Blog-Writing Prompt #4 - Japanese Earthquakes and tsunami

   Japan suffered a 9.0 magnitude on 11 March, Friday. I am sorry about what happened to Japan and at the same time, I am impressed by how they reacted to the earthquakes and tsunami. Their well-prepared behaviour is what Singaporeans should learn. Unlike Japan, Singapore is free from natural disasters such as earthquakes. Therefore, I believe that most Singaporeans will have no idea how to react IF an earthquake happens.
   In a similar crisis, I doubt that we, as a nation, is possible to handle it. Singapore, without any experiences of natural disasters, would not have the knowledge to tackle a similar crisis. This is the same concept of people learning how to ride a bicycle, by falling and not by people holding to us when we start to ride.
   Therefore, in conclusion, I do not think that we have what it takes to be able to deal with a similar crisis.

Blog Writing Prompt #3 - Literature

     Literature, to me, can be an expression of one's feelings. Literature content such as poems can be used to express one's anger, happiness, sadness and even loneliness. Also, with Literature, we can understand more about the past, about what is going on in the world, just by reading a poem or a short extract from a book.

    I feel that its significance in life is because it contains the emotions of the author, together with what the author wants to bring to the readers, such as lessons about Prejudice and racism, some of the more sensitive topics. These topics can be brought out to the readers through reading, which I find is a good way to express the lessons.
   Therefore, I think that Literature is very important in our life, since it contains emotions and lessons, and without it life would not be the same anymore.

   

Civil Rights Movement - Term 2 Class Online Lesson #5

The Civil Rights Movement

a. When did the civil rights movement begin?

Year 1955

b. What was the civil rights movement about?

The African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968) refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights in Southern states.

The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance.

c. State some of the significant incidents that took place in the civil rights movements (choose 2-3 incidents and state them briefly not in great detail)

Brown v. Board of Education, 1954 - a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, 1955–1956 - a political and social protest campaign that started in 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, intended to oppose the city's policy of racial segregation on its public transit system

Desegregating Little Rock, 1957 - Nine black students integrate with white students at Central High School in Little Rock, AR. President Dwight Eisenhower sends the paratroopers in to ward off any violence.

d. Which Singapore President supported the civil rights
movement?

President Dwight D. Eisenhower
President John F. Kennedy
President Lyndon B. Johnson

e. What was the outcome of this movement?

Lead to improvements in the legal rights of previously oppressed groups of people.

f. In what way is the Civil Rights movement related to TKAM?
Both involved the human rights of the African Americans and how they were treated by the Whites and how people tried to fight against it.



Reflections:


I feel that the African Americans should also have their own rights, and it is good that someone would stand up for the African Americans, so that the prejudice against them would be less and the Whites would not treated them like slaves anymore. The Civil Rights Movement allowed the African Americans to finally hold a position in the society, and I am very glad that the Movement took place. Of it had not took place, more African Americans would have been the victims of the KKK, and many of the African Americans would have died, and America would be weak because of the internal wars going on. Therefore, I believe that the Civil Rights Movement was a very significant event in America history.

Blog Writing Prompt #2 - Racism

   I feel that the world no longer have racism as severe as the time during the 1960s. During the 1960s, the African American are being treated like slaves by the Whites, treating them like they were inferior to them. Such a practice no longer happen in this modern world, but there are still bits of racism everywhere. Therefore, I think that there should be more actions taken to combat racism. Racism exists in places such as Schools, workplace and many more.

   Singapore is a multi-racial country, and Chinese, Malays, Europeans and Indians make up the main races. Sometimes, I would see discussions of people of the same race talking about another race, and making disrespectful and nasty comments about the particular race. I feel that is is disgusting and a disgrace for our country. I think that more actions can be done, such as more talks to educate the students about racism. This will thus create a higher understanding of racism and thus reduce racism.

CIP experience - Blog Prompt #1

      On Monday, 21/3/11, we went to the Old Folks' Home for CIP. We engaged in different activities when we reached the Old Folks' Home. One group helped to clean the windows, while another group had a chit-chat session with the old folks. I had a chat with them. Some of them were about 80 years old. I chatted with them about the Old Folds' Home - if it is comfortable and if they had any friends in the home. All of them said that they had many friends in the home. I also talked about what they did in the Old Folks' Home. Most of them just watched television programs, talk with others and go for walks. I asked about what they had seen outside when they went for walks - anything interesting and about the nature. 

       It was a great experience for me when I found out a lot about these old folks. They had friends and got alone with each other well, but I think that it was quite boring for them in the home. This made me feel sad for them, and I told myself that I will take care of my parents when they are older, and I will support them even if they turn old. I believe that the world needs kind souls to take care of the old folks, and I think that more visits from people that will make them happy will do them much good. I think that the school had given us a great opportunity to let us know what community-involvement program is, and it is very important for our character development. 

What I learnt from "Mississippi Burning"

     "Mississippi Burning" depicts a real-life murder of civil rights workers in Mississippi. After the three were reported missing, two FBI agents are sent to investigate the incident. 

      From  "Mississippi Burning", I learnt about how the African Americans in America were treated in the 1960s, when they were segregated from the others. This is racial segregation, and I feel that such a racism is extremely bad for the whole country. I strongly believe that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of their race, age or gender. By doing so, a country can then achieve harmony and peace. The 1960s period in America shows that there is no harmony or peace, since there was always scenes of burning houses and churches.