Lion's Home Visit March 2010

Unfriendly, drooping with thick strands of saliva, covered with a unwelcoming stench of unbearable sweat, glaring at people around, spitting and coughing loudly, and scolding vulgarities at any random person that crossed their horizon. These were the impressions, or rather stereotypes and assumptions I fired on anyone so unlucky to land under my category of "old people".

However, my juvenile presumptions amazingly changed through a short 2 hour visit to an old folks home, a CIP activity organized by our school aimed to help us understand these people better, and learn how to interact with others that lived in a drastically different environment form ours - an environment without family and loved ones.

The task seemed easy - just teaching the elderly how to fold origami and design flower pots. But there was clearly big polarity between imagination and reality. The moment I stepped into the Lion's home, I was standing before a table of 5 impatient elderlies waiting for me to start. But I didn't know where to start!

Looking back, this trip has no doubt, been a good confidence training. Being forced to smile in front of 5 strangers and start speaking towards them, although most do not understand Chinese was definitely a test of courage and patience. Nevertheless, I told myself secretly, "Do not ask for a light load, but a strong back". I had to build up my self-confidence sooner or later. Why not take this terrific opportunity to train myself?

I started in Chinese "Hi everyone, we are students from Hwa Chong. Today we will be teaching you how to fold some simple origami as well as help you design your own flower pots. Shall we start now? Here .... firstly, fold the paper this way ... yes, that is correct! Wah, Uncle, your fingers are so agile! ..........."

Slowly and slowly, I got more and more used to talking at the front, and after talking for a while, the daunting task became increasingly successful. Although we faced many problems at the start - for example, none of us knew how to speak Hokkien, but most elderlies communicated in Hokkien. To solve that problem, we communicated with the elderlies via hand signs instead.

We also faced other problems like how the elderlies were not willing to cooperate and be involved in the activities. However, we did not give up and tried even harder instead to be more enthusiastic and warm towards them. Gradually, they opened more towards us and enjoyed our company.

This trip is indubitably an enriching one - in the past, I always had childish ideas about elderlies being very mean people, but after seeing how they opened up to us, sharing their personal feelings and experiences, they are in fact quite kind and friendly people. In a way, through this trip, I have matured another step deeper in my understanding of people around me.

To understand a person, you have to crawl into his skin and walk around it - those elderlies have their grievances and sufferings so they tend to be moody most of the time - some have unbearable sicknesses, and others are being abandoned by their children.

The most we can do is to show them that at least there are still many people in this world that care for them. In the process of trying to understand and empathize with the elderly, this trip has also further improved my ability to consider things from other's point of view.

I am striving to improve in areas of kindness and the ability to empathize. I hope more of such events would be held in the future. Service learning, as the name suggests, is indeed both beneficial to the students and the community.

Jack Neo Scandal: Purpose behind Minister Yeo's actions

Jack Neo is not another ordinary citizen, he is a National Icon. I am sure many of us have been humoured by his entertaining shows before. Even many important figures like PM Lee, MM Lee, SM Goh, have mentioned his resilience and creativity in countless speeches to spur and motivate citizens to learn from this exemplary figure.

Jack Neo is also a long-time friend of Minister Yeo. They have known each other since the 1990s and have even co-started a blog together.

When Minister Yeo received the confession call from Jack Neo the night before, he could not just keep quiet about the incident, or release an official statement supporting his actions too. Minister Yeo had to defend his friend and as foreign minister, protect this "National hero", so he can't possibly keep quiet. However, being an government official, he had to condemn such immoral acts too. As such, Minister Yeo's action had to be politically balanced.

The politically correct thing to do was to defend Jack Neo, but in a more subtle way. If Jack Neo's is not being defended, the government, who has praised him many times, would be a big laughingstock of other countries. But if Minister Yeo openly speak to the public about this matter, it will be inappropriate too because in that way, he is actually encouraging social vices of having an affair and committing adultery.

Therefore, what he did was the best option - to blog his opinions. This was neither speaking for the government, nor openly defending Jack - it was just his personal opinion. For example, he said in his blog that he was "deeply saddened". This sentence expresses his disapproval for Jack's actions, yet stirs up empathy amongst the readers for Jack.

Jack's move to call up Minister Yeo was also wise. Minister Yeo is not anybody - he is the foreign minister and it was his duty to defend this Singapore Icon (who made Singapore movies famous) and friend. His words, even though it was his own "personal opinion", made a great influence and impact on the people.

If I were Minister Yeo, I would definitely defend Jack Neo. It is the politically correct action, and although I feel angry over Jack's actions, I am also left with no choice but to defend him.

Seizure of Thaksin Assets: What I would do.

It has been almost 4 years since Thaksin has been ousted from hisoffice. Nonetheless, his passionate supporters, dubbed the "red-shirts", have still been fervently supporting him throughout these years, for a few reasons. Firstly, some living in poverty have benefitted from Thaksin's infamous campaign tool of giving money to "buy supporters", and are immensely grateful to him. Secondly, a majority of Thaksin true supporters believe Thaksin is not guilty of
corruption, and are angry over accusations made by the military government. Many believed Thaksin has prosper the country during his helm.

There had been many crucial developments since 2006 crisis, leading to Thaksin's self exile, ruling of Thaksin conviction and jail term, violent confrontations between the red shirts and the military, and now the seizure of Thaksin's assets.

If I were Thaksin, I would obviously not accept the ruling, but instead stand firm in my ground and encourage my followers to fight on. While I would not encourage any violence proceedings, it is important that we should continue to stand firm and pressure the existing government. We need fight for what we believe in for so long, democracy should not be compromised.

If I quietly accept the ruling, it is the same as admitting I am guilty of being corrupted. This will disappoint many of my followers who support me because they strongly believe that I am innocent, which I am. Not taking any action would send the wrong message to my followers

I have repeatedly clarified my stand that I have relinquished my shareholdings in Shin Corp since I took office. But make no mistakes; this is a company that I have so painstakingly build up over the years. My sweat, my time, the thinking and passion put behind are the reason of its success. The money that Shin Corp has earned over the years are legal and rightful , and obviously not easy. Shin Corp has build a strong foundation over the years and as
such possess the capacity to continue its strong earning abilities even after my departure.

It is very convenient for the existing government, which I will still label as illegal as they are not elected by democratic process, to make use of my previous link to Shin Corp to accuse me of graft and abuse of power. Many people will concur to this accusation without knowledge of the deep and true fact. This is underhanded political game to oust me and my government for their own benefits. Does it mean that if Shin Corp were run to its knee and become bankrupt during my premiership then it proves that I am a clean leader?

I do not understand why I should be stripped off my assets, and Shin Corp of its profit just because I wish to serve the country.

All transactions of Shin Corp are clean and in arms length, so is my personal wealth accumulation. All these can undergo international scrutiny and I am prepared to bring this matter to the international court for a more independent and justifiable ruling. I am even prepared to use up whatever assets is left of me to fight for true democracy and my integrity as a person.



Jonah Heng 2P105

Is testing drugs on animals justified

It seems like ages since this topic was being brought up, some point out that humans are too selfish, and benefit themselves at the expense of poor animals, while some argue that testing life-saving drugs on animals is the wiser decision to make. Today I would just like to state my stand on this controversial issue.

I am personally more inclined towards supporting testing drugs and medicine on animals because it is really the better choice out of the two options. Firstly, let us ask ourselves, what is the best ending / result or final outcome we hope to get? Of course, we want an outcome that benefits the most number of people and brings the greatest good.

Although animal testing is cruel, I admit, but a sacrifice of one or two animals can possibly save hundreds or thousands of humans suffering under immense pain brought by "incurable illnesses". Treating a few animals kindly by sparing them the experiments is equals to treating thousands of poor patients cruelly. Therefore, I can conclude here that experiments on animals would bring benefit to the most number of people and thus, it is the most desirable outcome.

A second thing I do not understand is why some people who openly and vehemently object against holding experiments on animals, can peacefully eat their pork chop or beef steak in the luxuries of their home. Isn't it all the same, may I ask? Killing an animal is as cruel as holding experiments on them. The pain, and amount of human greed and selfishness involved in it is also comparable.

I will now elaborate on my third point. Maybe many have been fooled by irrational appeals to the human emotions of pity, but if we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, I am confident that drug-testing on animals is being merciful. Imagine the sheer number of people still suffering and living in the unbearable pain incurable illnesses has brought them if the life-saving cure we know today are not proven safe for treatment. Thousands would also be killed if our society fails to advance in medicine science. Killing thousands of humans would of course, be much much more cruel than killing one or two animals.

Furthermore, not all animals who receive experiments die! According to a Times Magazine survey, it is discovered that only 68% of the animals who receive drug-tests die. Again, we should compare these to the people in desperate wait for a cure, which safety can only be tested using animals.

Lastly, I would like to point out that the opposition's proposal of banning experiments on animals is totally not feasible. May I ask then, where do we test the safety of drugs and medicine? On humans? Or maybe they are proposing that we should not hold tests at all.

Just 2 years ago, I've heard a story of a man suffering from depression who was so frustrated at his medical condition that he rashly took unknown pills he found in his home, in hope that they can cure his depression. A week later, he found out that all his hair had drop off, and not only that, his arms and legs were full of rashes too. This example has clearly shown how taking drugs which safety is not proven can lead to serious consequences.

In conclusion, we should support experimentation on animals, because they are the only way we can test our drugs and achieve the greatest good and the greatest number of people that benefit fro the experiments. Thank you.

To Kill a Mockingbird Analysis

Poem:

oh poor tom, what have the whites done to you
pushing all the blame of rape to you
you are accused, aren’t you
a innocent mockingbird they kill
whilst those hypocrites hold gatherings
why talk about poor africans like they do
when they are treating their brothers
at home so cruelly
and call them stool
oh poor tom, what have the whites done to you
to charge you guilty even
when all evidence favor you
even when atticus shut
everyone’s mouth up
what sin have you done
why is character measured not by
the depth of character but skin of color
sad it is, when you yield
the whites will climb over your top
and make life worse than death
for all of you

Civil Rights movement poster I have designed for Maycomb: