Week Eight Blog Prompt

For this week, you may choose any current affairs topic that you feel strongly about and write a 200-word reflection on it.

The upcoming Presidential Elections on the 27th of August will be, as said by many, a heated one, just like the General Elections on the 7th of May. Being a fourteen year old student, I obviously would not be able to vote. However, I am a Singaporean and the next Elected President will be taking care of our nation. Because of this, I would be talking about what I would like to see in our President, this is just a personal view.

Firstly, he must have the qualities and capabilities of a suitable President. That is why the candidate must first have had the appointment to manage something or a company of a capital with over S$100 million. Getting this appointment is already a difficult thing and surely it meant that the candidate has already a certain capability. Next, I hope that he would be open about his thoughts of Singapore's future, be it good or not. Basically, I hope his opinions would be known to the public because it would really show what sort of person he is, however, the opinions must surely be an honest one. Finally, actions speak louder than words. The candidates have press conferences and they speak about their plans for the future of Singapore. They make it sound as if they will definitely accomplish everything they mentioned. I know it is not as easy as it seem, but they still have to complete their promises towards the public because it was because of what they said that voters believed the voted for them.

I know that there are still many qualities that a President has to have. However, it would be too in-depth. All I can say to all voters out there is: Vote wisely, Singapore's future is in your hands!

Week Six Blog Prompt

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 because when the term paparazzi come to peoples' minds, they would be known as a stalker. This is because even though they are movie stars, these celebrities are still people. Everyone needs their own comfort zone and privacy. These paparazzi follow them everywhere they go, shopping, spa and to exaggerate, they may have a campsite outside the homes of celebrities. From the perspective of a celebrity, wouldn't it be creepy to know that there would be paparazzi following behind wherever you go. One may even have the sound of a camera shutter stuck in their head whilst the thought of people following them everywhere.

A counter argument may be that it is because of the social status of these people that keeps the paparazzi on their move. The fact that these people have a higher status may be why so many people are curious of what they do or did. They may think that they are the same species yet there's a difference in status. Some people may inflict insulting comments to demote the celebrities because of jealousy. They are jealous that they could not have the same fame, wealth or attention and wants the celebrities to feel the same. Thus this may be tentative from the point of view of this issue.

Week Five Blog Prompt

No, I believe that there was in some way a form of justice but not true justice. In the trail scene after Portia came in, she asked Shylock three times whether or not he was going to show some mercy towards Antonio by not taking his pound of flesh but the money instead. The vengeful Shylock wanted that pound of flesh so much because he knows that Antonio would surely bleed to death, thus rejecting the money for the flesh. The manipulative Portia then found a way to save Antonio's life after seeing a loophole in the bond they made. It stated that a pound of flesh is Shylock's to take but, it did not state that he could have any of Antonio's blood. Once Shylock heard Portia's point, he immediately wanted the money instead of the flesh because clearly, there would be bleeding once the knife goes into Antonio and being trapped in a corner and out of desperation, he pleaded to have his ducats instead. Using the Venetian law, Portia said that Shylock was to give up his life, but the Duke spared him mercy but took away his entire assets. There was justice towards Shylock because he clearly wanted to claim a life but did not succeed so he was punished yet justice was not done towards Antonio for not paying back Shylock.

Persons of power, authority, and wealth can easily manipulate Justice and Law. They bribe and bribe even more just to save their title and to keep away from embarrassment. A perfect example is corruption in certain countries. Using their power and the authority they have in the government, they take taxpayers' money as they wish, spending them like no one's business when in fact, they are themselves are in the wrong the they were suppose to be examples for the nation to follow, how ironic.