Ke Kiri Pusing: How mandatory National Service perpetuates the patriarchy in Singapore

This is something I have been thinking about a lot over the past many months. These are some random thoughts about the issue…been meaning to write them out more coherently but I realize that may never happen due to limited time and energy (how come it’s so much easier to come up with a spiffy title than to actually write out the contents of what you’re trying to say coherently?). So I figured I’d just post this now and if anyone has other ideas or feedback, they can tell me.

Also, this is not to say that there are no other problems with NS; ofcourse there are tons. And this is also not to suggest that men do not suffer under a mandatory NS system; ofcourse they do, in terrible ways. This is just one aspect of the issue that I don't think has been explored enough.

My random thoughts:
- Entrenches military masculine culture in every single male citizen
- Entrenches the idea of men as protectors and defenders – of women, family, nation and conversely entrenches the idea of women as weak, vulnerable, in need of protection
- The shared experience of NS creates an exclusionary militaristic culture in which women are generally marginalized: they are simply the “to be protected”, the “good fuck”, or the “dutiful girlfriend/wife/lover”
- Provides opportunities for networking; expanding social networks that may and often do prove useful economically, socially and politically
- Opportunities for upward mobility – SAF scholarships, training for job opportunities for a military career
- Economic advantages: higher civil service pay, club membership SAFRA
- War, and by extension politics and public life, as male-centred space
- The male citizen as the most deserving citizen
- A hyper-masculine environment also perpetuates homophobia
- Mandatory NS provides an opportunity for young men from all socioeconomic status, ethnicity groups, sexual orientations and abilities to meet and work together (although the last 2 in limited ways). Women remain cloistered within their class/race/sexual orientation social spheres.
- NS as a marker of nationalism and citizenship rights. Citizenship is only the privilege of those men who fight for the agenda of the gov't.

individual trails

This was inspired by a spam email i got from “Tony” with the following subject heading: “You’re an individual trails, sifting and said, in hostage”.


You’re an individual trails
sifting and said
in hostage

You’re one of a kind
making your mark
clearing your path
doing what’s right
for you
individually
your individual trail

Your own way in life
your life, your property
your decisions, your consequences
even if you have nothing else
like nina
ain’t got no…, but ah got life

You could be a princepauperartistsnobconsumercapitalistracistsexisthomophobicageistableistfathatingethnicdesiapnabitchcuntmissuslildarlinmamaselloutliberalsilentradicalrevolutionary
every trail don’t start
at the same time and space
every trail don’t end
in the same location
you could be fallenpickedupviolentlovingfree
this is
your individual trail

You make your way
with sickle, with fire
with bare hands, with stomping feet
running, crawling, on a horse, in a 1980s Volkswagen convertible
doesn’t matter, it’s yours
this individual trail

Then sometimes you go back
change your mind, find new paths
change direction
make new ones
your individual trails

You are a grain of sand
sifting through time
saying your piece
voicing your hopesfearsdreamsdilemmasworriesfrustrationslovesdespairslaughtergoodbyes
and maybe someone will notice
you
and your trails

But your trails
they hold you hostage
they give you memory
past
pain

You are beholden
to them
forever

You are an individual trails, sifting and said, in hostage.

Shameless Advertisement: Upping The Anti Volume 3

Okay, boys and girls. It's time to put on those party shoes and thinking hats. The latest issue of UTA is out and there's launch parties in TO and Van to go to.

If you don't already know what UTA is, it's this really awesome journal that publishes analyses, critiques and viewpoints about social movements in Canada and that tries its darnest to be from, by and about on-the-ground activists themselves rather than ivory-tower academic polemic-ing. You can find out more about it and read the first 2 issues here. (Read the Intro to UTA 3 here.)

Confession: Okay, so I'm on the Advisory Board and this may cause me to have a biased opinion about the journal. For the record, I have not contributed at all to the 3rd issue, mainly because of geographical and Internet accessibility challenges. So I am shamelessly advertising the launches here to try and make up for it. There's still a whole bunch of folks who read my blog from BC and Ontario, so if you haven't already heard, GO PICK UP YOUR COPY OF UTA 3 TODAY!!

If you are in Singapore, I'm afraid you'll have to wait till the articles are put online. I still have a couple of hard copies of UTA 2, though, so contact me if you want one!

Upping the Anti Launch Party - VANCOUVER
Join us for the launch of the third issue!
Thursday Nov 23rd 7-10pm
Rhizome Cafe
317 East Broadway (one block East of Kingsway)
sliding scale: $5-10 includes a copy of the journal
Featuring: DJ She and Su Commandante

Toronto launch party (see awesome-looking poster below)
on Thursday November 168:00PM
Smiling Buddah Bar
961 College Street (west of Dovercourt)
Admission: $5 with journal (includes journal)
With DJing from DJ Miss Ruckus and Dj Saira Chhibber!

a call from oaxaca, mexico

TO ALL INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS; POLITICAL, SOCIAL, UNION, INDIGENOUS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND OTHER CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS, AND ALL PEOPLES OF THE WORLD
The individuals and organizations listed below, make this URGENT call for solidarity with the people of Oaxaca.

On 29 October 2006, by decision of Mexican President Vicente Fox, in concurrence with his successor, Felipe Calderón and the Governor of the State of Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz, implemented a police-military operation to seize the City of Oaxaca. Approximately 4,000 police troops from the Federal Preventative Police (PFP), acting as occupation army, entered Oaxaca city with helicopters and tanks, violently removing and evicting the barricades and sit-ins of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO).
The balance reported so far from this State operation includes: The deaths of two persons from teargas projectiles fired by the PFP; according to information from a report of the Oaxaca Human Rights Network, 32 persons reported disappeared at various police checkpoints, and a total of 41 persons detained without arrest warrants during the police operation and over the following days. Some of those detained have reportedly been transferred to the 28th military zone while others are being held in unofficial "safe houses." Private homes in Oaxaca are also being unlawfully searched without search or arrest warrants.
Persons identified by the communications media as public functionaries, with the support of paramilitary troops at the service of the governor, have murdered several persons, including an independent reporter from the U.S., Bradley Will.
Public transportation into the city is currently suspended, and all entry into the city is strictly controlled by PFP checkpoints.

The root of the conflict is the struggle carried out for more than five months by the population of Oaxaca, organized within APPO, to demand the departure of the repressive and murderous governor, Ulises Ruiz. An alliance of the parties of the right (PRI and PAN) in the national Senate has impeded that the governor be obligated to resign through institutional procedures permitted by the Mexican Constitution.

It is currently feared that the police-military operation may escalade into repressive actions such as apprehension of APPO leaders, and that the police-military presence may be extended to other areas of the state of Oaxaca.

In light of the above, we request your support for the actions of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO), through the following:
1. Protests and pressure against Mexican Embassies and Consulates in your respective countries.
2. Letters (faxes, e-mails, etc.) directed to the Mexican President and to mass-circulation communications media in both Mexico and your respective countries, requesting the following:
a. The immediate departure of Mr. ULISES RUIZ from the governorship of the state of Oaxaca, whose authoritarian regime originated the conflict, and whose permanence as governor is an obstacle to peaceful resolution of the conflict.
b. Immediate withdrawal of PFP police forces from Oaxaca
c. An end to the repression, the safe return of all persons disappeared in the conflict, and an end to the illegal detentions and searches. Also, full respect for the human rights and integrity of all persons, in particular the members of APPO.
d. We demand punishment of the intellectual and material authors of the murders carried out by State paramilitary and parapolice groups.
We hold the Federal and state governments responsible for the repressive policy against the population and organizations of Oaxaca. We join the voices of those who demand a peaceful and political resolution to the conflict.

Please send your communications to the following:
President Vicente Fox Quesada, Fax: +52 (55) 5516 9537 / 5573 2126,
E-mail : radio@presidencia.gob.mx. webadmon@appresidencia.gob.mx
Carlos Abascal Carranza, Interior Minister,
Fax: +52 (55) 5093 3414. cabascal@segob.gob.mx
Nationally-circulated newspapers:
www.jornada.unam.mx
www.eluniversal.com.mx
www.Milenio.com/mexico

WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT.
THE CAUSE OF OAXACA IS THAT OF ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD.

Gilberto López y Rivas-Paz con Democracia. Alicia Castellanos-Paz con Democracia. Ana Esther Ceceña-Paz con Democracia. Paulina Fernández Christlieb-Paz con Democracia. Ricardo Loewe-Colectivo Contra la Tortura Integral. Laura Becerra Pozos-Equipo Pueblo. Erendira Cruz Villegas-Incide Social. José Guadalupe Sánchez Suárez-Observatorio Eclesial. Jaime Laines Potisek-Centro Antonio Montesinos. Brisa Maya Solís-Centro Nacional de Comunicación Social. María Luisa Montalvo-Comisión Intercongregacional de Justicia, Paz y Vida. María Guerra Tejada-UNAM. Olinca Marino-La Neta. María Luisa Moncayo-Grupo Lago Mayor. Álvaro Salgado Ramírez-Centro Nacional de Ayuda a las Misiones Indígenas. Ma. de Jesus Luis Juan de la Cruz-Centro Antonio Montesinos. Alejandro y Francisco Cerezo-Comité Cerezo México. Leiticia Rentería-Comisión Intercongregacional de Justicia Paz y Vida. Lorena Peralta R.-Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Francisco de Vitoria. Sylvia Aguilera García-Centro de Colaboración Cívica. Mara Hernández-Centro de Colaboración Cívica. Julián Portilla-Centro de Colaboración Cívica. María Atilano-Red Mexicana de Acción Frente al Libre Comercio, Centro de Promoción y Educación profesional "Vasco de Quiroga". Acela Vázquez Martínez-Alianza Cívica. Norma Moreno González-Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos. Héctor de la Cueva-Centro de Investigación Laboral y Asesoría Sindical. Dionisio B Córdova-Centro de Servicios Municipales Heriberto Jara. Socorro Martínez-Comunidades Eclesiales de Base. Higinio Muñoz-Comité Estudiantil Metropolitano. Rocío Eslava-Red Mexicana de Constructores de Paz D.F. María Elena González Camacho-Unión Popular Popular Revolucionaria Emiliano Zapata. María Guadalupe Blanco Méndez y Melquiades Rosas-Radio Nandia. Edgar Cortés-Red de Derechos Humanos "Todos los Derechos para Todos". David Sánchez Silva-Red Solidaria Década Contra la Impunidad. Laura Salas-Asociación Mundial de Radios Comunitarias- México. Martín Velázquez-Asamblea Mexicana por la Autodeterminación de los Pueblos. Fabíán Sánchez-Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos. Ana Luisa Nerio-Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Francisco de Vitoria-Programa de Derechos Humanos, Academia del Posgrado de Ciencias Sociales-Programa de Autogestión Coperatica, Coordinación de los proyectos de enlace comunitario Todos de la Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México. Ivan Gómez Cesar. Manuel Aguilar Mora. Raul Villegas Dávalos. Tzitzi Santillán Hernández. Álvaro Urrieta. Antonio García S. Ana Colchero. General Francisco Gallardo. Enrique González Ruiz. Claudio Albertani, Enrique Ortis, Coalición Internacional para el Hábitat (HIC). Oficina de Coordinación Regional de la Coalición Internacional para el Hábitat (HIC-AL).

***
burgersandurians The website of the Mexican Embassy in Singapore lists its contact information as follows:
Embassy of Mexico in Singapore
152 Beach Road #06-07/08 Gateway East Tower, Singapore 189721
Tel: +65 6298-2678 Fax: +65 6293-3484
E-Mail: embamexsing@embamexsing.org.sg

Our Denial

liberation theology parable

Somebody sent me this in an email.

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."

The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in.

In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were taped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, "You have seen Hell." They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew, which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, "I don't understand."

"It is simple," said the Lord, "it requires but one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves."