THeBlueCashew

Quote from: "Bricktop"Singapore is a tiny speck just below 80 million Malaysian muslims. However, Singapore is perhaps the model of a multicultural society that actually works. Every citizen not only has equal rights, but MUST, by law, have equal access to housing. If a new apartment block is built, the owner must reserve a certain number of units for each ethnic group. There is no segregation. Each group has representation in the country's parliament. Muslims live and work alongside Chinese, Malays and Indians. In the third picture down, you will see a muslim woman serving Chinese customers at a HALAL food stall (no pork, no lard according to a sign). No-one feels alienated, no-one is excluded, no-one is treated as anything less than a citizen the same as everyone else.

Quote from: "Zetsu"One of the most amazing things I find from Singapore is they have their own military, and larger than I assumed.  ac_cool

Quote from: "Zetsu"I never knew military service was mandatory there too, while I bet most parents would think this might be harsh and brutal, but imo I believe joining the army is the greatest way to put any teen into top shape.



It doesn't sound surprising if Canada and Singapore's pilots do joint military training together, when I was a kid my brother always talks about the RCAF pilots being amongst the top in the world.

Quote from: "Bricktop"True. You can't spit in any direction without hitting the ocean.

Quote from: "Bricktop"It is a fact that we have farms bigger than Singapore. Yet this tiny speck has more wealth than many countries 100 times its size.

Quote from: "Herman"

Quote from: "Zetsu"I never knew military service was mandatory there too, while I bet most parents would think this might be harsh and brutal, but imo I believe joining the army is the greatest way to put any teen into top shape.



It doesn't sound surprising if Canada and Singapore's pilots do joint military training together, when I was a kid my brother always talks about the RCAF pilots being amongst the top in the world.

It takes a lot of space for air force training. That's something Singapore doesn't have.

Quote from: "Zetsu"

Quote from: "Herman"

Quote from: "Zetsu"I never knew military service was mandatory there too, while I bet most parents would think this might be harsh and brutal, but imo I believe joining the army is the greatest way to put any teen into top shape.



It doesn't sound surprising if Canada and Singapore's pilots do joint military training together, when I was a kid my brother always talks about the RCAF pilots being amongst the top in the world.

It takes a lot of space for air force training. That's something Singapore doesn't have.

I never really thought about it, not to mention it might rile up the neighbouring countries up a bit with military exercise at such close proximity, I know China is always sensitive about these kinda stuff.  ac_unsure

Quote from: "Bricktop"Singapore has an airbase in Australia. Its in Queensland somewhere. Its used for training, weapons firing exercises and safe storage of aircraft.

Quote from: "@realAzhyaAryola"Nice indoor flora in the airport. Clever.

Quote from: "Bricktop"Some countries prefer authority over inconsistency and uncertainty.



I'm warming more and more to it. Our current system doesn't work.

Quote from: "cc"I do understand that some prefer order. For most in those 2 countries, they  know nothing of being free to think beyond just intellectually  .. it's simply "what is"  .. or normal to them .. No decisions to make and big brother takes care of everything and / or has rules for everything



For me I choose to be surrounded by "people"  ... independent people .. or no one .... and not surrounded by and packed in with what I saw as human robots  in Sing and  China



Several trips to both were strictly because of business conventions and business dealings ... and were as short as we could possibly make them



Agreed that our system is not working well at this point in time and seems to already be set up to never work.

Quote from: "Bricktop"


It is worthwhile considering what OUR situation looks like to more authoritarian nations?



Our political tumult, in almost all democracies, is embarrassing. THEY notice that our free and democratically elected politicians seem to act outside the interest of the average citizen. They see corruption at the highest level. They see homelessness despite great wealth. They see rules change as governments change, and judge us unreliable.



Democracy has hit the wall of reality. The illusion that because we vote, we are "free" is falling away. They may know nothing of being free...but if you think YOU do, you're not thinking rationally. Your money is stolen from you for expenses you do not support. Your speech is being restricted on a daily basis. The political class is elitist. Your courts serve the villains, and your media serve their owners.



You are far from free. You may be able to speak your mind...at the moment...more critically than in other countries, but the reality is no-one listens, so they don't care what you say.



The difference between us and them is we get to choose our dictators.

Quote from: "Bricktop"Good point. The information age is the death of this perversion of "democracy".

Quote from: "Bricktop"Good point. The information age is the death of this perversion of "democracy".

Quote from: "iron horse jockey"

Quote from: "Bricktop"Good point. The information age is the death of this perversion of "democracy".

Politicians and public figures are terrified of being labelled on social media.