Blog prompt 8

The Phone-hacking Scandal, continued

I could not believe my eyes when I read this article. I knew it must be, of course, but seeing it in a letter from a former reporter of the company showed how uncaring they were. An entire company, ignoring the fact that this phone-hacking, this invasion of privacy is going on under their nose, and not doing anything?

Clive Goodman, News International (NI) former royal reporter, just recently wrote to NI, stating that phone hacking "was 'widely discussed' at editorial meetings, until such chatter was banned by the editor". Apparently, people would do anything for money. If it included covering up an enormous phone-hacking plot, so be it. If it included devastating families of murder victims more, so be it. I doubt they have any heart left in them at all, letting all this go by unsettled. I personally feel disgusted at the hearts of these men. Where are their morals? If it had been Murdoch alone, it would have been his mistake. Standing aside and letting a crime happen is almost tantamount to having committed it himself. Someone should have stood up to Murdoch, regardless of his authority, to guide him back to the path, to not allow him to stray off. Instead, the whole executive staff played an extreme "follow-the-leader" game, where they followed his plans, not knowing right or wrong. I wish they had a sense of moral value to at least try and stop him, which would t least be the right thing to do even if it means risking his job. Others more worthy to follow might have appreciated this value of integrity at least, but now they have a criminal record and are involved with Murdoch, no one will hire them any more.

"The news media should be blamed for the unhealthy paparazzi culture and going to the extremes for sensational news. How far do you agree?"

I agree to a small extent that the news media should be blamed for the unhealthy paparazzi culture and going to the extremes for sensational news.

Firstly, the readers of the news play an important part in the cultivation of this unhealthy culture. Only when there is a demand will there be a supply. The readers and supporters of newspapers fulfil the "demand" portion, which will cause supply to rise. The readers only care about the news; they do not care about the ways and means they were obtained. They just continue buying the newspapers, without a care for the subjects of these news, who gets pestered by paparazzi, trying but failing to maintain the slightest bit of privacy. As such, the readers and supporters of these news are the main root of this problem.

Secondly, the paparazzi are not doing anything against the law, so the law enforcement have no right to arrest them. They are perfectly at liberty to interview others and to write news about them. Without suppression, the paparazzi will continue their work, and even more will also start to take up this job. No one else also dares to oppose the news publishers, for fear of being reported in the news. This lack of opposition has promoted the growth of this unhealthy culture.

However, the news media are also to blame. The news companies are desperate about earning money, and will try all ways and means to achieve their objectives. There is also competition between the reporters -- a survival of the fittest, where only those who are more effective stay and others are fired. The reporters will work hard as they can to get news from readers, from whom the companies earn money, and from whom the reporters' salaries are paid.

Blog prompt 5

1) Is there true justice?

The answer to this question depends on one's perspective of true justice. According to dictionary definitions, justice is the legal treatment used to punish people who have committed crimes. However, justice has also been commonly used in referring to the fair treatment of people. If justice is taken as the legal system used to punish, I do not feel there is true justice. Legal systems and the laws which comprise of it are created by humans, and as it is commonly said, it is human to err. As these laws are made by humans, it is unsafe to say that it is absolutely fair to others. Parallel to that thought is the fact that humans also have no right to judge what true justice is. Therefore, I can conclude that true justice cannot be judged by Man.

2) Is there true mercy, as expounded by Portia? Why?

There is true mercy as expounded by Portia. However, after Shylock refuses the mercy, she becomes strict and refuses to spare him another chance.At first, she gives him three chances to mete out mercy to Antonio, which he refuses. Although there was no way Shylock could have foreseen that Portia was going to trap him with her play of words, he should have meted out mercy when given the chance. As others say, do unto others what you want others to do unto you, if you are merciful, you will be repaid for your mercy one day. In my perspective, true mercy was meted out, as expounded by Portia.

3) Justice and law can be manipulated by people in power. Comment on this with reference to the text and other real-life cases and examples.

It is true that justice and law can be manipulated. The only question is only what kind of people can do that. Authority is an obvious quality needed to do so. One has to attain a certain level of authority, such as a lawyer, to be able to even speak out for or against the law. Secondly, one must have intelligence and wit to be able to manipulate justice and law to suit him or herself.If one does not have that quality, and tries to twist the laws around at random, he may find them turning against him. Lastly, the person must understand the convict or prosecutor he is dealing with. If the convict or prosecutor's background is not understood, they may not fall for any trap the person sets.

Blog prompt 4

http://www.temasekreview.com/2011/07/12/an-open-letter-to-the-education-minister-from-a-secondary-4-student/

This is an open letter to the education minister written by a secondary four student who will be taking her sec 4 'O' Level examination this year

You probably have already heard that a Secondary Four student recently wrote a letter to the Education Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat, which generated much heated debate again about Singapore's much-discussed education system.

1. To what extent do you agree with the issues that the student has raised here? Point out some issues of agreement and possible contention.
   I agree that the education in Singapore is stifling the talent of the students. The students are forced to set other, more important things aside just to see the A1 written in black and white on that report card. They are setting aside the good character instilled in them from young, preferring to isolate themselves in their room, cramming information into their minds, just to see that A1 printed on that report card. Where did this mentality come from? The teachers and parents. Diplomas and degrees are growing increasingly more influential over the years, and many parents and teachers crave success for their children and students. They are, perhaps unwittingly, imposing this thinking that nothing is more important than a good grade and achievements, or certificates. Although they state that nothing is more important than a good character, they fail to rein themselves in as they begin to flare up, rebuking students and children for bad grades. To quote Janelle, who am I to make a generalisation, and to state all teachers and parents are like that? I cannot. However, this mentality is only rampant among students through certain teachers and parents.
   

2. Examine her tone and attitude in this letter. Do you think it’s a well-crafted letter with the appropriate tone?
   
   Her tone suggest that she is reining her anger and frustration in. However, it is a well-crafted letter, with an appropriate tone of respect to the Minister, and also of modesty so as to not impress on to the Minister that she is proud, humbling herself in some places, such as, "Granted, who am I to make a generalisation and say that all teenagers are this way? I know that there are teenagers and youths out there who are truly compassionate, who would truly go out of their way to help, but I have no arguments in my bag of tricks to argue for the stand that this behaviour is taught by Civics and Moral Education lessons in schools."

3. If you should write a letter to Minister of Education, what are some issues you would raise? Remember- your intention is to make the system better for society’s betterment via CONSTRUCTIVE ideas.
   
   I will raise the same issues as Janelle, but I will also raise the issue of the existence of single gender schools. I feel there should not be single gender schools, as single gender schools only serve to distance boys from girls and vice versa. This will seriously impair the ability of these students to communicate in the future, when both genders have to work together. Even now, merely one or two years into the system, the repercussions are already felt. If students from Hwa Chong Institution and Nanyang Girls High, for example, are travelling together on a private bus, a bystander will not help but notice that  the males will gravitate to one half of the bus, while the females to the other. The same applies for group work. In primary school, boys and girls are less afraid to work together, while in single gender secondary schools, when doing group work, members of different genders tend to prefer to interact online instead of face-to-face.

Blog prompt 3

In your opinion, is money important in a relationship? Consider the 'transactional' element observed in the relationships between the couples. Do you think there is an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities? Provide examples for your responses.

My answer:
Money is not at all important in a relationship. One hears many phrases about the importance of money, such as: money is time, as good as gold, etc. However, one also hears many stories of how money has broken up families, as one party (usually the male), becomes increasingly obsessed with money, eventually ignoring the other party and his loved ones in his pursuit for wealth. After all these, many people are in two minds about money. Most come to the conclusion that money is important, but not in emotional and psychological aspects of life. However, some are unswayed in their perspective that money is all-important and omnipotent. I feel, however, that money is not important in matters of the heart. If one truly loves a person, he or she will try his or her uttermost to be with the person, against all odds. If one is only attached to another when he or she has money, it is not true love, but purely human greed. However, some who are lonely and rich may desire this kind of company, not being able to associate him or herself well with others. However, these relationships are short-lived. After leeching enough money from the rich, these 'friends' will leave him or her to pursue another victim. Therefore, I can conclude that money does not matter in a true relationship.

Blog prompt 2

In your opinion, how has war evolved from the past to the present? Please use examples to justify your opinions.

In my opinion, war has changed progressively from the past to the present, in accordance to the advancements made by technology itself. As the world heads towards a technology based society, the use of society is much more prevalent in our present society. Technology is constantly progressing, to satisfy the bottomless hole that is Man's greed. In certain situations, Man's greed drives them to desire certain things, which they achieve by the simplest way possible, in Man's eyes -- war. In that case, they depend on technology, and use it in the wrong way, to destroy, and to annihilate, just to achieve Man's own selfish needs, not a care for others, just so long as they get what they want.

Even now, technology is advancing more rapidly along the road, which may lead to destruction, or lead in a circle, like Man's insatiable hunger. Technology, other than being used negatively in warfare and destruction, has also been used in the destruction of privacy -- very soon, no one would be able to upload something offensive online without enduring an onslaught of insults, or witnessing a campaign against him, growing ever bigger. These leaking information might be used against others or create conflicts; used to blackmail or threaten; to coerce and to suppress. Wars may even be started over the release of information. One example is the Cuban Missile Crisis. A full scale nuclear war was almost started due to the U.S. finding out about the intermediate range missile installations in Cuba. Luckily, the matter was resolved with no lasting repercussions.

Blog prompt 1

1) Why do you think National Service is important to Singapore?

National Service serves two main purposes: Promotion of harmony and preparation for the time when we have to defend ourselves. Both are equally crucial to the growth of Singapore. Singapore is a small country and harmony is important, for without it, there will be unrest among the people. National Service promotes harmony by putting men of all races through the same process, hence effectively bonding them together. It promotes teamwork and also teaches men to defend our country in times of need.

2) In the above poem, the speaker expresses his love for his country England. Do you have the same spirit for patriotism towards Singapore? Why?

Yes, I have the same spirit for patriotism. Singapore has helped me to become what I am today, and is the country I grew up in, and provided for me.

3) Do you consider yourself a patriot to your country?
I do not consider myself a patriot to my country to the extent of wanting to give up my life for Singapore yet. However, I do consider myself patriotic enough to want to return to the society what it has given to me. Unlike certain others, I do CIP activities with the intention to help, not just for the sake of CIP hours.