Social Commentary

Social Commentary

Here the social issue would be gender discrimination. Titled “Men or women, who should lead?” this article describes gender discrimination mainly in the workplace. Of men and women, who should be the one to take the lead? Should it be the men with their stereotypical sternness or should it be women with their fabled woman’s touch? I say, let the best person suited for the job win.
In a workplace, in any workplace, life is extremely harsh. Any person, be it a man or women, could break easily under the stress of work life, especially if the workplace is inundated with traps of gender discrimination. This harsh life serves to weed out all those who are not the “fittest and fastest” in a version of Darwin’s natural selection. It leaves those who are the fittest standing at the top and all others below. Although some might comment that this “selection” is impartial as quoted from the aforementioned article, “I had to prove myself not only to be as good as the men to get ahead, you had to be twice as good, if not three times as good”. However, what I believe is that this percentage of women who are twice as good or three times as good are already in the top 10 percent, same as the men who work 3 times less than the women but are the top 10% of their gender. For example, working women are extremely outnumbered by the men; however they are more highly qualified than the average working man.
Those who believe that women are indeed the weaker sex are fairly mistaken. Even Albert Einstein, the famous scientist greatly celebrated today, commented that his wife was “a creature who is my equal and who is as strong and independent as I am.” Women in the workplace are by no means “softer” in any sense than men. The aforementioned article mentioned about working pregnant mothers. Some companies refuse to give the mothers maternity leave and instead ask the mother to leave the company as they think it too much of a “hassle”. However, they much so much more time finding someone qualified enough and experienced enough to take over the vacancy and experience so much more trouble with the newbie tries to get a hold of things. Oh, the irony. If they can bother to wait to find another person to fit the job, why not just wait for the mother to come back. After all, by hiring another person, the company is losing valuable expertise which in today’s job market, they cannot afford to lose.
There are also presumptions on the part of the employer. As in the aforementioned article, the employer feels that women cannot travel much, will not stay in the job for long, totally ignoring the woman’s feelings and thoughts about this selection process. Although it is true that prospective employees hardly get any say in how they are selected however, they should be allowed a chance for constructive criticism in order to allow their employer to pick the best prospective candidate for the job. Although this is perhaps to some an idealist notion and not realistic at all, it as a goal worth working towards. Just like discrimination, total eradication of gender discrimination is impossible yet it is a goal worth working towards.
In conclusion, I would like to summarize that although there is gender discrimination in the workplace, which is impossible to eradicate, yet the best will always win and triumph over the inferiors, no matter the gender of the person.

Animal Cruelty

Animal cruelty definitely exists in Singapore and that cannot be denied. However, the response to animal cruelty is surely underrated and overlooked in Singapore. Statistics of animal abuse in Singapore number in the hundreds each year, roughly around 800. This is roughly around 2 cases a day. Of course, this does not include those that have not been caught nor observed. Animal abuse should be receiving more attention in Singapore.
Every day, newspapers and the media portray the sad plights of sharks in Atlantic Ocean and conveniently forget the abuse cases that are happening in our own backyard. Singapore, that is. For example, more than a thousand rabbits are abandoned in Singapore each year in parks and reservoirs. Lacking their instincts to hunt and survive in the wild, they usually die of the lack of food and predators that they are unable to avoid. This further emphasizes that the media portrays the local animal abuse cases in a weak light, instead looking to the international community for more newsworthy items on animal abuse. The media can be of great use and an asset in reducing the number of cases in relation to animal abuse; however they merely concentrate on the “larger picture” and ignore the “minor details”.
Secondly, animal cruelty is surely overlooked in Singapore as a result of Singaporeans “I don’t care” attitude. When animal abuse cases come out to the open, although many Singaporeans are quick to sympathise and condemn, they do not bother to complain to the authorities nor ask “Why is this happening?” Only when the abuse cases have become extremely severe and heart-rending does one see the letters pouring in to the media. In a survey conducted by Today, the mains reasons Singaporeans give for this “I don’t care attitude” is not because that they do not care out of choice but rather they do not care because they are too busy or do not want to be involved with an argument with the animal abuser. This seems like a case only when they are not busy neither threatened can they afford to have a human heart. Therefore Singaporeans need to change their mindsets in order to curb this trend of animal cruelty and abuse by increasing awareness and breaking the “I don’t care” attitude.
Lastly, animal abuse and cruelty cases are on the rise simply because the owners did not know what they were in for when they bought their pets. In 2007, there were 876 cases of animal abuse. More than a third of them catered to pets being confined in an enclosed space and most of these cases were because the owner or owners had gone off for a holiday and had just leashed the pet to, for example, the balcony or the backyard. This proves that animal abuse cases are on the rise because Singaporeans are not aware how to take care of their pets and they did not realise the implications in having a pet in which they cannot take with them during their holidays. This unawareness then lead to more than 20 pets dying due to heatstroke and flu. The veterinarian’s diagnosis was that the pets were left out in the elements for too long. In order to combat this quickly rising unawareness, the public must then be made aware of the implications in having and pet and the responsibilities that come along with it.
In conclusion, three factors influence the rising animal abuse or cruelty cases in Singapore. One, the media hardly covers this topic, leading to Singaporean’s ignorance. Two, Singaporeans have a complacent and an “I don’t care” attitude. Lastly, Singaporeans are ignorant of what are the responsibilities in having and pet and how to care for them.

Nature Dislikes Men

I agree to a large extent that nature dislikes me. Nature gives men strength and muscles. Most would say this is a definite boon. I agree with this viewpoint too, however when this is coupled togetherwith the hormones that nature gives them, it makes them short-tempered and fierce, leading them to do reckless and thoughtless things, especially in their early pubescence.
For example, fighting and rough play is a common occurence even in top schools. These two traits which are although favourable in the prehistorica past where men had to have the agression to live are now not necessary in today's society. Some may argue that these traits give men the edge in agression, however in todays modern sociaty, aggression is no longer needed to beat the competition. Instead, what one needs is a calm and clear head. Anger is the last thing you want to show to your boss. Therefore, I agree to a large extent that nature dislikes men.

Pull a prank, but don’t get caught

Pull a prank, but don’t get caught

By: SANTOKH SINGH

Publication: The New Paper 15/03/2009

HOW would I have reacted as a father if my sons had been caught streaking on campus?Reading about some male students getting punished for running naked from one building to another at the National University of Singapore set me thinking, and two other reports on youth provided some background.I think I would have sat my boys down and lectured them on respecting themselves, respecting the rights of others to their space (and views) and so on.Then I would have knocked them on their heads for getting caught. (Appeal to Emotion: Use of Humour) (That is something I learnt in the Army – if you pull a prank, make sure you don't get caught.) After which I would have gone to the Hall, and the University, to appeal on their behalf, if it came to that.Too protective? Too relaxed? Excuse for poor upbringing? (Appeal to Emotion: Rhetorical Questions)Perhaps, but the other reports in the same three days would have put some of this in perspective.

First, there was the story of a 17-year-old who was an average student, from an average family, with average grades in school.He was believed to be socially well-adjusted and did not display any signs of violence.But he went on a shooting rampage at his school, killing 10 schoolmates, three teachers and three passers-by before being gunned down by the police.(Appeal to Logic: Factual data and Statistics)That was in Germany on Wednesday.Average studentsThen there was the report of 13 average students, from average schools, and believed to be from average family backgrounds.They, too, were understood to be socially well-adjusted, until they were caught carrying dangerous weapons to school. Their intention, we are told, was to hurt people in their schools.That was in Singapore.So the story of a group of 20-year-olds streaking in their Hall pales in comparison. (To Appeal to Logic: Informed Opinions (Claims backed up by facts)).Yes, they too were all average students, from average families, and with average grades that helped them qualify for university.They are also understood to be socially well-adjusted, active sportsmen who did not display any sign of sexually maladjusted behaviour.Yes, this "group of misfits" went on a streaking rampage, running naked from one hostel block to another in the middle of the night before they were reported to the authorities by some female students.But all they did was to give some students a view they were not comfortable with. They did not kill, or threaten to kill, anyone.

While no one can tell the future, I do live with some confidence that my sons are not likely to turn out killers or likely to take choppers to school. (Appeal to Emotion: Hyperbole (exaggeration)) But I'm not too sure about the streaking, especially if it is done as part of a Hall tradition or an Officer's Mess ragging session in the Army.Yes, I do have some confidence in the value systems of my children, and their ability to tell right from wrong.But I would find it difficult to moralise, let alone punish them with a clear conscience, for something like streaking.After all, I too had gone skinny-dipping with some friends, though not on our shores, when I was in university.It was not to celebrate any sporting victory nor to drown any sorrow. It was also not part of a dare.It was just for the fun of it.And we didn't get caught or thrown out of university. I would rate this commentary a B as the appeals are quite balanced but not balanced enough.

What is an exposition?

An exposition is an form of speech or writing in which is primarily used to explain, inform, analyze or define. It is also a dicourse or discussion in which to explain further or to elaborate. It can be used on treaties and argumentary pieces. A prime example of exposition would be a commentary.