Nov 2, 2007
Should Smoking be Banned ?
As non-smokers it would be too easy for us to declare that the cigarettes sticks should be removed from our sight as much as possible. However is putting a universal ban on smoking in public the way to go?
Like many other non-smokers we are not keen on cigarette smoke. Almost all of our team members hate the smell of smoke and dread to go near to anyone who smokes. But on the other hand, we also accept that this is part of the social culture.
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Individual Comment - Darren Foong
Name: Darren Foong
Group: more-ads-here (DISM 1B02)
RE: CReasoningSkills - "Singaporeans who quit the country and migrate overseas are disloyal"
I have to agree with you on the fact that migration is not an act of disloyalty. True, that we all have needs which cannot be possibly answered on such a small piece of soil. We all have to understand that Singapore is not going to give us what we want. Answers won’t come to us, we must seek them.
However, I do have to disagree with the following statement:
“Traditionally speaking, it is immoral for Asians to leave their parents after being raised up by them for decades.”
We’re living in the 21st century now and petty issues like these are a thing of the past – people must move on. A person can move out of their comfort zone but that does not necessarily mean that he is disloyal to said area.
The government is attempting to inculcate a sense of belonging to the country but at the end of the day, it’s all about a matter of choice, and who are we to question other people’s decisions? If they wish to move out of the country, so be it. Do we question people migrating into Singapore? I don’t think so.
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Individual Comment - Andre Ng
Name: Andre Ng
Group: more-ads-here (DISM 1B02)
RE: CReasoningSkills - Singaporeans who quit the country and migrate overseas are disloyal
I agree to a large extent on your group’s argument from the examples your group have pointed out.
I do agree that the stressful environment in Singapore is one of the main reasons why Singaporeans migrate away from Singapore. In The Straits Times Interactive website's poll, it drew 797 responses, of the 797 responses, 43 percent wanted to migrate because it was too stressful in Singapore, 20 percent cited limited job opportunities, and 19 percent complained of high living costs. From this I can infer that people are moving out of Singapore because of the Stress. As a result of all these stress; a British-based report described Singapore as Asia's unhappiest nation and also graded it the 131st of 178 nations in the world.
I also agree that Singapore’s Economy is very competitive. People find it hard to find a niche in the industry they are interested in. Even if a niche is found more often than not, there will be bound to be competitors coming in.
I also agree with you that Singaporeans are getting more educated, with it their expected salary gets higher. Therefore, when Singaporeans cannot find a job to match their expected pay, they will consider migrating overseas. Being wealthier, Singaporeans also get to have the chance to travel and get to see for themselves what is around them in other countries as well as opportunities in a foreign economy, furthermore with globalization going on, one could not help but to ponder “ Is life in the country is more suitable for me ?”.
Sadly, the government’s investment on educating Singaporeans who migrate might be difficult to recover. After much subsidy in education from young, they have chosen to migrate in the end. I would also like to add that Singaporeans who have chosen to Study overseas and not in Singapore (for various reasons) are more likely to migrate because while they are studying overseas they are exposed to the opportunities in that foreign country and get used to the lifestyle, after awhile they might think that there is no point going back to Singapore. I believe that if they are more reasons for students to get their qualifications especially a Degree in Singapore, there will be lesser Singaporeans migrating.
I disagree that there are some flaws in our education systemnamely the “Civic and Moral Education”. I believe that the problem does not lie in the lessons taught. I believe the reason is that the younger Generations of Singaporeans do not appreciate Singapore as much as previous generations. Singapore was in-fact just a fishing village, until our forefathers from all corners if the world migrated to Singapore to settle. During their stay, they had gone through a lot to build and create what we have today; sadly many young generations of Singaporeans take for granted the Justice, Peace and Prosperity that is uniquely in Singapore, which our forefathers have painstakingly shaped. I feel that the government’s implementation of the Civic and Moral Education is an attempt to make young generations of Singaporeans appreciate Singapore better, however it is difficult because appreciation is something very hard to instill into someone through books. As a result, the need to stay loyal to the country / homeland is no longer strong.
In conclusion, while there are many perfect reasons for Singaporeans to migrate, there are also many equally good reasons for them to stay, be it ethical or practical reasons. The choice still lies with the individual Singaporeans. Even if the person still choose to migrate, it still does not make him/her disloyal. For all we might know, Singaporeans who migrate might change their minds again and come back to Singapore for good.
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Nov 1, 2007
Individual Comments - Justin Ross Clarke & Darrell Tan
Name: Justin Ross Clarke
Group: more-ads-here (DISM 1B02)
RE: CReasoningSkills - Singaporeans who quit the country and migrate overseas are disloyal
I largely agree with your arguments and the examples you gave for why emigration may be justified. I believe it is ultimately up to the person himself or herself to decide whether or not life in Singapore is for them - many good reasons exist for why one might choose to emigrate, and in no way does it necessarily mean they are being disloyal just by choosing to move.
Your comment about the high-stress environment is certainly valid. With the rapid pace of life and emphasis on results, progress and meritocracy first and foremost, it is little wonder that many Singaporeans find themselves regularly stressed out. Even if one chooses to simply “go with the flow”, the strictly results-oriented environment and the common feeling of inferiority that it stokes in the less capable makes even this a daunting task.
You are also correct to say that many might be motivated by the prospect of better pay, or to simply expand their horizons. Singapore’s economy is strong, but those who desire work in certain sectors of society or industry - for example the creative industry - may find their prospects lacking. On the other hand, another country may place much more emphasis on the creative industry - surely this person would have a happier time there.
On the other hand I also somewhat agree with you that it may be immoral for one who has benefited from life here (and in many cases the taxpayers’ money) to simply pick up and leave. However, my view is that this is quite situational - those who acknowledge that they have benefited from life here and yet would abandon the country at the first sign of trouble (for example, choosing to flee rather than go through National Service) are certainly being ungrateful and exhibiting blatant disloyalty. On the other hand, many emigrants still hold Singapore in their hearts and would gladly return to help out or contribute in some other way if Singapore was in need of help or had fallen on hard times. To say that they had turned their backs on their country just because they decided to move elsewhere is not only ignorant and narrow - it is offensive, short-sighted and quite unintelligent.
In conclusion, a multitude of reasons do exist that support the idea of emigration. Singapore, for all its strengths, is certainly not a country everyone could easily warm up to. There are certainly people who would rather live elsewhere, and judging them just based on their decision to move overseas is the epitome of ignorance. Such people may still be willing to contribute to Singapore while overseas, and many emigrants would not hesitate to lend a hand if Singapore was in need despite being far away. If one desires to judge the loyalty of an emigrant, factors like these must first be taken into account - there is no conclusive rule that links a desire to move overseas with being disloyal to one’s country.
Name: Tan Jia Jun Darrell
Group: more-ads-here (DISM 1B02)
RE: CReasoningSkills - Singaporeans who quit the country and migrate overseas are disloyal
I agree with most of your points of argument. People have the right to choose what is suitable for them as they are masters of their own future. We all have different needs and reasons to for our actions.
However, I do not agree with the statement that The Singapore’s industry has long been built with the slogan “second place is not an acceptable option”. There are certainly better places than Singapore. Its a matter of choice on what type of environment suits you and whether it is best to your perception. But, I do agree on Singaporeans have been easily rated as one of the unhappiest citizens in the world, for I myself and the people around me do feel the effects of it.
However, I do not agree on When you see an opportunity of getting a better pay, would you say NO to it? That would not be as true as it seems. There are people willing to forgo a better paying job for the sake of pursuing a job that they have interest in but pays less. A real life exanple would be my dad, who gave up a 5-figure salary job that requires him to go overseas or perhaps emigrate. The reason? Simply because of the commitments that he have in Singapore, us.
It is right that Traditionally speaking, it is immoral for Asians to leave their parents after being raised up by them for decades. There are many ways to display your filial piety. You can always bring them along too or rely on an invention known as a webcam to keep regular contact with your parents supplemented with visits back to Singapore once every few months.
In conclusion, I feel that we definitely have no right to judge whether a SIngaporean who leaves Singapore is disloyal or not as we do not know about all the details of the person. Each person has a personal reason to. However, we must not overlook the contributions of Singaporeans who left Singapore and made an impact in the other countries as our famous ambassadors.
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Oct 31, 2007
Group Response
We disagree with the statement that Singaporeans who migrate are disloyal. It is extremely unfair to label all emigrants like this, as many have understandable or personal reasons why they choose to migrate. Whether or not they are being “disloyal” by migrating largely depends on the circumstances with which they are presented, and so it is wrong to say that emigrants in general are disloyal. Another thing to note is that those who migrate also have ample opportunity to contribute to the country in the future, despite moving overseas - calling them “disloyal” would be nothing short of absurd.
To make a fair judgment it is necessary to evaluate the reasons why these emigrants may have moved overseas. For all of Singapore’s strengths, it is not a perfect country - such a country exists nowhere in the world. Despite heavily-subsidized education, law and order and a stable political situation, some factors exist which may put off many Singaporeans. The pace of life is incredibly fast compared to many other countries - many people both young and old often find themselves loaded with work without a break in sight. This stress can be found in almost all facets of society - working adults find themselves struggling to keep up while children and youth work in what many consider to be a brutal education system. Considering this, it is quite understandable that some would prefer to migrate to a place with a more relaxed environment - if perhaps one which is less economically-rewarding. Another obvious argument for emigration could be the lack of personal freedoms compared to other countries. While many feel that what we give up in this department is a worthy sacrifice for the security and order we enjoy, others who prefer a more libertarian lifestyle may understandably fail to find the environment to their liking, and seek life in a more liberal country. These are just several of the reasons why some Singaporeans would prefer to live overseas - and even then, we must remember that despite preferring life elsewhere, many of these emigrants still feel loyal to Singapore, and would gladly contribute to society if able - they therefore cannot all be considered disloyal simply for deciding that they prefer life elsewhere.
In many cases, Singaporeans who move overseas retain their national pride and sense of responsibility to their country. While they may work and live overseas, many continue to read up on local developments and, if need be, would gladly travel back to Singapore to contribute when the country needs them most - a striking example of this can be seen in many Singaporeans who, despite in some cases planning to live permanently overseas, feel duty-bound to return to the country and serve their National Service term, so that they can protect Singapore if disaster strikes. Calling these Singaporeans “disloyal” would be blatantly wrong. They likely had reasons why they decided to migrate, and are certainly not forsaking their country just by doing so.
In some cases, however, it can understandably be said that some emigrants truly are disloyal. Those who acknowledge what the government has done for them and that they have benefited, yet would gladly “jump ship” the moment the situation begins to deteriorate here are perhaps the best example - completely abandoning one’s country even after realizing that they have benefited a lot can be seen as an incredibly selfish, ungrateful act. Even today, many students who receive scholarships from the government (using the money of the people) choose to migrate and never look back the moment they are able to, without ever intending to contribute in any way to society - these people are an example of emigrants who may fairly be viewed as being “disloyal”, taking advantage of the country’s perks then leaving without a trace and without giving anything at all in return. However, these people consist of a very small minority of emigrants, and it is certainly not correct to accuse all emigrants of being unfaithful just because of this minority.
In conclusion, it is wrong to lump all emigrants under the same umbrella by claiming that those who migrate are disloyal. Before this judgment can be passed it is imperative that we evaluate both their reasons for leaving and their actual attitude and intent - rather than taking the easy, ignorant way out and assuming that they are moving overseas out of disloyalty and selfishness.
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Oct 24, 2007
Group Comment on our lecturer's Post
We feel that it is not wrong to have such reality shows in Singapore, but it does not project a dignified image of us. It appears that we are simply replicating the efforts of the West. A good example would be the "Singapore Idol" variety show. It was completely unoriginal.
Darren is offended at even the idea of copying a pre-existing popular show just to milk money from it.
In addition, Justin does not feel strongly on the issue, but believes that we should definitely incorporate some sort of originality into our local media, lest other countries consider us a nation of untalented hacks.
Andre feels that if aired in the west it might not be accepted by the people there because it might appear to them as “copying” their show.
On the other hand, Darrell feels that the show is actually a good idea as it provides an excellent medium portray the ingenuity of Singaporeans.
We feel that if we would like to have this reality shows, at least have some modifications to this show to make us stand out of the "original" reality show.
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This is a post
edit:
We feel that the decision of guns being banned in Singapore was an absolute wise decision. Judging by Singapore's security, there is no need for guns.
Besides, no one wants to get shot out of the blue...
Darrell & Justin
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This is Just an example:
I feel that guns should not be banned in Singapore.
I feel that singaporeans should have the right to protect themselves.
Andre
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