A Real Hero

Who says Singaporeans are kia-su, kia-si and kia-bu (loosely translated: loss-phobic, death-phobic and spouse-phobic)? Trussed up like a chicken with hands and legs tied, bundled in a blanket and dumped unceremoniously at the back of a pick-up truck, the only time fear crossed the mind of the tour guide cum leader was when he worried about ever seeing his wife of 12 years again.

A hero's welcome

Rather than let the heavily armed Bedouin hi-jackers seize the old couple in their 60s seated in front of the holy land tour bus, 44-year-old Vincent Toh valiantly volunteered himself to be hostage for their nefarious intent - apparently as exchange for one of their tribesmen arrested by the Egyptian police for drug related offences. The ordeal in the scorching temperatures of the Sinai Peninsula ended only when he was re-united with his Queenstown Methodist Church group which was waiting and praying anxiously for his safety at a Cairo hotel.

There is now a travel advisory out regarding travelling overland in that part of the world, still adrift in turmoil after the ouster of Housni Mubarak. Last weekend’s presidential election is supposed to be the final step in the transition to civilian government, when power will be handed to the first democratically elected leader in Egypt’s long history. Some scholars believe that Mount Sinai, the mountain at which Moses received the Ten Commandments, is actually located in Saudi Arabia. Charles Beke in 1878 suggested Mount Baggir, to the northeast of the Gulf of Akaba, as the true location.  So a detour will not be missed.

What should not be missed is that we have a real life hero at home. Will he be given a medal at this year's National Day Awards ceremony? Sadly, that's quite unlikely. The guys nominated are usually are top dogs in uniform, adding another ribbon to their many decorations for faithful lapdog service to their political masters. Some of them have ended up in the little black book of the under-age online prostitute, or listed among those who received gratification from IT vendors.