Saturday, February 27, 2010

E-Learning Week (1 - 2 Mar 2010)

Task A: Discovering your Learning Profile
Post your learning profile on your blog and write in no less than 100 words the implications or what you feel about the Multiple Intelligence test.

According to the Birmingham Grid for Learning Multiple Intelligence test for Secondary school students, my interpersonal skills rank highest (23/30), followed closely behind by my naturalist nature (22/30), then my linguistic skills (19/30). My logical and Visual/Spatial skills are on par, followed by kinaesthetic, intrapersonal and finally, musical skills.


I feel that the Multiple Intelligence test is partially reliable as I am quite sociable and like mixing around with my friends, helping them when they require assistance. I am also a strong advocate of environmental conservation, usually buying "green" products even at an expense of a higher cost. Furthermore, I enjoy being close to nature and more often go to nature reserves, like the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to observe and appreciate the beauty and serenity of Mother Nature . Additionally, my musical knowledge is comparable to that of a layman as I just do not have a natural aptitude for it. On the other hand, I disagree with the test results on my logical skills as I have quite a logical, mathematical mind and can usually solve math puzzles with ease.

Task B: Consider these questions: Is Maycomb a good place to live in? Is Maycomb corrupted? [focus on 2 main themes: Courage and Prejudice]

Pick 2 tasks according to your learning profile (eg: If my 2 highest scores are in spatial and lingustics, I will pick a spatial and linguistic task each).

As my interpersonal and naturalist skills rank among the top 2 in my learning profile, I shall pick one task from each category.

- Naturalist:

a. Do a research on the natural habitat of mockingbird. In your research, include the kind of flora and fauna you think exist in Maycomb and explain why the mockingbirds live in Maycomb.

Mockingbirds belong to the Mimidae family, which includes thrashers, mockingbirds and tremblers. As the name suggests (Mimidae is the Latin word for "mimic"), birds belonging to this family are renowned for their vocalization and mimicking skills. Mockingbirds are best known for mimicking the songs of other birds and the sounds of insects loudly and rapidly, hence their name.

Grey on top and white underneath, the mockingbird usually has a long black tail with white feathers and a long, sleek bill. Males and females look alike and are native to most of the continental United States, from southern Oregon through northern Utah to Newfoundland and Mexico, living mainly in open country with shrubby vegetation like thickets, hedges, fruiting bushes, farmland and brushes. It prefers living in grassy areas rather than on dry, hard ground. Mainly, they inhibit parks, cultivated land and suburban areas.

Hence, based on my research, I picture Maycomb as a quiet rural, maybe somewhat backward town; an area with wide open spaces with many types of natural vegetation like bushes and flowering shrubs. There are no loud noises, no cars, buses, taxis or trains; horses pull carriages on old, worn streets. In the woods, squirrels jump freely from tree to tree, small birds like robins and sparrows chirp in the morning sun and the occasional snake slithers in the tall grass, foraging for field mice scampering about.

I feel that the mockingbirds live in Maycomb mainly because of its calming and soothing nature. There is no commerce going on there, no large business carrying on, no cars honking, no hustle and buste. As a quote from TKAM describes Maycomb so aptly, “there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County”. Hence, I feel that the mockingbird was attracted to Maycomb’s peacefulness and stillness and of course, its natural vegetation.

- Intrapersonal

a. Who would you want to be friends with in the novel? Explain.

I would want to befriend Atticus Finch, father of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch and Jeremy Atticus "Jem" Finch. I admire him chiefly for his courage and his care for others, as well as his benevolence.

I would befriend Atticus for his bravery. No matter how many people oppose him for how high the odds stacked against him are, he dares to fight for what he truly believes in. For example, he dares to take on Tom Robinson’s case, even though he knew that prejudice of the blacks at that time would almost certainly result in Tom Robinson losing. Even so, Atticus rises to defend Tom Robinson, saying that "courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.". This shows how courageous Atticus Finch is in daring to do what he feels is right as he feels “the one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience”. Hence, I would like to become Atticus’s friend.

Furthermore, I would also befriend Atticus Finch for his care and concern for others. As a single parent, he is the sole breadwinner of his family and has to take care of two playful children. However, he always sets aside some time to read to Scott, his daughter and play with Jem, his son, as illustrated by how “he played with us(them), read to us(them)”, “reading every night” to them. He also taught them many facts of life, such as how “you never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Thus, I would befriend Atticus Finch for his thoughtful nature.

Lastly, I would befriend Atticus Finch for his nobleness. When Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose calls him a “nigger-lover”, he does not retaliate at all but instead, “Atticus would sweep off his hat, wave gallantly to her and say, "Good evening, Mrs. Dubose! You look like a picture this evening." This illustrates how benevolent Atticus Finch is as he does not mind being insulted by a sick lady. As such, I would gladly befriend him for his gallantry.

Friday, February 19, 2010

What is Happiness?

What does it mean to experience true joy? Happiness can mean different things to different people. For example, wealth or power may mean the world to a person, whereas for someone else it may mean just being able to live a normal, healthy life.

Many people think that happy people are either wealthy or own branded stuff and that having them brings happiness. Thus, they squander their youth, desperately trying to achieve this perception of happiness. In truth, these qualities are not responsible for a person's happiness or unhappiness. Happiness is not derived from material goods or money. As once aptly put by Philosopher Spike Milligan, "Money can't buy you happiness".

Some people think that true happiness does not lie in material objects, rather, from one's imagination. They give examples like: A man has a Toyota car. His neighbor living on the right owns a Mercedes while the one on the left a rickshaw. When he looks right, he feels unsatisfied and but when he turns to his left he feels happy. As such happiness does not lie in one's possessions, but in imagination. Thus, people are always advised to compare themselves with those who have far fewer belongings, like the poor in Africa or Cambodia.

However, I beg to differ from this way of thinking. It is absurd that true happiness should lie in feeling superior to the poor. Not only is it unkind to derive happiness from the under-privileged, this definition of happiness implies that being "better" than others is happiness. I ask you, how can true happiness be attained from looking down on someone? It would be extremely condescending, showing that you do not genuinely pity them ,but rather, relieved at not being as poor as them. We must adopt the correct attitude when striving for happiness and not just think of ourselves. As Philosopher Judi Singleton once commented, "Happiness is when your mind is thinking through your heart".

Instead, I feel that happiness depends wholly on a person's attitude towards life. For example, if you are satisfied with just leading an average, healthy life with your family, you will be able to attain happiness easily, compared to those who hunger for status and riches. To me, happiness is to be able to be satisfied with whatever you. If you are content with life, you will have achieved what you want and hence, happy. On the other hand, if you forever hanker after worldly possessions, you will continue to want more, more and yet more, never being able to truly know what it is like to be happy. "To be truly happy and contented, you must let go of what it means to be happy or content"---Confucius.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Singapore's IR Casino: Boon or Bane?

Recently, there have been numerous news reports on the upcoming opening of the Integrated Resort's casino. Purported to open in 2 days time, the casino is supposed to be a money-maker and job creator. However, many people have spoken against it.

Let us first look at both sides of the situation. Singapore's 40-year old ban on casino was lifted in 2007 in view of the new casinos being built in Marina Bay. Initially, it raised a hue and cry from conservative Singaporeans, including the mainstream religions. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong explained that Singapore could no longer afford to maintain his father's ban on casino gambling because its tourism industry was facing a serious slowdown, citing falling statistics of tourism revenue. Furthermore, other neighborhood countries like Malaysia and Thailand are likely to get in on the action too. He emphasized the need to change or risk being left behind. "We cannot stand still. The whole region is on the move. If we don't change, where will we be in 20 years?"

He also argued that the two casinos would be a boon to Singapore, doubling the number of tourists here to 17 million, increase tourism revenue three-fold and create nearly 100,000 direct and indirect jobs. Finally, he assured the public that the government would shelve the idea should it prove too dangerous.

On the other hand, Singaporeans are worried that casinos in Singapore would make them more susceptible to the temptations of gambling and eventually, addiction. However, the problem is that there are absolutely no statistics for Singapore as of yet to form a conclusive case. Furthermore, according to the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) more than 83 percent of Singaporeans are willing to have the casino built here.

Personally, I support the construction of the casino. Merrill Lynch, a US company, estimates that Singaporeans spend $760 million online annually. Hence, it does not matter whether we build the casino in Singapore or not. As my father summed up,"Gamblers will always find a way to gamble, be it online or in person". As for the social and moral implications, "if you don't want to play, just stay away". Though there undoubtedly will be repercussions, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. Hence, I support the construction of the casinos.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Singapore: True-Blue Democracy?

Though we Singaporeans may proudly declare ourselves as democratic citizens, do we truly mean what we say? Are we really a democracy, being allowed freedom of speech, rights and so forth?Are we allowed to contest against the government's ruling freely?

The People Action Party (PAP) has been in power ever since 1959 general election, when Lee Kuan Yew was elected as Singapore's first prime minister. They have been the Singapore government for over 50 years with no other political parties to contest, to challenge, to oppose them. They and they alone have made all important decisions ranging from health reforms for the elderly to how the Singapore budget should be spent. In recent years, the baton has been passed on to current prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, coincidentally, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's grandson. The control of Singapore has changed hands and has come a full circle. Knowing this, do we really believe in our hearts that Singapore is a fair, authoritative state or do we secretly think it to be authoritative and oppressive?

Of course, many have tried over the years to dispute PAP's right to power. However, they have all fallen, mainly due to the Internal Security Act (ISA), Part XII of the Singapore Constitution, the government still employs. This policy gives them the right to "enact legislation designed to stop or prevent subversion." For example, Chia Thye Poh, the longest-serving political prison in the whole of Singapore history, was detained under the ISA and was imprisoned for 23 years without trial for allegedly conducting pro-communist activities against the Government, subsequently being confined to house arrest for another nine years.

The government controls all forms of media. Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), which publishes Singapore's most widely read newspaper the Straits Times, Mediacorp, Singapore's local TV station and local radio stations. Hence, we read what the government wants us to read, watch what the government wants us to watch and hear what the government wants us to hear. All media is carefully screened by the Singapore government and passes through strict censorship.

But of course, there are two sides to every matter; Singapore's government has sacrificed democracy and freedom for its people for economic progression. It's hard to imagine that we were simply a third-world, puny island with no natural resources to draw on but ourselves. Now, we have clean water, good living conditions and are in the top 30 countries in the world in terms of Gross Domestic Product per capita (person). We have come a long, long way and for this, we have the PAP to thank for. Its efficient government has slogged and suffered, doing its utmost to make Singapore what it is today.

I conclude now that I have presented both sides of the matter. My conclusion is that Singapore may not be the true-blue democracy it perpetuates itself as but it is certainly governed by one hell of of an efficient party.