Can Justice and mercy co-exist?

I think that mercy and justice can co-exist.
Punishment within the justice system can be merciful. But there are still cases of justice without mercy but they can be mutually exclusive. On the other hand, mercy is also considered to be a part of justice. It is important that an eye for an eye is not justice but considered as revenge and should not be misunderstood as justice. The purpose of justice is not revenge, but to ensure nobody is at the losing end. Although in some cases, punishent can be given out but more often, mercy and the act of forgiving are more effective ways of securing well being for all. Mercy gives the offender an opportunity to turn over a new leaf and at the same time it also gives happiness to the person showing mercy. Nobody is at the losing end. An example of this is the Iranian example. An Iranian women was disfugured by acid by another man and in the process, lost an eye. The Iranian law allows her to make the man lose an eye to but she chose to forgive. This is a good example of justice and mercy co-existing. The law sentenced the man which is justice, and the forgiveness of the women as mercy. Thus, I believe that mercy and justice can co-exist, but there is always an exception to everything.

What do you think is Shakespeare's intention of creating Shylock in The Merchant of Venice? Support your opinion with examples.

Well I feel that Shakespeare's reason for creating Shylock in the Merchant of Venice is to emphasise the discrimination of Jews that time and wants to let people watching his play stop the discrimination. Potraying Shylock in a cruel and cunning manner in the play, Shylock's ending will draw empathy from play-viewers. Shakespeare hopes that they will regret their action. An example is the purpose of Shakespeare to potray Shylock in such an evil manner. This would cause viewers to reflect on their actions on the Jews. Even by calling Shylock not by his real name but calling him "The Jew" causes huge discrimination to happen. This is and insult to his religion and Shakespeare hopes to tell people that if anyone insults his or her religion, how upset the person would be.

How to Raise a Global Kid, by Lisa Miller

I feel that the main arguement Jim Rogers is saying is that Asia is the future. He said that America is in a decline and thus, chooses to live in Asia, learning chinese. He knew that the East is now prospering and the West is now in debt, thus, he chooses to sick to the East where all the creditors are, as a normal person would do the same. I agree with this arguement, as for now, America is truly in a decline, while Asia is prospering, escpecially China. China now attracts numerous foreign investors and is forseen to be the future America. Thus, to groom children into future global people, the child must be immersed into the Asia culture and thus, learn China's language, Chinese. This would allow the child to get a headstart into the future world that will most likely revolve around China, like in the past when the world revolves around America.

Comment on Janelle Lee's view of Singapore's education system

Janelle Lee's letter has changed my view towards the education system of Singapore completely. Once I thought to be the best in the world, now I realise its major flaws. By bombarding us with facts, we are not able to ask 'why' questions, as she said. Our thinking will be shallow. If we are able to be effective thinkers and ask questions, imagine how fast will the world develop, inventions are made by previous scientists thanks to their curiosity to find out more. Example such as science, is a good way to express the flaw. In science, schools teach us about atoms and what they form, but never where they come from. If this was found out, imagine what a revelation it would make. How would shallow minded thinkers lead a country? They only depend on facts and their own knowledge to lead the country, without thinking and questioning about more effective ways. Janelle Lee's letter also adressed about the character development. She was right, it depends on the character if a person is going to do well in studies or not. Teachers also should not use those classes for other subjects as those classes could be considered the most important among all subjects, although it is not graded.

An ideal education system is possible, but to achieve this feat, the system must prepare the student morally, intellectually, socially, aesthetically and physically for life, or else it is not considered a ideal education system. But to do this, each student would have to be analysed as different people would need different methods to educate them about those required qualities. The streaming is not very effective as those that are good in studies but have bad attitude will be together with those good in some other ways but bad in others, are not able to learn together. To achieve most effective learning, students will have to take different classes with those similar quality people. Thus, for an effective education system, it has to be diversified and planned very carefully

The Religion of Water

Water, as a commotive is something everyone neds and have to be purchased. For example water bills Singaporeans have to pay if they used water at their homes. Water as a human right, meant that everyone deserves to get water, with or without a price tag. Its not about the money, its about the fact that water does not belong to anybody. Water is part of Earth and Earth cannot be purchased by anyone, nor is there a king of the world. In my opinion, I feel that water should be a human right to have it. To be honest, governments, kings do not have any right to claim that the water surrounding their countries are theirs, water is supposed to be a consumable for everyone to survive. If we humans have to buy water, then why do animals do not have to? They drink water everyday, some even more than us. If we look at the situation in this angle, water should be for everyone for free, a human right to drink it without cost.

Legislation of weekly days off for maids working in Singapore

Should giving weekly days off be legislated in Singapore? Well in my opinion, it should be. According to a report conducted, Singapore's maids compared to other countries, are the lowest paid, although they have the most working hours. This is already the primary factor that gives a valid reason for the legislation of weekly days for maids working in Singapore. Would not it be unfair if those maids work the whole day but are not allowed weekdays off? Compare those maids to those normal working citizens, there is a drastic difference between them, those maids in Singapore deserve rest, considering the amount of work they have done to their employer's family. Human rights exist in this world, slaves were banned but if these maids were not given any holidays, would not they be slaves? Those puny salaries are considered nothing in the higher cost of living in the modern world, if weekly days off are not given, then at least increase their salaries. Considering the stringent entry test in to Singapore for maids. Thus, I feel that weekly days off should be legislated in Singapore, what Halimah Yacob did was just getting the maids' justice back

Analysis on poem - children in the darkness

POINT OF VIEW - A 3rd person's
Edvidence - The poet is talking about 'them' which referred to the children and how they have 'no light'
Elaboration - Being a 3rd person, the poet wants to convey the message to people around the world on how pitiful these children were, abused since young, they were forced to fight wars instead of studying in schools

SITUATION AND SETTING - Pitiful children in a third world country
Edvidence - 'children in the darkness' and 'war consume them'
Elaboration - These phrases meant that there was a war going on and these children have to take the hard path and fight a war for the cruel leaders. Instead of studying in schools, these pitiful children are being brainwashed to fight a war/

LANGUAGE/DICTION - Metaphors etc
Edvidence - 'Light'
Elaboration - The 'light' in the poem did not meant the lightbulb kind of light. It refers to the children's future. The bad people have ruined the childrens future, surrounding them with 'darkness'. The poet wrote the poem with a touching tone that want readers to pity these children

PERSONAL RESPONSE -
Edvidence - I feel touched and relate these events with the current world
Elaboration - This poem evoked feelings in me, unable to lead a normal life like us kids, these children have been brainwashed to fight wars. But we are unable to anything about it. Comparing these children to countries around Libya, the situation is the same. Suffering children