not-so-best for everyone and in the end we find ourselves in a decline or maybe a very gradual progress (I won’t go the extra mile to define the best because it is not in my ability to do so). It is not elitism. It is, from my perspective, meritocracy and common sense.
So is there such a thing as Chao Keng?
“Chao Keng: Feigning sickness or injury. Commonly used during National Service to describe recruits who pretend to be unwell to avoid participating in certain activities. Sometimes shortened to Keng.” - Wikipedia
Frankly, I do not believe so. If I were to reason from Lee Kuan Yew’s perspective that the two cornerstones of Singapore are the economy and her defensive force, there is no such thing as Chao Keng.
If you want to be an engineer, you study engineering. And because you have a passion for it, you will, in most cases, put in the extra effort to excel in that field. If you have a passion for engineering, it is unlikely that you enroll for a Biology course or any other courses not relating to engineering. Because you do not have the passion for those other courses, and thus this lack of infatuation for the subject might hinder you from becoming the best in that field.
As an NSF (not a regular in the Army), you could a sergeant, or a corporal (also known as a man) depending on how the Army qualifies you. A lot of Singaporean males fit the criteria to be an officer or to hold be an officer, commanding posts however many of them prefer not to display their capabilities but instead “slack” and take clerical jobs. More often or so, these people are described with the word Chao Keng. Simply because they feign an injury in order to escape the tough training undergone by commanders.
But like the analogy I have given above, you choose to do things that you are passionate about. If there is no fire burning in your heart, willing you to be a commander so that you can serve your country in the best of your abilities, then why be a commander? Only the best will and can lead the army, or for that matter, a small amount of men to missions. If you fit the criteria to be a commander but have no interest in it, I rather you take the back seat, because most probably you will not be the best or at least try to perform your best.
Holding a clerical job, or a lax job during your two years does not render you less potentially useful than an officer or sergeant. Remember, Singapore’s foundation is based on the SAF and the economy. If you cannot help the SAF much, then aid Singapore’s economy. Having a laid back job provides you with time, during and after office hours. For some, they take a part time accounting degree during their service. For others, they learn crucial skills, play the stock market, prepare for university and many more. Time is not wasted. Time during the two years can be dedicated by an individual to make him the best in a certain field to boost the economy.
The decision to take up a slack job during your conscript service to Singapore is not being a Chao Keng. (Yes Chao Keng can be a noun and an adjective). If you have no passion in the army, it could plainly be, being wise.
Wise that you can use the time to value add yourself to be competitive, to be one of the best in your field of interest in the near future, and hence play a part in stimulating the economy to greater heights. Which, in turn further contributes to the SAF to, also grow into greater heights.
And wise that you do not hold a leadership post because you will not be the best or close to the best. And like what our once prime minister has stipulated, only the best will lead.
-
It is not relevant to each other.
Chao keng simply means to feign sickness or injury. And that's it.
If you are smart, you know when/where to contribute, when/where to keng to achieve the same goal.
Work Smart :- "It is not how hard you work but how much you get done"
-
what is the quesiton of this GP essay? This is A lvl H1 paper right?
Then your format of the essay is very wrong.. There shouldn't be any titles. there are some model essays here...
http://www.facebook.com/ultimategpresource?sk=wall#!/ultimategpresource?sk=notes
It's best to avoid using 'you' and using rebuttal questions, because it sounds like you are challenging the examiner.
There are also some grammar errors here and there. Don't start a sentence with connectors like 'But' and 'And' . Use words like 'however, ' nevertheless', 'additionally', 'moreover' instead.
-
Are you sure they will ask things like Chao Keng in your GP exam?
-
thanks lokey for pointing that out. I should tweak the definition of chao keng.
thanks qd times2, you're right, i think i need some grammar lessons, haha. Additionally (i wanted to use "and" initially) Its not a GP essay, so i'm not following any format, not that there is a format actually stipulated for GP essays.
And to charlize, they won't ask things like that. Lets just say i got bored one afternoon and decided to write something. :)
-
Hard to malinger/fake physical illness. How u fake slipped disc ,hypertension or fractured arm for example?
I would say the only possible way is fake mental illness.
But if the MO/SAF shrink catch u u r finished and will go DB.
Keng MC is possible like flu or swollen gums.
My frenz extract wisdom tooth extend his MC using swollen gums 2 weeks MC.
Shiok. My another frenz flu go extend MC.
-
Singapore needs sizeable army to protect us but don't spend too much on defense budget help the poor better.
-
I am sure other countries with compulsory conscription will have the chao keng problem like ROC, south korea and isreal
Theirs is in another language.