In my opinion, the purpose of Shakespeare creating Shylock was to add more drama into his play, and to make it more realistic. In the era where Shakespeare created this play, anti-semitism was almost at its peak. By creating characters to portray the different aspects of people we see today, it is adding to the realistic aspect of the whole play. At that era, christianity was the most common religion there was, and as being a Jew was said to be anti-christian and to be cruxifiying Jesus, the Christians hated the Jews, and the Jews were portrayed by the Christians to be the 'bad guys'. As such, by introducing the character Shylock into the play, Shakespeare is actually trying to make his play more popular as at that time, there were a lot more Christians than Jews, this makes it such that a play which is anti-jew would be more popular than a play that showed regular people having problems around factors of money, love, life and death.
Also, we cannot rule out the fact that Shakespeare may have created this play to show his feelings towards the Jews. Shakespeare is an accomplished play maker and maybe, by creating Shylock, he is trying to show the world that he actually agrees with what most Christians say and that Jews are evil. He may just be expressing his points of view through his play. Or maybe, the play may actually be trying to show how the Jews are not so different from the Christians and we are all normal people, and that he is trying to impart a value to the world, which is to not be treat people with different people with different religions differently, as they are as normal as you. “I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? … If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.” Jews are people, they have feelings too. So, is Shakespeare pro Jew, or anti Jew, that is the question.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Term 3 Week 4 Assignment
To raise a global kid, what this article is trying to tell us about is the change in the mindset of people on how to educate their children. They are starting to feel that education is important, instead of just having morals. As shown by Jim Rogers, who brings his daughter to Singapore's Nanyang Primary School for her just to study. This is due to the fact that he has seen that education is important in preparing his child for the future.
In this fast paced world, one must have to continuously strive in order to move forward. Failure to do so will just set you back. As such, one must work hard for the future in order to obtain the best. This is what all parents would want for their children... To obtain the best possible life for their child. As such, they feel that a good education is one of the key aspects of getting a good job. Morals play a part too, but in current day society, education is the top dog. One will not be able to go far without the right qualifications and the right material, and as such modern parents strive to give their children all which they need to obtain a better future.
However, the article also argues which type of education is the best. In Roger's case, being billingual is important to obtain a good job. In my opinion, the best type of education would be the one that fits your passion and aptitude. It should help you to achieve what you want, because that way, you will give your best, and succeeding in life would be a walk in the park, or in Singaporean terms, 'No Kick'.
In this fast paced world, one must have to continuously strive in order to move forward. Failure to do so will just set you back. As such, one must work hard for the future in order to obtain the best. This is what all parents would want for their children... To obtain the best possible life for their child. As such, they feel that a good education is one of the key aspects of getting a good job. Morals play a part too, but in current day society, education is the top dog. One will not be able to go far without the right qualifications and the right material, and as such modern parents strive to give their children all which they need to obtain a better future.
However, the article also argues which type of education is the best. In Roger's case, being billingual is important to obtain a good job. In my opinion, the best type of education would be the one that fits your passion and aptitude. It should help you to achieve what you want, because that way, you will give your best, and succeeding in life would be a walk in the park, or in Singaporean terms, 'No Kick'.
Term 3 Week 3 Assignment
After reading Janelle Lee's letter, she has widened my insight on the way schools are run nowadays. She has allowed me to see many of the flaws in our education system which we have overlooked. She has brought to light some of the major flaws which our education system faces, from the fact that all we do is memorize facts from the textbooks, hardly understanding why, to the teaching of moral education, a subject which we all have an experience in.
Janelle actually only has two main points in her letter. The first would be directed at the way schools teach right now. Nowadays in schools, teachers spend countless of hours getting us to memorize facts, and most of the times, students follow this without question. The main reason for this is that memorizing facts is the fastest way to achieve good results, and both parties know this. However, there will always be these one or two inquisitive ones who will probe with the question why. However, instead of answering them, what do some teachers do? They shoo them off. Even though this is not true everywhere, it happens in Singapore, and still happens. I feel that what Janelle says is very true, and I agree with her.
The next point which Janelle talked about, is about the way we learn our civics and moral education. Almost all of us have had the experience of being thought this lesson in a classroom, however is this really the way to teach it? With a whiteboard, a textbook and a workbook filled with instructional pictures and fill in the blank questions? Is this really the best method to teach us how to be gracious? To be nice? To do the right thing? How can books give us a sense of what is right? Shouldn't it come naturally?
Which with the above points she has made, I agree with the letter which she has sent whole-heartedly. She shows a lot of insight for a secondary four student.
Finally, with all that, I feel that an ideal education program is possible. The only set back to this would be the problem which man has faced throughout the centuries... Time. If we wanted to, everything could be done. The only problem about this is time. Without time nothing is possible, and thus, I feel if the government could spend more time in this aspect, the education program would be more ideal.
Janelle actually only has two main points in her letter. The first would be directed at the way schools teach right now. Nowadays in schools, teachers spend countless of hours getting us to memorize facts, and most of the times, students follow this without question. The main reason for this is that memorizing facts is the fastest way to achieve good results, and both parties know this. However, there will always be these one or two inquisitive ones who will probe with the question why. However, instead of answering them, what do some teachers do? They shoo them off. Even though this is not true everywhere, it happens in Singapore, and still happens. I feel that what Janelle says is very true, and I agree with her.
The next point which Janelle talked about, is about the way we learn our civics and moral education. Almost all of us have had the experience of being thought this lesson in a classroom, however is this really the way to teach it? With a whiteboard, a textbook and a workbook filled with instructional pictures and fill in the blank questions? Is this really the best method to teach us how to be gracious? To be nice? To do the right thing? How can books give us a sense of what is right? Shouldn't it come naturally?
Which with the above points she has made, I agree with the letter which she has sent whole-heartedly. She shows a lot of insight for a secondary four student.
Finally, with all that, I feel that an ideal education program is possible. The only set back to this would be the problem which man has faced throughout the centuries... Time. If we wanted to, everything could be done. The only problem about this is time. Without time nothing is possible, and thus, I feel if the government could spend more time in this aspect, the education program would be more ideal.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Religion Of Water
Water, second to air, is one of the things which humans require to survive. It is essential to get enough water everyday so as to keep ourselves hydrated. Without water, the human race would cease to exist, and all multi-cellular organisms would disappear from the face of the earth. As such we can tell that water important for survival, and the very existence of it keeps us alive. So therefore it is questionable whether water should be treated as a commodity, as it is now, or a human right. In my opinion, it should be a human right.
Water is essential to our survival. Every person has the right to live, so why is it that only rich people have access to water. Water should be a human right. If water were to cost money, then poorer people who have little to no money to spend on water would die. If the suppliers refuse to give water to these poor people, and as a result they die, what difference does this make from murder? The suppliers are literally causing the deaths of these people. Although this would cause a small change in the economy, I feel it is worth it as lives are saved.
Next, water should be a human right as there is plenty of water for everyone. The world is made up mostly of water, and as such there is plenty of water to supply us human beings for the next few milleniums. Although some of this water is undrinkable, all it takes is a little purification, and it will be drinkable then. The earth is currently facing the problem of rising sea levels, so why do humans still have to be so stringent and drag money into the matter of getting water. If more water was consumed, maybe the water levels would go down a bit?
However there are some plus sides from making water a commodity. One of which would be that people would value it more. Since water costs some of people's hard earned money, they would be more careful and value water more. They try to use as little water as possible so as to save up some money. Water although is plenty, is a valuable resource, and thus by making water a commodity, it allows people to value water more, and try to reduce their water consumption.
With the above points, I therefore conclude that water should be a human right. Although by making it a commodity, the world is able to save up some precious water, however the plus sides outweigh the cons for making it a human right. If it were not a human right, lives would die for nothing.
Water is essential to our survival. Every person has the right to live, so why is it that only rich people have access to water. Water should be a human right. If water were to cost money, then poorer people who have little to no money to spend on water would die. If the suppliers refuse to give water to these poor people, and as a result they die, what difference does this make from murder? The suppliers are literally causing the deaths of these people. Although this would cause a small change in the economy, I feel it is worth it as lives are saved.
Next, water should be a human right as there is plenty of water for everyone. The world is made up mostly of water, and as such there is plenty of water to supply us human beings for the next few milleniums. Although some of this water is undrinkable, all it takes is a little purification, and it will be drinkable then. The earth is currently facing the problem of rising sea levels, so why do humans still have to be so stringent and drag money into the matter of getting water. If more water was consumed, maybe the water levels would go down a bit?
However there are some plus sides from making water a commodity. One of which would be that people would value it more. Since water costs some of people's hard earned money, they would be more careful and value water more. They try to use as little water as possible so as to save up some money. Water although is plenty, is a valuable resource, and thus by making water a commodity, it allows people to value water more, and try to reduce their water consumption.
With the above points, I therefore conclude that water should be a human right. Although by making it a commodity, the world is able to save up some precious water, however the plus sides outweigh the cons for making it a human right. If it were not a human right, lives would die for nothing.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Term 3 Week 1 Assignment
In my opinion, maids should be given day offs while working in Singapore. There are 3 reasons why I feel that it should be this way. The first is that like any other working adults, maids should be given holidays, or 'leave' days to rest. Secondly, the maid's mental health will suffer if they were to be cooped up in a house all day. Finally, if no holidays were to be given, lesser people would be willing to be maids due to the lousy working conditions.
In my opinion, maids should be given holidays as they are normal people like everybody else, they need breaks and rest days. Maids are not robots. They have emotions too. If maids were to work everyday without any breaks at all, not only will their health take a turn for the worse, their mental health will too. This not only is a bad thing for their owners as they will have to pay for the maid's medical fee, but the maid will suffer too. Therefore, having rest day for the maids is important.
Next, maids should be given holidays as if they do not, their mental health will worsen as they will be forever cooped up in the house they are taking care off. Constantly staying at home may mean that more work gets down, but as such the maid's mental health may worsen. It is like living in a jail cell. The maid already is separated from her family, but to also be separated from the whole outside world is a fate just about as bad as being in jail, and the maid does not deserve such treatment. They have human rights and thus they should also be given holidays.
Finally, maids should be given holidays as lesser people would be willing to become maids without them. They would be less willing to work as maid's in Singapore as they know that being a maid in other countries gives them roughly the same pay but with better working conditions. This will result in the increase of hiring a maid. The increase cost of hiring a maid would mean that the owners will not be as nice to them, and the cycle will just repeat until nobody wants to work as a maid before, and by then, more problems will arise.
With the above reasons, I strong feel that maids should be given holidays.
In my opinion, maids should be given holidays as they are normal people like everybody else, they need breaks and rest days. Maids are not robots. They have emotions too. If maids were to work everyday without any breaks at all, not only will their health take a turn for the worse, their mental health will too. This not only is a bad thing for their owners as they will have to pay for the maid's medical fee, but the maid will suffer too. Therefore, having rest day for the maids is important.
Next, maids should be given holidays as if they do not, their mental health will worsen as they will be forever cooped up in the house they are taking care off. Constantly staying at home may mean that more work gets down, but as such the maid's mental health may worsen. It is like living in a jail cell. The maid already is separated from her family, but to also be separated from the whole outside world is a fate just about as bad as being in jail, and the maid does not deserve such treatment. They have human rights and thus they should also be given holidays.
Finally, maids should be given holidays as lesser people would be willing to become maids without them. They would be less willing to work as maid's in Singapore as they know that being a maid in other countries gives them roughly the same pay but with better working conditions. This will result in the increase of hiring a maid. The increase cost of hiring a maid would mean that the owners will not be as nice to them, and the cycle will just repeat until nobody wants to work as a maid before, and by then, more problems will arise.
With the above reasons, I strong feel that maids should be given holidays.
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