Assignment 1: Blogging Task

In the context of Singapore’s multi-racial society, where there is cultural and religious pluralism, I believe that Szilagyi’s view should be adopted. The fact that freedom of expression is important cannot be denied. However, as in the case of Singapore’s multi-racial society, social responsibility is even more crucial. Thus, freedom of expression has to be limited in the country.

With reference to the article by Peter Singer, “John Stuart Mill wrote that if a view is not ‘fully, frequently, and fearlessly discussed,’ it will become ‘a dead dogma, not a living truth.’” I agree with his view that real truth can only be found through freedom of expression. But, when that freedom is unrestricted, it means that it will also “include the freedom to say what everyone else believes to be false, and even what many people find offensive.” In Singapore, that is highly likely to happen due to its multi-racial background. When it does, the development of the country will be greatly affected and it will be in a very vulnerable state. Hence, in order to prevent this from happening, there is a need for restriction of freedom of expression. Otherwise, consequences may be even more dire than that mentioned earlier.

From the article by Zsofia Szilagyi, it is shown that unrestricted freedom of expression will lead to undesirable effects as shown in the case of publishing the cartoons. In that example, the Danish and Norwegian newspapers only “wanted to make a statement about the extensive self-censorship”. But by publishing the cartoons, they have unintentionally cause “potential effects on Europe’s growing anti-Islam sentiments” and “provoked rage in the Muslim world.” Therefore, freedom of expression must be limited. This can only be achieved through the people’s cooperation. This is where social responsibility, which “places more emphasis on the media’s responsibility in leading an informed, high-quality discussion, with due respect for minority rights”, becomes essential.

From what I think, there is a need to protect the interests of the public in the country. Otherwise the public will give up on the country, affecting its development. Thus, freedom of expression should be limited, as some messages passed down in the society may be offensive to certain people or groups of people, affecting their interests. This may cause them to carry out serious actions that may result in heavy consequences. Hence, focus should be put on social responsibility, where interests of the people are being considered. And thus, media should always practice it such that there is peace and harmony in the country where public interests are protected.

Crime & Punishment

Q11) What are the root causes of criminal behavior and how may a society best deal with them?

There are a wide range of causes for criminal behavior, which includes greed, poverty, drug addiction and lack of education. However, education plays the main role of affecting how individuals may behave when they are adults. Education equips individuals with skills and knowledge that are fundamental for their survival in society. This is due to the fact that employers would much prefer workers with relevant skills and knowledge. Thus, many of the uneducated may find themselves unemployed. As a result, they live in destitute conditions. As they become poorer, they would be enticed to participate in criminal activities. Further more, every person has unlimited wants, resulting in their greediness. When people are dissatisfied with what they have which is actually enough, they strive to acquire more, even to the extent of breaking the laws to do so. It is like a teenager, who has an average life, attempts to satisfy his desires like buying ipod, or high-technology computers. When his parents refuse to help him do so, he may probably rob a bank with his accomplices to acquire enough money to buy what he wants. So, even if one lives a life of average standard, he or she may be driven by greed and commit crimes in an attempt to satisfy their desires. People who consume drugs can get very addicted to them and seldom can drug addicts quit their addictions without help. Even with help, drug addicts may not necessarily have the determination to do so. Since drugs are regularly sold at a high price, these people often turn to crimes to gain the money necessary to buy the drugs as a result of being incapable to quit their addictions.

Countries should try their best to provide education to as many children as possible. If children do not go to schools, they would roam the streets where they are exposed to criminal activities. As time goes on, they would also commit minor offences like shoplifting and vandalism, eventually they will advance on to more serious crimes like drug trafficking or even murder. Otherwise, the society can set up private institutions, for children to attend. At the very least, children will be preoccupied with some matters instead of being so free that roaming the streets become their daily routine. Since drug addiction is part of the causes, it would be best for governments to also educate children on the harmful effects of drugs, deterring them from touching drugs, indirectly lowering the crime rates. The society can also help by condemning drugs and discouraging the usage of drugs. Greediness in people cannot be eliminated. However, individuals can be induced with the right moral values, such that their greediness will not drive them to do things that have dire consequences or are against their consciences, like breaking the laws.

A Hanging

Q1: George Orwell’s “A Hanging” has been described as a powerful condemnation of capital punishment. What techniques does Orwell use to draw from his readers the desired inference, as his condemnation is delivered indirectly rather than by more explicit means?

Ans: In “A Hanging”, George Orwell shows his disapproval of capital punishment through ways on how death is regarded as an insignificant matter. Examples like “cutting a life short when it is in full tide” and the superintendent wanting to finish the job of executing the Hindu man as quickly as possible justify this point. Moreover, the dead is not treated with respect as shown in the event of the superintendent poking dead with his stick to ensure his death. His point is further reinforced by the fact that the Hindu man is being held like a fish by the guards, showing that he is not treated like human being even when he is going to die.

Q2: What are some of the arguments for and against capital punishments?

Ans: Capital punishments should be carried out to remove villains from the society, make them pay the consequences for what they have done and from there, educate others on doing only what is right. But, life is precious, it cannot be retrieved once it is gone, hence it should only be applied as a last resort and could only be used on those who have done heinous crimes. Others that have committed less severe crimes should be punished in other ways.

Q3: What are your own views on capital punishment? In what circumstances (if any) can the death penalty be justified?

Ans: I personally feel that capital punishment should be implemented based on the circumstances provided. Criminals must be punished for the harm they have done on the society, on one way, it serves as a warning to the public, cautioning them the consequences they have to pay for their wrongdoings. On the other hand, this serves as a lesson to the criminals, such that they will not commit the same mistakes again. Capital punishments are justified under situations like murder, as it causes death of innocent people.

Self intro

Yo, TuRb0 here. This blog is done out of homework reason.... I previously study in zhss (zhonghua secondary), and hence has been a zhonghuarian for 4 years. I currently study the PCME combination (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Economics) in AJC (Anderson Junior College). I am enrolled in AJC for both the first and second intake. I like to play basketball when I am free, though my skill may not be that good. Other than basketball, i also play pool and computer games for leisure. I like to watch television programmes and i do it without fail everyday. Inuyasha and the Tsubasa chronicles are in my “shows” list and I suppose for the time being, my favourite will be the Getbackers. This anime is a bit or rather quite funny, especially when Amano Gingi does stuff in the “hamster form”. Other than anime, I also watch drama series, like Twin of Brothers and Making Miracles. Comedy shows like Fun Club are part of my favourites too. When I am free I also watch shows like True Files and Supernatural. When I am much younger, I enjoy collecting cards. Naturally, I like playing them too, especially Yugioh duel cards, though less frequent nowadays. I like listening to music too, but that apply to Chinese pop songs in general. To a smaller extent I listen to Japanese and English songs.