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Solace of the Shadows
Friday, October 29, 2004
Upon arriving home after a long day of work and training in the evening, exhausted and wanting only to have dinner and sleep, my dad handed me a letter addressed to me from Clementi Police Station. I already knew what was inside even before i opened it. Being the inquisitive person any typical parent would be, he took a look at the letter for himself. It was about the "Conduct & Discipline of PNSF Personnel", obviously portrayed in a negative light by highlighting recent offences committed by OTHER stupid morons. However this means that two adverse effects arise inevitably : 1) The letters insinuates that ALL NSmen are capable and likely to commit such offences, thus incessent reminders have to be flooded into their mailboxes. 2) My parents keep getting the idea that my attitude and behavior at my workplace has been less than commendable for them to send such a letter to my home, which, only after much persuasion and convincing, i am able to dispel such ridiculous thoughts.
Which brings me to a whole host of issues i need to address (to nobody in particular)
Why the hell, if the letter is addressed to me, has it been sent to my home when it could easily have been disseminated pragmatically through E-MAIL or perhaps even through despatch internally in the workplace? One obvious reason is because the bozos up there must certainly have the ulterior motive of notifying my parents in a subtle but consequential manner (specially when they hold the keys to the friggin letter box!).
Secondly, it makes me think, what; in the name of all things common sensical, has this sought to prove or achieve? Heck, recieving such letters, seemingly disparaging my behavior and work attitude in the office certainly isn't going to encourage me to improve anything, specially if they keep sending more and more letters, is it? It would seem like these morons have simply too much time to draft letters to each and every single NS officer in the entire police division, not to mention wastage of paper (which is a precious commodity in the workplace).
At the helm of it all, sitting aloft in her high and mighty swivel cushioned arm chair, is Head PNS, the Queen (one of several) of hypocrisy and double standard behavior.
Excerpts from the letter :
Dear PNSF (your bloody head la dear simi dear?!)
2. Please note and be reminded that the conduct and performance of all PNSFs is judged on the same level as that of a regular officer.
3. As full fledged Police Officers attached to Clementi Police Division, we expect the conduct and discipline of al PNSF personnel to be proper and exemplary at all times. It is disgraceful for Police Officers to commit crimes.
Notice how they draw comparison between NSmen and regulars in terms of conduct and discipline but not in ANY OTHER aspect. Gee, if you want to compare regulars and NSmen in such a way, why not compare other things as well? Like perhaps salary ranges? Like how an NS corporal earns around a paltry $400 bucks a month compared to a regular officer who draws approximately $1.5K? Or you could compare the fact that regulars get a hell lot more advantages and benefits than NSmen? Or maybe that NSmen are made to perform the most banal and menial tasks plainly because they are slaves to the system? What has Ms Head PNS done about that? Answer : absolutely jack ZERO. nothing. at all. So how can anybody possibly expect NSmen to perform within the same standard as regulars when the only thing they both have in common is the way they get PUNISHED?
And they wonder why these guys (morons they are nonetheless) go out and create havoc. You gotta wonder how much brains these supervisors and heads have sometimes.
If you've read this far, good on you. You're probably an NSmen or a non-conformist at heart. Or maybe you're just too bored for your own good. In any case, that's all for today folks. Enjoy the weekend.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Fasting month has begun. And i'll willingly admit right here and now that i personally have never managed to complete an entire month of fasting (i'm definitely not proud of it). I almost did last year when i spent it in the police academy surrounded by malays (60% of which didn't fast anyway). The one thing that irritates me to a great extent is when morons who put on a pious front catch you in glee one totally random day and smugly ask you why you're not fasting with that 'holier than thou' attitude. One such crusader of righteousness approached me today while i was sitting at my desk (he must have seen me eating lunch because i sure didn't bother trying to hide the fact that i wasn't fasting). I found it painfully ironic that this same person whom i've observed "religiously" skiving his work, installing numerous games in his PC, criticizing and loudmouthing incessently was posing this seemingly innocuous yet caustic question to me. So it would seem to him that by fasting dilligently for just a month he'd somehow be able to atone for his inbred jackass character or perhaps cleanse himself of his hypocritical nature? What exactly is the point of adopting a religious attitude by using the prayer room, going for friday prayers and fasting when it can barely compensate for any other of your shortcomings in every day life?
This doesn't just restrict itself to fasting month but every other damned aspect as well. People going for friday prayers, quietly reciting sacred verses and calling God's name, following which they promptly steal the belonging of others in the mosque or hurl vulgarities and start fights the moment they cross its threshold? When i was in police academy, the muslims were given certain allowances during mealtimes while going to the mess to break their fast. What was observed instead was a complete disregard for any semblence of order, making it look like a friggin Malay kampung (wait i think kampungs are more civil) with the trainees doing as they please, spitting on my squadmates doing provost and exploiting the provisions given to them with convenient impunity. And yet they can claim to follow a strict set of rules guided by religious principles when they can barely adhere to simple requirements around them in every day life?
Given a reasonable opportunity, i'd gladly ensure that i complete the month of fasting. I do not profess to be a supremely pious Muslim, but neither do i think i am a poor one in terms of faith. Circumstances just don't allow me to.
So please, if you're one such religious individual, nobody else cares! So why should you bother? Be joyful and contented with the dillusionment that you're definitely going to Heaven while the others you deem as heretics and heathens burn in the depths of Hell!
In view of fasting month, i shall not rant further.
Have a good week ahead folks.
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