Blog-Writing Prompt #10 - Premature opinion about Strauss-Kahn's Innocence

      Recently, IMF director Dominique Strauss-Kahn was recently arrested on rape charge, and many people in the media judged him guilty even before the case got to trial. Was it fair for the media to form a premature opinion about Strauss-Kahn's innocence? I feel that it is not very fair to do so, firstly because the victim might not be stating the truth, and that they are in no position to judge him. However, as an important person, I think that he should not be caught doing this as it would damage the reputation.
 
      Firstly, the victim might not be stating the truth, and is just trying to cause trouble for Strauss-Kahn, or she might just want the attention. As shown in the Time magazine, 'The Manhattan district attorney's office was reported to have new information that undermined the accuser's credibility, including evidence that not long after the alleged assault, she called a boyfriend in an immigration jail in Arizona and told him, in words roughly translated from her native Fulani language, "Don't worry, this guy has a lot of money. I know what I'm doing."'
This causes some suspicion on her statement, that Strauss-Kahn had tried to rape her. The New York Times aso shown that she repeatedly lied to the police since making her first statement. With so many errors in her statements, who is going to believe that what she said is the truth? Thus, I feel that premature opinion about Strauss-Kahn's innocence is not fair.
 
       Secondly, they are in no position to judge Strauss-Kahn. Strauss-Kahn can only be convicted of rape in court, and without the court convicting him, we cannot know if he is innocent or not. Thus, it is very ridiculous that the media is making such a big fuss before Strauss-Kahn is even convicted, and I feel that it is extremely unfair for him.
 
       However, I also feel that Strauss-Kahn should b more careful, as he is an important person. Thus, he should try hard not to let such scandals affect him life, the fact that he was arrested on rape charge showed that he is unable to prove that he is innocent, and this should not be the case, since it will affect his reputation. However, this cannot be easily done, as Strauss-Kahn is not psychic and cannot predict what will happen to him. Thus, I feel that this case is unfair for Strauss-Kahn.
     
        In conclusion, I feel that the media and everyone who feels that Strauss-Kahn should be convicted of rape should not make a premature opinion about his innocence, as it is unfair to him and even if they are right, Strauss-Kahn is still human, and to err is human. We all make mistakes and we should not be making premature opinions about him. If the media wants to make opinions of Strauss-Kahn, I feel that they will need evidences to prove it.

In-Class online lesson #11 - Speeches and Public Speaking

   Theme: Prejudice

Speech topic: Can prejudice be prevented?

   

      Good Afternoon. Today, my speech will be about prejudice. Do we know anyone who had used any racist slurs before? What about prejudice remarks? I am quite sure the answer is yes. We had seen many people being prejudice towards others, in our school, in our nation. Why is there prejudice? Some people say it is because "bad people exists", but it is actually because people are judging people before having enough knowledge! So, I ask. Can prejudice be prevented? My answer is no, prejudice cannot be prevented.  

     

       Firstly, we need to understand what prejudice is. Prejudice is most commonly used to refer to judging of people based on their personal characteristics. We all like to judge people, some because they want to feel better about themselves, some because they are jealous of one another. This trait is hard to get rid of, because we humans like to be the best.Therefore, as we try to show that we are better than others, prejudice occurs. Thus, prejudice cannot be prevented.

       Secondly, there are many people who are not educated yet. This amount is about 15% of the total number of people in the world. Our world is big and our people is many. Even though the uneducated rate is decreasing, there will still be people in the world that never goes to school. These people will not learn about respect or prejudice, and will then be more likely to judge people based on their physical appearance, leading to prejudice. Therefore, even though we can reduce prejudice, I believe that it is impossible to remove prejudice. 

       I had asked if prejudice can be prevented. Now, I will state again, that prejudice cannot be removed, and it will remain in our life. In conclusion, I feel that although we cannot prevent prejudice, we can work hard to reduce the rate of prejudice. By doing so, our world will become a better and safer place to live in. It will be hard, but it is possible. Thank you. 

Blog - Writing Prompt #12 - Casey Anthony

       Recently, a mother named Casey Anthony was acquitted of murdering her two-year-old daughter Caylee, even though he didn’t report the little girl’s disappearance for over a month, and circumstantial evidence pointed to other suspicious behaviour. She was vilified both in the media and online; after the verdict was announced, the “I hate Casey Anthony” Facebook page received almost 39,000 “likes”. Should the general public show mercy by accepting the court decision and leaving her alone? I think that the general public should do so and leave her alone.
      
       Firstly, the court had already decided that Casey Anthony was innocent. She did not find out that her daughter was missing, this was because she had mental problems. The court had accepted this fact, thus she was acquitted of murdering her two-year-old daughter Caylee. What more do the public want? Why will it be fair for Casey Anthony if she is judged by the public for what she did not do? I think that this is unfair for her, thus, the public should show mercy by accepting the court decision and leaving her alone. 


       Secondly, even if she was guilty, how does it affect us? This case is in Orlando, somewhere in the United States. It does not affect us, since the majority of the human population do not live in it. Why should we not leave her alone and instead, create a “I hate Casey Anthony” Facebook page? I feel that all this is unnecessary, we do not have evidences to prove that she is guilty of murdering her daughter. Thus, it is silly for the public to do so, and we should leave her alone and not bother her.


       However, if she were to be guilty, it will be going against the human's rights, it is inhuman to murder one's daughter, no matter what reason she gives. However, we do not have evidence to show that she was guilty of murdering her daughter, thus, I feel that this is unfair for her if the public assumes this. Thus, I feel that the public should show some mercy and leave her alone.


       In conclusion, I feel that we should not judge others based on what we think. Such will be unfair for the person, and it is not right to do so. Thus, I conclude that we should all leave Casey Anthony alone and give her the benefit of doubt, and show some mercy.

Blog-Writing Prompt #6 - Negative consequences of Apple not allowing the full iTunes Music Store in Singapore

      Apple has only allowed the App Store in Singapore, but not the full iTunes Music Store, which means that iPhone owners can buy apps but not music, movies, or books through Apple. Their reason is rampant piracy throughout Asia. However, by doing so, they had created some negative consequences. These includes losing many potential customers, causing more piracy and causing less people will trust Apple and it's product any more.

     Firstly, Apple will lose many customers, since Asia has a huge population of about 3,880,000,000. This is more than half of the world's population. When Apple does not allow the full iTunes Music Store in Asia, this will reduce the amount of people buying the Apple's product from the iTunes Music Store. This thus reduces Apple's income from the sale of music, movies and books because people from Asia countries are unable to purchase them. Therefore, this is an negative impact on Apple when they do not allow the iTunes Music Store in Asia.

     Secondly, piracy of music, movies and books of iTunes Music Store will increase instead of deceasing. An comment on Apple not setting up a iTunes Music Store in Asia was that she "can't even buy a single song from the iTunes Store, and since original CDs and DVDs are too expensive, the only solution seems to be piracy". This shows that iTunes Music Store not set up in Asia will cause the people to not be able to purchase songs through the iTunes, and thus resort to piracy because original CDs and DVDs were too expensive. Thus, another negative consequence is that piracy will increase.

      Thirdly, more Apple's customers would not trust Apple any more. Nobody would like to buy Apple products if they are deprived of new products by Apple. Comments state that Apple is racist and only allows Americans to buy music, movies and books in the iTunes Music Store. This thus makes customers of Apple angry, and nobody would want to trust Apple in providing good services any more. This shows that less people will trust Apple and is thus a negative impact on Apple.

      In conclusion, I feel that Apple not setting up a iTunes Music Store is causing a negative impact on itself, and thus it would be better if it allows a iTunes Music Store to be set up in Asia.

Blog - Writing Prompt #5 - Descriptive Narrative prose(Without adjectives or adverbs)

     I glanced outside. There were trees, grass and flowers. I strolled outside. The breeze blew against me and I breathed in. The scent gave me a sense of elation. I loved the nature. Why must man cut down the trees? Why must man destroy nature? Sadness filled me as I thought about the men who came and cut down the trees in front of my house.
     I had just seen men coming here and cutting down some trees. This was one of last place that had scenery. The scientists had said that time is ending. I would agree. The air is filled with carbon dioxide. I filled like choking on the air. Oxygen was low.

     I walked towards the trees, grass and flowers. I touched the tree trunk, the grass and the flower. I hoped that nature will give everyone a sense of elation. I hoped that everyone will appreciate nature. I hoped for Planet Earth. Please stay alive.......

In-Class online lesson #10 - Shakespeare in the News

    A present-day conflict is the "New Australian Law to pass for burqa ban"

      It was a beautiful Sunday. But not so perfect after the Australians's most populous state New South Wales giving the police the power to ask Muslim women to life their veils! This morning, when I was going shopping with my wife in New South Wales. Two more days and we will be leaving to go back to our country. However, just as we reach the shopping mall, a policeman stop us, asking my wife to lift her veil! My wife refused, politely. However, the policeman refused to back down and told my wife angrily that she can be fined up to $55000 or having to spend a whole year inside prison! Of course there was a fuss. I was so angry! What is this! These people do not accept our culture!

       The New South Wales officials say that the law is implemented so that more authority for the police can be assure. I think that it is culturally insensitive! This law harms the basic rights of immigrants Muslims and us, tourists! Although this law does not ban anything directly, chances of burqa clad women being mistreated by police will definitely increase! Thus, I feel that such a rule is insensitive and Australia should make away such a rule!

Reflections:
   I feel that we should not have such a law, although it will mean more authority for the police, reducing crime. However, I feel that it is being insensitive to other people's culture. I think that it is important to respect others, and not create such a law that will anger those of that culture. In the history of Singapore, the Maria Hertogh Riot, was because of religious insensitive, thus leading to anger in the Muslims and such an unhappy situation ended with several deaths and even more injuries. It was such a horrifying experience that the Singapore government used Social Studies to educate the students about the troubles if we do not be sensitive about such topics. Thus, I think that maintaining sensitivity and thus not setting up such a law is better, since religion is a sensitive topic and the Australian government should be more careful and not have such a law.