Total defence to me is all about sacrifice. For instance, to remember about the past, how our elders defended Singapore and stuff, we actually ration food supplies in our school.

Many of the students in my school grimaced when they tasted the porridge that was given to us today in school. they complained that it was bland and tasted plain. But, they failed to realise that this was what our elders ate in the past. You don't hear them complaining about the taste of the porridge. (:

Today, when the SCDF sounded the alrm at approximately 12.05p.m, some of my friends thought that it was a fire drill. This goes to show that many people like us, the young generation, can't be bothered about this day. I admit that I ain't very interested in this day either, but at least, I know what the alarm sounds like and what was the purpose of sounding the alarm. Can you imagine what would happen if the alarm was sounded in a crisis? Many people would be clueless? many lives would be lost...( if we were attacked by another country, etc.)

I really hope that people would treat Total Defence Day more seriously, for in future, when a real crisis strikes, we would know what to do.

Now, for some information....

The five arrows in the logo represent the five aspects of Total Defence: Military, Civil, Economic, Social and Psychological Defence. The arrows point in the same upward direction. This signifies concerted effort towards a common objective: safeguarding the progress and future of Singapore. The logo's outline is significant for two reasons: It is, firstly, the outline of a hand, symbolising action and representing unity and completeness. Total Defence is deficient if any of the five "fingers" is missing. Secondly, the logo is in the shape of a house, and symbolises Singapore as our homeland. With Total Defence, the security of our homeland is therefore safeguarded. The crescent and five stars, and the colours of red and white, are elements from the National Flag. They represent nationhood. Total Defence brings Singaporeans together as one people. Taken as a whole, the logo symbolises all Singaporeans doing what they can in Total Defence to ensure peace and security for the future.

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