Tuesday, 10 July 2007
23:57
Singer believes that freedom of expression is essential to any democracy and therefore should not be limited. On the other hand, Szilagyi believes that more focus should be placed on social responsibility. I believe that both of them have their own reasons and experience to support their view, however, I think that both viewpoints suits a different kind of society. For third world countries like Pakistan, Singer’s view should be considered due to the fact that that place lacks the freedom of expression. However too much of this freedom of expression have heavy consequences. Mass demonstration can occur; the country will suffer heavy lost from it.
For Singapore, a multi-racial society, where there is cultural and religious pluralism, I feel that Szilagyi’s point of view should be adopted. Limited freedom of expression should be given. It is true that democracy is required for a transparent and uncorrupted government board, but by giving total freedom of expression, some people would take this chance to discriminate other religions or cultural practices. There will then be mutual suspicion of the races. The government might loose control over the citizens.
Like Szilagyi said in his article, “ But when making a point about self-censorship and press freedom, newspaper should have considered the cartoon’s potential effects on Europe’s growing anti-Islam sentiments.” Before we demand for more freedom of expression, we should consider what might happen if full freedom of expression is allowed. We are sure to be biased against other religions and races. Furthermore, since technology is very advanced and information is can be attained very quickly through the media, even a small hurting racist comment might start a boycott if it were to reach the targeted racial group. The collective interests of the society should be protected, especially for small and more dependant countries like Singapore.
However on the other hand, freedom of expression is important and should not be done away with. To maintain a clear and transparent government, some press freedom should be granted. Without press freedom, the NKF leaders would continue to suck a large portion of donations and use it for themselves. To improve, governments need suggestions from the citizens. It is sometimes hard to see everything from the government’s point of view; however, the people of the country are the ones affected by the many laws and benefits provided by the government. Since we are affected, we should be granted a say to voice our displeasure. This is to ensure that the country would continue to improve economically and socially.
In conclusion, I think that more of Szilagyi’s view should be adopted. However Singer’s view is not totally rubbish. The public should be aware when or not to make a remark on a certain issue, like racial equality, and how far they should go on talking about that issue. The intention of a comment should not be to hurt others, but to let improvement take place. In Singapore, respect should be given to all races and religions to ensure peaceful coexistence of different races and religion---to protect the collective interests of society. Therefore I think that Szilagyi’s view should be adopted.
Tuesday, 24 April 2007
22:34
haiz...homework so much...
Today, I went to sick bay because of some stomach cramp. I reach sick bay at 1240. Lessons emd at 1245. Should have just gone home right? Plus today got no CO prac!!! Anyway at around 1340 I felt better and went out of sick bay to find friends. Then I saw my PW grp at the red tent discussing our GPP so I went to join them. We are doing task 1, groundbreaker...and our groundbreaker is Momofuku Ando---the inventor of instant noodles. I felt like some brain-dead person and could not think of any ideas, so practically I slept through the discussion. The thing I am thankful about is that many of my classmates came to ask if I was all-right...so nice of them...haha.
The only day in the week that I have no CCA...and i spent the afternoon sleeping...ZzZZzZZzZzZZzZZz. Woke up at like...now? Haha. I think I wont sleep again until like 1 or 2am...I think I shall spend my time mugging...common test starts next week/..
I hope I can plubish my gp answers...it was due on sunday 2359, but I cannot copy and paste the file in...so I think I send my homework to my teacher via email...
So tired...even after near 6 hrs of rest...
Saturday, 21 April 2007
19:12
==George Owell== : "A Hanging"
Qn1: George Orwell's "A Hanging" has been described as a powerful condemation of capital punsihment. What techniques does Orwell use to draw from his readers the desired inference, as his condemation is delivered indirectly rather than by more explicit means?
Ans: In the passage, the author mostly used descriptive techniques to deliver his desired inference.He made us draw sympathy for the man about to be hanged. He zoomed in on his body structure to show that he by no means a person near death, yet he was about to be "destroyed".
He decribed vividly the scene before, during and after the hanging. From solemn, dreading feeling before the hanging, to a more relaxed mood after the hanging.
He also decribed the mood of the people at the scene of the hanging. For example "the indians has gone grey like bad coffee" showing that even the people around the prisoner was frighten.
The author also used a dog to bring out his stand more clearly. He first write that the dog was "wagging its whole body" and was "wild with glee" before the man was hanged. However, after the hanging, the dog was scared after it noticed that the man was dead and it "retreated into a corner" and looked "timorously" at the author and the warders. This change in feelings shown by the dog clearly brings out the mood at the end of a hanging, a mixture of fear and sadness.
The author described the mood of the hanging, letting us be aware of the emotions of the people there and the atmosphere around the gallow, thus making us feel sorry for the hanged man and agreeing with him that capital punishment is cruel.
Qn2: What are some of the arguments for and against capital punishment?
Ans:
For: Capital punishment is no doubt effective way of crime control. Punishment is needed to protect our society by deterring crimes through examples. Thus society
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
22:21
This is non-gp related...
haiz...I think I am going to die of CO practise and class leader crap...the two things that make me so tulan,,,
AJCO...I hate you! SYF is in 22 days. Then now practise average five times a week...SO SIANZ>Z>Z>...like I got nothing to do after school but to attend CO practice...
Then this week quite bad...Monday got prac...Tuesday make me miss two lessons...tutorial, dunno how to catch up...Luckily today don't have, I can spend some time catching up on homework. Then tmr, Friday, Sat, Sun, Mon all have practice...Some good week...then there is this ~~FaMiLy DaY`` thingy on Saturday also. That day prac start at 2. family day ends at 1. 1hr how to walk to eating venue + have a good meal with friends + tok crap^1000 + walk back to AJC??? I already loosing out on homework...havent do a lot of homework...
Then talking about ~~FaMiLy DaY``...the council rejected 5 of my class's proposal...fIvE proposals. Then in the end my last idea seem more appealing and they accepted it. It is about tenpin bowling with a coconut. Then got one class leader(A) in my class keep slacking off...then the other class leader(B) keep asking me for game proposal ideas...For today's meeting B got early CCA, and A at first agree to go but in the because the meeting cannot pon lesson he decided not to go...So I go myself...the whole admin thingy a bit slow...but cannot blame them...they are 80% run by J2 students.
Now got another problem...is the gp mini-lecture...I dunno how to do. Some my grp members like forget the existance of such a mInI-lEcTuRe...It is something about mass media---media leaders and media conglomerates. 10 - 15 mins talk. I will be happy to carry on talking for 2 minutes...I hope my legs wont cramp...
ok...CO + class leader crap + avalanche of homework + dUnNo HoW tO dO qUeStIoNs + little time = slowing atomising myself + huge loss of energy...nice eqn.
I think I go finish up some homework before I sleep...if not I really no time liao...hope after ~~fAmIlY dAy`` and SYF life will be better...better give me one month break after CO concert...
Thursday, 22 March 2007
21:21
I cannot believe that I am making a blog specially for general paper. I have a feeling that blog should be informal, relaxed and to be written at my free time. This blog however must be formal. A bit irritating...isn't it?
By the way as the first entry i have to do a self-introduction. Usually I put these information in my profile or under the 'about me' table. Nevertheless I shall introduce myself. I am Li Wen Hao from Anderson Junior Colledge(AJC), class 02/07. I was previously from Catholic High School(CHS). Most girls feel that CHS produce weird guys. I cannot agree more; single-gender school people are deprived of certain things. My CCA is Chinese Orchestra and I play the erhu. I have practise 3 times a week and they all end as late as eight thirthy in the evening.
I am quite short for a boy of my age. I am currently 167cm and weigh 61 kg. I got a very wierd nickname of 'Nai-ma' in my class, I do not want to go into details. My class is quite balanced, there are thirteen females and twelve males, 7 of whom are newcomers to our class.
Like most people, I have a hobby of sleeping. Favourite venues include my bedroom and school auditorium(esp during boring lessons). I used to play the card-game Yu-Gi-OH, but my deck got confiscated when I was in secondary two and I stop playing from then on. I am quite good at Reversi, it is a board game with counters with a black side and a white side, so anyone who feels bored during breaks can have a game of Reversi with me.
I am definately not good at self-introduction, however thats all about me for now.
``Comments~~ [for teachers only]
