Saturday, July 29, 2006
A week ago I was at my sec sch npcc farewell and there was something that I think I could never figure out the reasons behind certain actions. The parade and fancy drills and performance were alright. Yet, there was the existence of something that even during my time I couldn't stand it. Yes, the path of salute, literally, cadets get themselves alined along a stretch of staircase, forming a pathway.
During my time, and even prior to mine, when I was a cadet, they have had this history and supposed-to-be-acceptable habit and ritual that along the path of salute, the passing-out batch of NCOs and the seniors would follow the path to the designated venue for the performance. Along the way these people will stepped on the very nicely polished and shined boots and shoes of the juniors. Imagine this --- You spent 2hours the day before shinning your boots and preparing your uniform so to give the passing-out NCOs respect and look smart but all these effort just puffed off after the parade. What's worse is that some really smart seniors used keys and any objects that can destory your effort to scrape off the shine. Woo.......and you know what, you are not supposed to show any sign of protest. Yup, full stop.
I think it was couple of years back that they stopped such activity, but the ritual of something has to be messed up and destroyed never changed. The POP that I attended last week, instead of removing the shine on the boots and shoes, they have diverted their attention to the rest of the uniform, and that includes the buttons and berets and hairnets and whistles and socks and whatever attached to the uniform. They removed these accessories and put them somewhere else, either on your uniform or on others or somewhere on the floor. And yup, a full stop to any sign of protest.
I just find such actions childish and ultimately what is the aim. It is just so unnecessary. I was not guilty of being involved in any of the destroying in any POP, though I was once a victim and after that I just knew where to position myself to keep myself safe and sound and one piece. The cadets have tried to get their uniforms and berets seasoned and their boots shined to the upmost standard and there are these people who just have to come up with such idea of destroy in the name of ritual and fun. Assuming on average that the cadets spent like 2hours per week on the preparation then there's because of such behaviour, their uniform creased, their berets ended up fur-ry, their buttons and badges no longer shinning. Then they might have to end up spending the next 3 to 4hours in the following week to clean up the mess that they did not cause. And if they do not do so, or not up to standard, I dare bet that they will get scoldings and may even be punished for that, as if it 's their fault.
I really wonder how many of the seniors actually regard such a ritual and fun very much of a necessary. I wonder how many of the seniors realise that that 2 to 4hours are very important to the cadets who are students and not paid in any way to deserve that. Yes, I know preparing the uniform and stuff is very much every part of the CCA and indeed, 2hours is acceptable. Yet, I really disagree that they just got to spend double the time to clean up the mess which was unncessarily caused. So what if it's once a year? What can I do also right, a really old senior who never really agree much with the rest of the group.... just some thoughts.
