Justice and Mercy in our Present world: Do you think Justice and Mercy can co-exist?

Yes, i feel that Justice and Mercy can co-exist. Justice means is the quality of being just and fair and displaying righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness. To uphold justice, you need to be display righteousness and at the same time being equal to all.

Many people feel that justice is punishing people who commit crimes and violated the law. However this is wrong thinking. Justice should be about dishing out the punishment to the ones who commit the crime and not by their own revenge like how Shylock did in The Merchant of Venice. This shows that Shylock was keen on revenge more than upholding the justice.

What about mercy? Mercy is about being forgiving and is a divine virtue, only for the blessed and the kind. The often hard and cold aspect of justice is sometimes affected by mercy. Mercy is an act of forgiving and sympathy. Only cold and cruel people do not feel sympathy and thus, there are many cases where the guilty was released due to the showing of mercy from either the victim or the jury.

One case is about Ameneh Bahrami, an Iranian woman who was horribly disfigured in 2004 after acid was splashed on her face by Majid Movahedi, whose marriage proposal was rejected by Bahrami and in a fit of anger, disfigured Bahrami. The Iranian law states that since Ameneh Bahrami lost an eye, Movahedi's should also remove an eye, according to the law "Qesas", which is basically "an eye for an eye". However, Bahrami decided to be merciful and spared Movahedi of this horrible fate, with the main reason being that Bahrami could not bear to hurt another fellow human being.

This is a very good example of how Justice and Mercy co-exist. The justice is shown when the court summoned Movahedi to have his faced splashed by acid. Mercy is then shown from Bahrami when she decides to forgive Movahedi.

In conclusion, I feel that Justice and Mercy can co-exist. They rely on one another to have a fair judgement when punishing a criminal.

Term 3 Week 5 (Blogging Assignment)

You are required to respond to one of the questions in the Anti-Semitism handout. The question is as follows:

What do you think is Shakespeare's intention of creating Shylock in The Merchant of Venice? Support your opinion with examples.

I feel that Shakespeare's intention of creating Shylock in The Merchant of Venice is to satisfy his audience desire. During that time, Venice strive with Anti-Semitism and it will not benefit him if he tried to promote non Anti-Semitism. This will also be a financial advantage for Shakespeare as many people would want to know the outcome of Shylock, the bad character of The Merchant of Venice. Also since the audience are Anti-Semitism, they would be interested in Shakespeare's play as it is talking about Anti-Semitism and the audience would be interested in it.

Also, Shakespeare could have just created Shylock to be the bad guy in his play so as to show the conflict between the Christian and the Jews. The play could be telling the audience that the Jews were not that bad and try to solve the conflict between the Jews and the Christians.

Term 3 Week 4 (Blogging Assignment)

Read the following Newsweek article, How to Raise a Global Kid, byLisa Miller (July 18, 2011)

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/07/17/american-kids-immersed-in-chinese-asian-education.print.html

What is the main argument Jim Rogers is trying to make in this article? Do you agree with his argument? Justify.

The main argument Jim Rogers wants to make is that America is not the best in the world in terms of education. Nowadays, more parents in America are sending their children to Asia to study, instead of sending them to local schools, for better education. One example is Happy Roger going to Nanyang Primary. These parents send their children to school in Asia to prepare them for the future.

In the life we are living now, education is one of the more important things. Parents would want the best for their children and want them to be all rounded thus having more job choices in the future. To achieve this, parents are sending their children to attend music classes or encourage them to take up multiple sports. Therefore, I agree that better education is the key to success to the 21th century to a certain extent.

In the case of Jim Rogers, he feels that bilingualism is the most important in the education. If u do business with China, you need to know Chinese, while if u do business with the Americans, u will have to know English. Therefore bilingualism is important.

Many Critics would have pointed that there are many different views on what is an ideal education. However I feel that this does not matter as different people have different aspirations in life. So we cannot say that everyone has the same view on ideal education as different jobs and country have different skills. Also, Jim Rogers said that, “The money is in the East, and the debtors are in the West” that’s why education in Asia is better. However this is not true as many Asian still feel that American education is better thus sending their children there.

Therefore, we can infer that education is important in the 21th century but there are different views on what is the ideal education.

Term 3 Week 3 (Blogging Assignment)

Read the following letter:

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

(1) Comment on the Janalle Lee's view on the education system in Singapore.

(2) Is an ideal education possible? Explain.

Post your 500 word response on your blog.

(1) Comment on the Janalle Lee's view on the education system in Singapore.

I feel that what Janelle Lee has stated on her letter is truly evident in Singapore. From the mentality of teachers not to teach why, but to memorise everything in the textbooks from cover to cover, to the teaching of civics and moral education, many things in the Singapore education system that I once overlooked seems flawed now. It seems quite amazing that a Secondary 4 student could pick up these flaws and present them to the minister.

I also agree on Janelle's point about asking question. Most of the time, we are given the answers straight to our face but we don't know what is the main reason behind it. For example, we know that sharks live in the sea and are carnivorous. However, we do not know why they are carnivorous and not herbivores. This show a flaw in the education. Many children are not told the true meaning of things, their curiosity will die out. This is bad! If our Curiosity run out, we will not be able to question ourselves and learn.

Another point made by Janalle was that “The problem is that Singaporean youths are often not taught as individuals with separate talents, but as a collective who are all the same”. This is an obvious inaccuracy in her letter. Students are streamed at an age of 9 during the GEP exam and later at 10 in whether he/she is to be under the foundational class. At the age of 12, the PSLE streams all students into the different schools and at 14, another exam is taken so as to re-examine your capabilities and see if you are eligible for a transfer into an IP school or Special Programme. Therefore, it is not true to say that Singaporean youths are taught as a collective due to the introduction of the School Based Gifted Education.

Therefore, I agree with most of what has been written and applaud Janalle’s find command of the English Language and courage for speaking up. Despite the fact that there has been a few inaccuracies, it must be said that this letter gives another perspective on the Singapore education system.

(2) Is an ideal education possible? Explain.

The ideal education system is an idea chased by many countries and schools around the globe in the pursuit of bringing the best to their country. The ideal education system would ensure the country’s prosperity and the people’s peace.

I feel that an ideal education will be one that can bring out the excellence in oneself and educate students such that they become all-rounded students. This can be done in different ways. Although this may be difficult, but it is still possible.

For this to happen, we need experience teachers who are capable to do it. Teachers are seen as a role model to students. If the teacher show some characteristics which are good, the students most likely follow too.

Although many people feel that having an ideal education is impossible, but i feel that anything is possible if u have a mind to do it.

Term 3 Week 2 (Blogging Assignment)

An article entitled 'The Religion of Water' was published in The Straits Times on 7 July 2011. In the article, it was mentioned that ' within countries, there is debate over whether water should be treated as a human right or as a commodity, access to which is determined by the market.' Please read the article.

Is there a difference between treating water as a human right and as a commodity? In your opinion, should water be treated as a human right or as a commodity?

Post your 300 word response on your blog.

Should water be treated as a human right or a commodity? The article states that the Universal Declaration on Human Rights does not mention water explicitly as the nurturing of water resources were not as pressing as it was back in 1948 as it is today. There is a stark difference between water as a human right and as a commodity because water as a human right means that water is free for all while water as a commodity means that water is exclusive for the rich. However in my opinion, water should be treated as a human right which everyone has access to.

If water was a commodity, those with money will survive while those who are poor will die. It is oblivious ridiculous as water is essential for human survival. If water is commodity, People will be dying every now and then. If that is the case, this means plants and animals have to buy water too? What do they pay with then? Their own parts? Therefore, water should be treated as a human right which everyone has access to.

Also, if water becomes a commodity, riots will erupt when there is a shortage of water. The cost of water will also rise at an alarming rate. In the worst scenario, countries may go to war just to get water. Will you want WWIII? Nobody wants it. Therefore, water should be treated as a human right which everyone has access to.

If water becomes a commodity, many people will think that we will treasure it more. However that is wrong. The rich people will not bother treasuring it as they can afford it. Only the poor and the less wealthy ones will find ways to conserve water. But once u develop a habit of wasting water, it is quite hard to change. Therefore, water should be treated as a human right which everyone has access to.

In conclusion, i feel that after what u have read, u will agree with me that water should be treated as a human right which everyone has access to and not commodity.

Term 3 Week 1 (Blogging Assignment)

Veteran labour leader Halimah Yacob recently called for the legislation of weekly days off for maids working in Singapore. This has sparked off an intense debate amongst Singaporeans. In your opinion, should the giving of weekly days off be legislated in Singapore?

Post your 300 word response on your blog.

I feel that giving of weekly days off for maids working in Singapore should be legalized. This is because the maids have worked very hard for us. Sometimes, when a maid works in the family for maybe 3-5 years long, they will be considered as a family member. Being a maid is like working. If a employee can take leave why cant a maid do so too?

Most of the time, people need to have breaks to relief their stress. If u ask someone to work for 24/7 they will go crazy. It goes the same for the maid. If they store too much stress in their body, the will 'explode' one day. There have been quite a few cases of maids treating children and elderly badly. One of the reasons for these acts are because they are stressful. When the maids are not given a day off to release their stress, they have no choice but to release it on to the employer's family members.

To prevent these acts, the government should legalize the weekly days off for maids. Many families may think that this is a bad idea as the maids may go out and make bad friends. However this is not true as maids can differentiate what is right from wrong. Even a child can do that why not a maid. Maids have a brain of their own. We should let them decide their own path to walk instead of building one for them without their consent.

In conclusion, i feel that the day off is for them to socialize with other maids as they are in a foreign country with no friends and relatives in here. With the day off, the maids can meet up with one another and share their working experience so as not to make the same mistake as their fellow compatriot. Without them, many families cannot cope with their housework as they need ti juggle between work and housework.

Task 2

Q2) Complete the template provided below (Annex A), focusing on (1) Point of View; (2) Situation and Setting; (3) Language/Diction; and (4) Personal Response, and post your response to Task 2 on your blog. This template is based on John Lye’s ‘Critical Analysis of Poetry’, and you can make reference to this in Annex B when in doubt.

Point of view: This poem is in the point of view of Hubert Wilson. “Now thinking twice?” This message is show that Hubert Wilson was referring to the Americans thus it is in the point of view of him.

Situation and setting: This poem is talking about the spraying of poisonous gas like Agent Orange and the death of the Vietnamese. “Generations untold WILL pay-Execrable effects of Agent Orange spray!” This show that the poem is talking about the many innocent generation that will pay for what the Americans have done which is the Agent Orange spray.

Language/Diction: The poem is showing that the poet is angry with the Americans. “America did not foresee Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!” The poet is angry as the Americans did not see that the Rainbow Herbicides could kill people.

Personal Response: This poem is saying that the effects of war are very damaging. During war, deaths not only happen on the spot but also after it. Most of the time, the future generation are affected by by the works of their older generation.