China's Army Bans Snoring

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/23/china.army.ap/index.html

China's Army Bans Snoring

In response to the changing social trends among Chinese, China is tightening its standards for their military. Drugs tests along with psychological tests are now a requirement. This was first reported by the official Xinhua News Agency, which cited a military health official. A new set of recruitment rules were released by The People's Liberation Army headquarters. The rules stated: "Recruits with fashionable tattoos will be barred from military schools, although traditional tattoos of ethnic minorities will be allowed if they are not too obvious when the recruit is wearing summer shorts." According to Li Chunming, a Chinese army health official, "tattoos will tarnish the military's image, even the scars of removed tattoos." He also said that heavy snorers will be banned from the army, although it is not specified how they will test for that. The report included the reasoning for urine drugs tests as a response to an increasing number of young Chinese drug users. The psychological tests will include a written test. Whoever does well enough on the written part will have an interview. Miao Danmin, a professor at the Psychology Research Institute of the Fourth PLA Medical College, explained that "the army has requirements for its officials with regard to personality and mental health."

This article is written with a hint of sarcasm in my opinion. The title emphasizes on the fact that snoring was banned, instead of just stating that the standards for the Army were raised. Although, it is pretty ridiculous that snoring is banned at all. I'm a snorer and it's really not my fault! It is uncontrollable and although it may cause people who are in the vicinity of hearing it loss of sleep, it doesn't really hurt anyone. But, sleep loss might be the reason they aren't allowed into the army. The ban of tattoos is interesting because they are clear to state that only "fashionable tattoos" are banned. Who is to argue what is fashionable and what is unfashionable? Will there be a board of tattoo judges looking at every applicants tattoo artwork? Traditional tattoos are not banned if they aren't able to be seen while the recruit is wearing summer shorts. I'm not quite sure what summer