new thread
Hi! Firstly, I would like to say that tis' is a great webpage. It's because of this site that pushes me to grow out my hair in a highly restrictive and conservative society. My hair is presently about shoulder length (growing out for a year+). But alas! Due to the requirement of National Service (i.e. compulsary, involuntary service to the army), I had to part with my hair!!!! I really do not want to and felt highly unfair! That's because in the first place, serving army is FORCED and they now FORCE me to cut my hair, what's this?!!!
I've friends who had long hair had tried to keep it during the service, but in return, they got "charged" and had to pay a $50 fine for the first offence. If subsequent offences were repeated, then we are liable to jail!! Now to think that we had to go to jail for such a trivial matter as to long hair and the worst thing is that this is our freedom and the government is totally restricting it in this so-called democratic society!? That's ironic! Furthermore, not everybody enjoys army and it's already nice enough of us to serve it against our will. WHAT DO THEY WANT MORE??!!
So, to all my dear friends out there, anyone of you have any idea to resolve this? Either actively (i.e. go against the system head-on?) or passively (i.e. do something so that I could keep the hair and avoid any confrontation?).
Thanks for all advice.
i see from the domain code of your e-mail address (.sg) that you are from singapore. i wasn't aware that singapore had compulsory military service.
what really matters is what you are willing to endure for the sake of keeping your hair. i can't really give you fair advice for this because i grew up in america which currently does not have a draft. it would be easy to encourage you to do something that i wouldn't have to deal with. does your society afford you the freedom to leave?
being forced to cut my hair would be very upsetting for me, so i can sympathize somewhat but i can't in good conscience advise you to do something you may disproportionately regret. if you can't reasonably relocate outside your country you're better off serving out your obligation (haircut and all) and save hair growth as a post-military objective. good luck.
I thought that CIVILIAN guys had to cut their hair in Singapore! If I remember, there were signs at ports-of-entry (harbors, airports, etc.) showing you the "acceptable" hair length while in Singapore.
Hi Jin,
Man you've got a tough decision to make. The feelings expressed in your posting show a young man with a deep-seated longhair identity, and at your age you've got to make a major decision that could affect your life.
You do have options. You can refuse to enlist, you can refuse to have you hair removed if you do, you can go underground and hide in your country, or you can leave. Any of those options will be tough and can have negative repercussions, but the choice of an option, and your success with it, will be much better with support from others.
As you no doubt know, you will find support from the people here. Most of us have faced persecution at one time or another because of our hair, and we know the agony you face. We also know the importance of standing up for yourself when it comes to items of one's identity. To allow others to violate your identity can scar you emotionally for years, and can also have negative repercussions in success with your life.
The National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors
So look to us for support on the deep significance of being longhaired has to many longhairs such as yourself, and look to these other groups for support in dealing with the bureaucracies. And, dude, best of luck. We will be behind you all the way.
Hey guy..
I understand exactly how you feel.. Although my reason for a crop wasn't the military, but more moral, it hurt just the same..
I cut my hair to do my grand-dad's eulogy-- he HATED the long hair and always told me he'd sneak in with a pair of scissors while I slept! I cut it all off as a honor to him.. And although I felt naked with the hair gone, it did grow back..
Also, be aware that if you buck the system and happen to go to jail, some systems hack your hair anyway!!
RVE..
It's real comforting to hear all the constructive views from all of you out there. It's like finding an oasis in an endless desert. I guess that if I'd to oblige, I have to wait for 13 long years before I could embark on my growing phase again, this is because, we had to go back for military training every year for refresher courses. It seems that I had really no choice but to...
But by parting with those hair of mine and finding all of you out there who cares is another kind of gain for me. Thanks a million!!
P.S. Anti-Facism, I don't remember seeing all that you've said?!