How would the world be different if human beings were not inherently optimistic

When there is no optimism in us, we will be unhappy and limit our success.

Without optimism, we will be sad for our entire life. The definition of optimism is the tendency to expect the best and see the best in all things, thus, without optimism, we only will expect everything to be the worst, in the end, we will only be sad. This is a real life story that happens to me. Last term, after I took my IH exam, the first thing that came to my mind was not being happy that exam is over, but worried and sad about the results of my IH exam. Due to the lack of preparation before the test, there were some parts of my IH exam that I am not sure on how to answer. Thus, I was worried that I could not get a good result for the test. I was sad for nearly the entire day, thinking about the bad results that I may get. But in the end, I got back my results and I scored a higher score than I expected I will score. So, if I were like my friends and think that exam is already over, too much of worrying is useless now, I would actually live a better life and scored better for my science exam as I would spend less time thinking about IH exam paper and revise more on the science topics!

Without optimism, we will not be able to achieve high expectations. "Pessimists view success as a one-time event and in only one area. The pessimist narrows the success to just one event or time period and does not believe that it will become a larger part of their life. The biggest mistake they make perceives mistakes and losses as indicative of their overall ability. This means they see mistakes and failure as a regular part of themselves and expect more mistakes/losses in their lives." This quote, from Winning Edge Psychological Services, LCC, shows that people who are pessimistic tend to limit their success as they always expect for the worst.

Therefore, people without optimism would not be able to succeed in life as thinking about the bad side has already taken up everything of you!

One sentence narrative scene

I woke up very late in the morning today and have my caring and loving mother to wake me up hurriedly because we are running out of time to get to school so I had to pull myself up due to the busy homework load I have last night with me only sleeping for less than 5 hours and there goes my mother running around my house so that she gets all my sister's school stuff done as she always forgets her stuffs when I slowly dragged my tire out body slowly into the clean and nice-smelling toilet at home.

War Poetry: R and R exercise

1. Cannon

2. "Jackies" refer to the sailors and they are singing "war chanties" because it can increase their morale and spirit so that their chances winning the war is higher.

3. A "shovel" is "brother to a gun" as they are both made of iron. In time of war, plowshares are hammered into guns, and in times of peace, guns are hammered into plowshares, hence they are brothers...and when you involve yourself with the gun, there is usually a shovel going to be involved at some point down the road.

4. The poem is talking enemy's taking over a city and all the citizens living in there will become slaves of the enemy now. Slaves are always supposed to obey their master, so the title "And They Obey" should be standing from the enemy's point of view and illustrating the entire poem.

5. This is an anti-war poem. It shows that war is terrible when citizen needs to rebuilt all the destroyed properties. The first part of the poem is describing the destruction of war from the citizens’ point of view and how the soldiers are destroying the place where they live or their city to be more specific. They also describe that because of the war they must follow the orders of the soldiers. The second part of the poem seems to be the soldiers’ point of view and how the city is being rebuilt what seems to be not the first time. Thus, the persona's attitude to the soldiers are filled with seriousness while his attitudes towards the citizens are just hopefulness.

6. I feel that building back up a society is much more difficult than tearing it down. Just like World War 2, Singapore was invaded by the Japanese and it took them less than a day to conquer Singapore, removing the British army from Singapore due to their intelligence. Look at how easy it is taking down a country, the Japanese just walked into Singapore! But after 2 years of conquering by the Japanese, the British won back Singapore and they have to build the city back. All the poor sanitation, lack of housing, currency and everything has worsened. It would take them a long time to build back Singapore but they were chased out even before they can build back Singapore. And Singapore then took around the first 10 years to build back Singapore. Such a tremendous difference! It takes a day to take down a country but takes 10 years to build back the same country.

7. For the first sentence of the first stanza, it shows that the people in the old wars were just using horses and humans to attack each other, while the second sentence shows that the new wars were no longer using horses but cars, trucks and tanks to attack each other, which is much quieter. Lastly, the last sentence in the stanza shows that in the future, nobody has thought of what kind of attack to use against other country, represented by silence. I feel that it would be a silent attack or an ambush against that country.

8. One "king" that was "kicked under the dust" would be Egypt's former president. The people in Egypt rebelled against him and his dictatorship. He was forced to step down by the public. Egyptians protested on streets and bring about many riots, which pressurized and forced him to step down.

Same-sex marriage

Singapore government would not allow same-sex marriage even in the future. It would cause more health issues, further decrease birth rate and reduce harm on children psychologically and physically .

Same-sex marriage will cause some health issues, especially psychologically. From this quote, we can see the effects on same-sex marriage. "In 2010, a Mailman School of Public Health study examining the effects of institutional discrimination on the psychiatric health of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals found an increase in psychiatric disorders, including a more than doubling of anxiety disorders, among the LGB population living in states that instituted bans on same-sex marriage. According to the author the study highlighted the importance of abolishing institutional forms of discrimination, including those leading to disparities in the mental health and well-being of LGB individuals. Institutional discrimination is characterized by societal-level conditions that limit the opportunities and access to resources by socially disadvantaged groups." Therefore, same-sex marriage will be bad for health in the long term run, thus, government would not want to risk their citizen in such a state.

Same-sex marriage will also decrease our birth rate tremendously. In 2008 now, our fertility has already dropped to 1.28, which is far lower than replacement level. Since people is the only resource Singapore has, if the government encourages same-sex marriages, there would be much less babies given birth, which would lead to Singapore losing in economy. There will be less talents spotted in Singapore and Singapore would need to spent money if the government would to attract foreign talents. Furthermore, with less people in the population, there would be less young, able bodied young men to protect the country from danger and it would also lose assurance to the Multi-National Corporation, thus, they will not dare to set up companies in Singapore. Singapore would then suffer badly in economy. Thus, Singapore government would not allow same-sex marriages to ruin the entire economy of Singapore.

Not allowing same-sex marriage will help reduce the upset of child mentality and actions towards homosexuality." Research clearly demonstrates that family structure matters for children, and the family structure that helps the most is a family headed by two biological parents in a low-conflict marriage.” While gay marriage would encourage adoption of children by homosexual couples, which may be preferable to foster care, some lesbian couples want to have children through anonymous sperm donations, which means some children will be created purposely without knowledge of one of their biological parents.

Research has also shown that children raised by homosexuals were more dissatisfied with their own gender, suffer a greater rate of molestation within the family, and have homosexual experiences more often.Gay marriage will also encourage teens who are unsure of their sexuality to embrace a lifestyle that suffers high rates of suicide, depression, HIV, drug abuse, STDs, and other pathogens. This is particularly alarming because, according to a 1991 scientific survey among 12-year-old boys, more than 25 percent feel uncertain about their sexual orientations. We have already seen that lesbianism is “chic” in certain elite social sectors. Therefore, for the well being of a child, Singapore government would ban same-sex marriages as it affects the entire country socially when children in Singapore are "weird" naturally due to their parents.

Thus, same-sex marriages have many negative impacts on society and the country. It also harm young children badly. In conclusion, same-sex marriage will not be allowed in Singapore by the government.

HBL task 2

"Children in the Darkness" by Henry M Bechtold

Difficulty Rating: *

There are children in the darkness

Who have not seen the light

There are children in the darkness

Who someone will teach to fight

Chalk and blackboards will not be

To this door there is no key

From this life they cannot flee

And these children are not free

Could we simply light a candle

Could we give them half a chance

Could we teach them how to read

Could we teach them how to dance

Or will a war consume them

Their body and their soul

Will their life and blood be poured

Down some endless thirsty hole

Back into the darkness

From which there is no flight

Back into the darkness

Into which there shines no light

Task 2:

ANNEX A

1. Whose Point of View

Statement: From persona/poet's point of view

Evidence: “Their body and their soul”

Elaboration: From the above evidence, it shows that it is from a persona point of view, where he says about others, children's body and soul and not him himself.

2. Situation and Setting

Statement: The poem is in a period of war. The setting is in the children's mind or heart, reflecting their thinking.

Evidence: “Or will a war consume them”, “And these children are not free”,” Back into the darkness”

Elaboration: The poem had already stated, saying that there is a war scene. Evidence also state that the children were taught how to fight, and how they are going to give themselves into the war. The setting is very dark and gloomy, which represented by their future and life in that period of war.

3. Language/Diction

Statement: The poet used personification and repetition.

Evidence: “From which there is no flight”, “Into which there shines no light”, “Or will a war consume them”

Elaboration: The poem uses repetition in the poem as every alernate line of the poem, the ending word would have assonance in them, such as “From which there is no flight”, “Into which there shines no light”. The poet also used personification when he brings war to life, stating that the “war consume them”.

4. Personal Response

Statement: After reading the poet, I felt very sad for the children that were to fight for the war.

Evidence: “Their body and their soul”, ”Will their life and blood be poured”, “To this door there is no key”

Elaboration: From the poem, I can feel how miserable life is when war comes, especially if you are only a child and needed to go for war. My eyes watered when I read the lines of them, having to risk their lives, body and soul. This should not be a life for children! Children should be studying and not suffering this way. Instead of giving them education, they had been "prohibited" from studying and were force to fight for the war without even their knowledge as they were still young. What an unfair treatment!

HBL task 1

"Children in the Darkness" by Henry M Bechtold

Difficulty Rating: *

There are children in the darkness

Who have not seen the light

There are children in the darkness

Who someone will teach to fight

Chalk and blackboards will not be

To this door there is no key

From this life they cannot flee

And these children are not free

Could we simply light a candle

Could we give them half a chance

Could we teach them how to read

Could we teach them how to dance

Or will a war consume them

Their body and their soul

Will their life and blood be poured

Down some endless thirsty hole

Back into the darkness

From which there is no flight

Back into the darkness

Into which there shines no light

Task 1:
The fifth line of the poem states that "chalk and blackboards will not be" contrasting the reader's view of school with the way these children are taught. The next three lines are extremely strong in regarding on "Freedom", something that the children sincerely believe is their right to upkeep, which is now commonly known as Human Rights. But this fighting is the complete opposite. The children fighting have no ability to be free, taught to fight, this is their only way of life, to be involved in war and probably die.

The next few lines ask rhetorical questions, whether the children can be taught what 'normal' students are taught.

The next 3 lines shows their true fate and the reasons to why they cannot be taught what normal students are taught, which is somehow answering all the rhetorical questions. It is trying to say that they could never be taught all that, because they are "used up" in war, 'their body and soul' will be given to the war and their blood and life will be 'poured down some endless thirsty hole.' Examples used here are strong, like blood,poured and endless, making it seem like blood is being constantly poured and bloodshed is rampant.

The last stanza wrapped up the whole poem, by saying that these children could never be like normal children, they have no hope , when it says "Into which there shines no light", to live a normal life as it has been destroyed by war.

Reference:
http://keyserzone.blogspot.com/2010/05/poetry-analysis-children-in-darkness.html
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html

Osama

I feel that assassinating bin Laden before him even going for trial was not a justified one. Although he was a terrorist that bring a lot of harm to the global security, they must at least go through a trial before assassinating a person.

From Singapore's law, The plaintiff’s solicitors will open the plaintiff’s case (unless the burden of proof is on the defendant) by addressing the court and the plaintiff’s witnesses will take the stand first and be cross-examined. Each witness may be re-examined after his/her cross-examination has ended. After all the plaintiff’s witnesses have given evidence, the plaintiff’s case is closed. It is then the turn of the defendant’s witnesses to testify and be cross-examined and re-examined on their evidence. After the defendant’s witnesses have completed giving their testimony, parties will make closing submissions which may, depending on the Judge and complexity of the matter, be either oral or written. After a decision has been made and judgment delivered, the Registrar or the proper officer of the Court will enter in the minute book the judgment given by the Judge and any order made by the Judge as to costs.

Thus, it would be the fair judges that take the call if he is guilty and they would also be the one that decide how heavy the sentence is, therefore, it is not right to just assassinate bin Laden without a trial as it has violated the human rights law.