I feel that Ratu Mara’s original vision for the FMF, that of helping with nation building, has much promise. Given the state of our economy, unemployment, urban drift, huge increases in the number of disaffected youth with little education and few prospects, etc., I feel there could be a strong argument made for compulsory National Service whereby those members of the nation’s youth who do not enter tertiary education spend a year, or possibly two, in a demilitarised FDF (Fiji "Development" Force), in which national service is precisely that – service to the nation. Not learning how to kill people in a variety of ways.
The FDF could be run by a small number of permanent military, but be staffed by engineers, road builders, electricians, electronics engineers, etc. In other words, a civilian version of the Royal Engineers. Skilled personnel would be able to impart their knowledge to the nation’s youth who, hopefully, would come out of their national service with a trade, having spent up to two years developing their skills in the field for the betterment of the rural areas.
The only reason for keeping a small military component is that such (hand picked) CO's and NCO's would be well versed in the psychology of instilling discipline in those young people, some of whom have been allowed to run free in their teenage years, with ever less regard for their teachers or parents.
Presumably the tax rate will need to be increased to cover the expenses of such national service men and women, so I’d better get back to work…
Comments
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FDF no answer said... - This is all very well but wouldn't it be better to build a strong, prosperous multiracial nation in which every young person could be certain of a job? This idea of some kind of civilian national service program seems like a substitute for what ought to be already happening in our schools. Why can't they have community service activities and leadership training instead of the current ridiculous over-emphasis on sport? It's all got very unhealthy when the rivalry between competing athletes and school teams boils over into violence, as we've recently seen. I think a Fiji Development Force smacks too much of the kind of thing you'd put in place at a time of national crisis when no-one can get a job. I certainly don't think anyone should be forced into such a scheme just because they don't make the tertiary cut. We ought to be thinking more about how we can grow our economy ( it's a political settlement, stupid ) than of stop gap measures of dubious value to take our kids off the streets when they leave school. What happens after their year in the FDF? The same hopeless outlook. Finger in the dyke stuff.
- Son of Fiji said...
- Finger in the dyke?? Are you serious. This FDF proposal is exactly the sort of thing that Fiji needs. That year or two of voluntary service will not only give youths a sense of self-worth, it'll also give themselves a real sense of pride in their nation. Its easy to mock the idea, and poo poo it - but whats the end result? More time to spend boozing up with your peers instead of getting the kick up the arse we all need when we're 18-20. National serivce before Self-service... a lesson every politician we've had for the last 2 decades missed out on.
- Sons who can' said...
- Hang on, Son of Fiji, who said anything about voluntary? "Ione's" original suggestion is for COMPULSORY national service. And that's what I was objecting to. There's no point in forcing everyone into a civilian corps at 18 just to have them come out of it with no prospects a year or two on. It's only delaying the need to find a job and that doesn't help anyone.
whoops said...Sorry that URL should say "Sons who can't read"....
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- Croz said...
- Don't write this idea off because you disagree with or are unsure of one part of the proposition, e.g., who's involved, duration, compulsory. Think of its possible good uses, e.g., universal training in disaster relief, basic first aid and ambulance work, basic trade and agricultural skills (or even apprenticeship work), further literacy and communication skills, debating/discussions, working with a community or NGO, home building and maintenance skills, social, inter-ethnic and community skills, and so on. The things that schools do not teach or teach only in a limited way. Shape your comments to what you think is and is not desirable.
sara'ssista said...
- nothing by this illegal regime will be ever de-militarised...the idea has merit and will only be untainted when a decent government and parliament consider the idea, presumably without a gun to their head. like every other institution ..it will be stacked with military or their cronies....
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- This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Croz said...
- Please get back to thinking about the question. Do not be distracted by unhelpful comments and personal attacks and rejoinders. Ignore them. What we want to hear is everybody's opinions on the question.
- Colonel Driti in drag said...
- To ‘Son’s who can’t read’, you say that there’s no point ‘forcing everyone into a civilian corps at 18 just to have them come out of it with no prospects a year or two on.’ Giving you the benefit of the doubt, it would appear that you didn’t read the second part of the same post: “The FDF could be … staffed by engineers, road builders, electricians, electronics engineers, etc [following which] the nation’s youth … would come out of their national service with a trade...” The idea of ‘compulsory’ service (or compulsory anything) might be an anathema to free spirits, however you seem to be against the idea just on the basis that it would be compulsory and defer the time when youngsters had to get a real job. Providing the training to enable people to be more employable would have to be one of the main aims for an FDF. If you were to still disagree with the idea of making post school education compulsory then would you also then feel that schooling itself shouldn’t be compulsory? It is presently - from 6 to 15 years old. Public opposition to compulsory enrolment to an FDF could be allayed by raising the minimum school leaving age to 17 and having the last 2 years conducted on an extra mural basis. What Croz has written is pertinent – if you feel the idea has some merit, then please shape your comments, rather than just dismissing the whole idea as undesirable. ‘FDF no answer’ wrote that it would be better to build a strong prosperous nation in which every person could be certain of a job. Nobody would disagree, but we can’t just expect it to happen, we have to provide methods to make it so. ‘FDF no answer’ calls for an increase in community service activities and leadership training, which is a good idea. Such activities are already prescribed in international school curricula, indicating that this idea has gained worldwide acceptance. Starting such activities early in the school curriculum might help make such community service part of normal social behaviour ‘FDF no answer’ went on to say we should be thinking of ways we can grow our economy. Again, it doesn’t help to state the obvious and then not suggest how this can be achieved. One way that might help is to compel school leavers who don’t enter tertiary education to continue practical training by recognised apprenticeships - which a properly run FDF could provide.
- sara'ssista said...
- imagine the sensitivity of the pro coup apologists...apparently the only one allowed to have long memory for revenge is the military chief, and the only one allowed to threaten is the illegal regime on a whim...this is not a good basis for a compulsory military style service....i hardly think fiji needs more militarisation do you??
- Croz said...
- @ sara'ssista. I give up. Not only do you refuse to address the question; you refuse to read it. Ioane referred to Ratu Mara and a de-militarised service; you talk of coup apologists, revenge and more militarisation. I have a feeling that no matter what the question, you will trot out the same comments. Your only pertinent comment was your first one.
- Free Bird said...
- It is easy for armchair pundits to to recommend such a coercive scheme because they will not be the ones forced into such a scheme - I have reservations about the proposed compulsory national service (although the idea may appeal some) because people should have the right to choose whether or not they should enlist. I don't know where this nation is heading to - hopefully not into the abyss with repression and coercion!!! Besides, how would the interim govt fund such a grandiose scheme??? Will another $327 million x 10 disappear from FNPF to fund such???
- sara'ssista said...
- oh dear croz, don't give up you darling old duffer...don't despair... i do take your point... and i probably should read the questions..feel free to post or not.
- mother of a 'ssista said...
- This woman is an absolute ass.
- ...ravings of the ssistahood... said...
- Tell you what really gets me...the three dots between everything she says...so that nothing really needs to be coherent...just a stream of consciousness...a potpourri of random expressions...all designed to infuriate...which they invariably do...
- Let's do us a real service said...
- I'd have thought Sara'ssista and Mere Samisoni are prime candidates for one of these compulsory national service schemes. Reading one of them here and the other over at 4.5 convinces me that drilling some sense into these women ought to be a national priority.It doesn't have to be all brainwashing. Imrana Jalal can teach them how to cook fish and chips and Ellen Whippy-Knight can give them up-to-the-minute fashion tips. Then they can be safely let loose again - politically re-educated, competent in the kitchen and decorative. Why waste this kind of scheme on our undeserving youth when we can start taming some of our shrews?
- Roy said...
- @ravings and mother dot dot dot not hard to distract you then...the idea of 'compulsory' has merit, but exactly who has the moral authority to implement it. And it need only a public service or local goevrnment scheme to gain relevant skills and experience, certainly ot the military or police to that degree it will satisfy any consientious objectors.
- Pot Belly said...
- Free Bird, you seem to feel that just because the armchair pundits might not be liable for compulsory service, they shouldn't propose it. Those who do agree with the idea of compulsory further practical education/ apprenticeships may well have children who fall into that category. In addition, parents have already agreed that compulsory primary and high school education is a good thing. An FDF (so long as it isn't militarised or politicised) could be seen as an extension of the school curriculum. As compulsory education presently lasts until 15, it wouldn't be much hardship for it to be extended to 17 years old, which is still under the new voting age. Of course, on that basis, trying to make further education compulsory after 18 would be pretty challenging...!
