Both the authors bring out very credible to state their varying stands, and I must say that the both of them have been very convincing. But, as I have made clear before, I will certainly object to the death penalty, and thus am siding with Antonio Cassese.
Both of them provide evidence that seem to contradict each other. One particular piece of evidence drew varying opinions from the writers. For instance, Gary Becker says that the death penalty has actually helped to deter crimes, which is seen in the drop in crime rate in the U.S. However, Antonio Cassese, seems to think otherwise. Thus there is no real way to tell if either of them is telling the real truth. But the main reasons why I chose to object the death penalty is that, firstly it is highly ineffective and I don’t think that it really helps to deter further crimes. I like the point that Antonio Cassese stated, that in a fit of complete rage, no one is going to think about the consequences should he or she kill someone. That’s the raging bull in us all, waiting to get out and do some real damage, not even sparing to thought to think logically. That’s the extent to which our anger can drive us.
I like another point Antonio Cassese drew up. I really feel that people are paying too much attention to this death penalty issue. I feel that increased emphasis should be placed in fighting for crime prevention and against the inhumane acts in prisons. Through all this, we will be able to totally abolish prisons. I mean, the purpose for prisons is to teach criminals a lesson for the sins that they have committed. But with all the atrocities and inhumane acts being committed in the prison itself, don’t the inmates lose the fight towards turning for the better and leading a new life??? Many are going to be scarred for life and these reasons are why many commit suicide in the prisons. Are prisons really the ideal places for rehabilitation???
But, Gary Becker also brings up a good point in saying that administering the death penalty to a murderer could potentially save 3 other lives. The opportunity to save innocents by killing a murderer, whom I must add, rightfully must not be shown any remorse to, is indeed a good reason for the death penalty. I also really think about the families who are affected by these murders. How will they take it if they see the criminal going scathe free with only having to go through a few canings and a life prison sentence? This brings up the whole issue about “an eye for an eye”. Well, the only rebuke I can come for that is that I really feel that too much of attention is being placed on the death penalty issue. I mean, don’t we all want to live in a peaceful haven right here on Earth. Yes, as corny or as unfeasible as I may sound, this is what we all should fight to achieve. Are we really going to live comfortably when there is going to be at least one person per day who is going to be murdered??? Well, that’s what the situation is going to escalate into, if the everyone does not change his or her priorities.
The bottom line is that if we start thinking about fighting to attain total crime prevention, this whole issue will be blown to dust…. But then again, in today’s society where violence is continually being encouraged in the form of wars and terrorism, very few still believe that peace can guarantee them what they want… This is a dire issue we all must fight to change… the sooner the better…
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Challenges facing Singapore as we play host to more people from different backgrounds and cultures
The article entitled "Embracing Otherhood" clearly defines the ongoing problem is surfacing in Singapore at the moment. We, as Singaporeans are unwilling or just ignorant in accepting these others as Singaporean. The word that we normally use to describe the europeans or the caucasians that we can see form time to time walking admist Singaporeans, "Ang Mo" really is giving them excessive amounts of attention. Do we constantly have to gawk at them as if they were some alien from another planet???
Thus, one challenge is certainly the willingness of we as Singaporeans to accept these foreigners as one of us. Right now, i would have to say that we need to be warmer to these foreigners. The issue about the death of the worker from Myanmar, which was also talked about tin the article, is a clear example of the disparity between the forigners and the Singaporeans. The fact that they did not even have the decency to give he dead worker a proper burial, gives us all a clear indication that we regard these foreigners as nothing more than slaves that do all the dirt work. They do all the hard work like renovating neighboorhoods, upgrading the lifts and yes, clearing the garbage. We think of them as workers more than humans and this is why the accused chose to simply dump the body anywhere. They must have had the impression that the foreigners are so insignificant to them, thus there being no need to give them a proper burial.
Another challenge would be to remove the stereotypical idealogy that Singaporeans preceive of these foreigners as well as removing any prejudice that we may have of these foreigners. Stereotypical claims can range from the "study mama" as well as the "prostitute" label given to the mothers from China to the "we have too many of Bangla workers" comment we hear everytime we pass by a large construction site whereby the majority of the workers would be Bangladeshis. Considering their job options to be very meagre and "degrading" is what is driving us Singaporeans to give hem so little respect. But i would just like to point out that there are pure Singaporeans who also fall into these job categories. But are we discrimination them too???
The way to solve theis is for we as people ourselves to recognise that we do indeed need to give them some respect. Jokes about these foreigners are fast flowing, are can be heard among secondary school students. If they are developing such views now, their negative views are just going to keep piling up as the age. These racist jokes that riducle the foriegners are plentiful, and even though the students mean no real harm form it, they are actually aggreviating the situation. And it is always wrong to talk behind people's backs.
"There are 4 people in a plane: A singaporean, a bangladeshi, an american and a swiss man. They were all discussing about what their countries were best in. So, the american guy stepped up and said that in America, there was an abundance of cigars, and so proceeded to throw cigars off the plane. Next, the swiss guy stepped forward and said that in Switzerland , there was a abundance of swiss watches and so proceeded to throw themhe out of the plane. Lastly, the Singaporen felt he had to come up with something good. So, he then took the Bangladeshi and flung him out of the plane. He then looked at the other two and "Too much of them in my country".
This is one common joke but though again, no real damage done, it does have it social implications.
It about time that we address all these issues and ensure that they all feel like home in Singapore. Not to forget, they also make up about 1 million of the total population meaning that prejudice or personal attacks aimed at them could potentially lead to detrimental results concerning our society.
Thus, one challenge is certainly the willingness of we as Singaporeans to accept these foreigners as one of us. Right now, i would have to say that we need to be warmer to these foreigners. The issue about the death of the worker from Myanmar, which was also talked about tin the article, is a clear example of the disparity between the forigners and the Singaporeans. The fact that they did not even have the decency to give he dead worker a proper burial, gives us all a clear indication that we regard these foreigners as nothing more than slaves that do all the dirt work. They do all the hard work like renovating neighboorhoods, upgrading the lifts and yes, clearing the garbage. We think of them as workers more than humans and this is why the accused chose to simply dump the body anywhere. They must have had the impression that the foreigners are so insignificant to them, thus there being no need to give them a proper burial.
Another challenge would be to remove the stereotypical idealogy that Singaporeans preceive of these foreigners as well as removing any prejudice that we may have of these foreigners. Stereotypical claims can range from the "study mama" as well as the "prostitute" label given to the mothers from China to the "we have too many of Bangla workers" comment we hear everytime we pass by a large construction site whereby the majority of the workers would be Bangladeshis. Considering their job options to be very meagre and "degrading" is what is driving us Singaporeans to give hem so little respect. But i would just like to point out that there are pure Singaporeans who also fall into these job categories. But are we discrimination them too???
The way to solve theis is for we as people ourselves to recognise that we do indeed need to give them some respect. Jokes about these foreigners are fast flowing, are can be heard among secondary school students. If they are developing such views now, their negative views are just going to keep piling up as the age. These racist jokes that riducle the foriegners are plentiful, and even though the students mean no real harm form it, they are actually aggreviating the situation. And it is always wrong to talk behind people's backs.
"There are 4 people in a plane: A singaporean, a bangladeshi, an american and a swiss man. They were all discussing about what their countries were best in. So, the american guy stepped up and said that in America, there was an abundance of cigars, and so proceeded to throw cigars off the plane. Next, the swiss guy stepped forward and said that in Switzerland , there was a abundance of swiss watches and so proceeded to throw themhe out of the plane. Lastly, the Singaporen felt he had to come up with something good. So, he then took the Bangladeshi and flung him out of the plane. He then looked at the other two and "Too much of them in my country".
This is one common joke but though again, no real damage done, it does have it social implications.
It about time that we address all these issues and ensure that they all feel like home in Singapore. Not to forget, they also make up about 1 million of the total population meaning that prejudice or personal attacks aimed at them could potentially lead to detrimental results concerning our society.
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