Animal cruelty is one of the most major problems in the world currently. It is one of the many problems that still remain not resolved in the world. Many animals’ lives have been taken but still, nothing much has been done to solve this problem. The most appealing of this problem is that animals that are being abused are domestic animals that are emotionally close towards us. There have been common cases of people torturing their own domestic pets. It will be always be one of the most serious problems that Singapore would have experienced and not completely resolved. Common domestic pets such as dogs and cats are often regarded as a burden and this is the reason behind all their actions of abuse.
Why shouldn’t animals be abused? Firstly, animals are often recognized as one of man’s closest friends. Animals can be part of our family and can be our loyal companions. Animals can help man in many ways. Take for instance, dogs can help us guard homes and keep us company. There have been cases where people treat animals of higher priority and importance as compared to their wealth and assets. All pet owners need not reach this extent, but however at least treat their pets with proper care and not acts of abuse.
Secondly, animals are living organisms just like humans. They have the similar ability to feel pain just like us. Animals are similar to us; perhaps the only characteristic that differentiates humans from animals is the level of intelligence. However, this is no reason to abuse your own pets. Animals do not cause us pain, why should we? We should in fact treat animals properly and give them a respect that a basic living organism should deserve.
In conclusion, we should prevent animal cruelty. Animals might not speak like us, but perhaps they have a lot of words to say to us within their hearts. Animal cruelty is indeed a pressing issue and we must do all in our power to stop it. Stop animal cruelty today!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
SANTOKH SINGH
FATHER FIGURES
santokh@sph.com.sg
HOW would I have reacted as a father if my sons had been caught streaking on campus?
Reading about some male students getting punished for running naked from one building to another at the National University of Singapore set me thinking, and two other reports on youth provided some background.
I think I would have sat my boys down and lectured them on respecting themselves, respecting the rights of others to their space (and views) and so on.
Then I would have knocked them on their heads for getting caught.(vivid concrete language (Pathos)) (That is something I learnt in the Army (appeal to authority (Logos))) – if you pull a prank, make sure you don't get caught.)
After which I would have gone to the Hall, and the University, to appeal on their behalf, if it came to that.
Too protective? Too relaxed? Excuse for poor upbringing? (Emotionally loaded language(Pathos))
Perhaps, but the other reports in the same three days would have put some of this in perspective.
First, there was the story of a 17-year-old who was an average student, from an average family, with average grades in school.
He was believed to be socially well-adjusted and did not display any signs of violence.
But he went on a shooting rampage at his school, killing 10 schoolmates, three teachers and three passers-by before being gunned down by the police. (Factual data and statistics(Logos))
That was in Germany on Wednesday.
Average students
Then there was the report of 13 average students, from average schools, and believed to be from average family backgrounds.
They, too, were understood to be socially well-adjusted, until they were caught carrying dangerous weapons to school. Their intention, we are told, was to hurt people in their schools.
That was in Singapore.
So the story of a group of 20-year-olds streaking in their Hall pales in comparison.
Yes, they too were all average students, from average families, and with average grades that helped them qualify for university.
They are also understood to be socially well-adjusted, active sportsmen who did not display any sign of sexually maladjusted behaviour.
Yes, this "group of misfits" went on a streaking rampage, running naked from one hostel block to another in the middle of the night before they were reported to the authorities by some female students.
But all they did was to give some students a view they were not comfortable with. They did not kill, or threaten to kill, anyone. (Analysing cause and effect(Logos))
While no one can tell the future, I do live with some confidence that my sons are not likely to turn out killers or likely to take choppers to school.
But I'm not too sure about the streaking, especially if it is done as part of a Hall tradition or an Officer's Mess ragging session in the Army.
Yes, I do have some confidence in the value systems of my children, and their ability to tell right from wrong.
But I would find it difficult to moralise, let alone punish them with a clear conscience, for something like streaking. (Appeal to personal ethics and character(Ethos))
After all, I too had gone skinny-dipping with some friends, though not on our shores, when I was in university. (Denotative meanings/reasons(Logos))
It was not to celebrate any sporting victory nor to drown any sorrow.
It was also not part of a dare.
It was just for the fun of it.
And we didn't get caught or thrown out of university.
I grade it A.
FATHER FIGURES
santokh@sph.com.sg
HOW would I have reacted as a father if my sons had been caught streaking on campus?
Reading about some male students getting punished for running naked from one building to another at the National University of Singapore set me thinking, and two other reports on youth provided some background.
I think I would have sat my boys down and lectured them on respecting themselves, respecting the rights of others to their space (and views) and so on.
Then I would have knocked them on their heads for getting caught.(vivid concrete language (Pathos)) (That is something I learnt in the Army (appeal to authority (Logos))) – if you pull a prank, make sure you don't get caught.)
After which I would have gone to the Hall, and the University, to appeal on their behalf, if it came to that.
Too protective? Too relaxed? Excuse for poor upbringing? (Emotionally loaded language(Pathos))
Perhaps, but the other reports in the same three days would have put some of this in perspective.
First, there was the story of a 17-year-old who was an average student, from an average family, with average grades in school.
He was believed to be socially well-adjusted and did not display any signs of violence.
But he went on a shooting rampage at his school, killing 10 schoolmates, three teachers and three passers-by before being gunned down by the police. (Factual data and statistics(Logos))
That was in Germany on Wednesday.
Average students
Then there was the report of 13 average students, from average schools, and believed to be from average family backgrounds.
They, too, were understood to be socially well-adjusted, until they were caught carrying dangerous weapons to school. Their intention, we are told, was to hurt people in their schools.
That was in Singapore.
So the story of a group of 20-year-olds streaking in their Hall pales in comparison.
Yes, they too were all average students, from average families, and with average grades that helped them qualify for university.
They are also understood to be socially well-adjusted, active sportsmen who did not display any sign of sexually maladjusted behaviour.
Yes, this "group of misfits" went on a streaking rampage, running naked from one hostel block to another in the middle of the night before they were reported to the authorities by some female students.
But all they did was to give some students a view they were not comfortable with. They did not kill, or threaten to kill, anyone. (Analysing cause and effect(Logos))
While no one can tell the future, I do live with some confidence that my sons are not likely to turn out killers or likely to take choppers to school.
But I'm not too sure about the streaking, especially if it is done as part of a Hall tradition or an Officer's Mess ragging session in the Army.
Yes, I do have some confidence in the value systems of my children, and their ability to tell right from wrong.
But I would find it difficult to moralise, let alone punish them with a clear conscience, for something like streaking. (Appeal to personal ethics and character(Ethos))
After all, I too had gone skinny-dipping with some friends, though not on our shores, when I was in university. (Denotative meanings/reasons(Logos))
It was not to celebrate any sporting victory nor to drown any sorrow.
It was also not part of a dare.
It was just for the fun of it.
And we didn't get caught or thrown out of university.
I grade it A.
What is an exposition?
An exposition is a rhetorical discourse that provides information about or an explanation of difficult material. An analytical one interprets subtle meanings, imagery, allegories, or other symbolism in a literary or artistic work. To expose to the sun in this meaning means to make something known. In a play, for instance, the transfer of information occurs from playwright to actor to audience through information being conveyed. In recent years exposition has become a dirty word and the reason for this is that people generally use very clumsy exposition in their work. This is the case even in major motion pictures such as the dire Day After Tomorrow, when the zoo keepers say 'The Wolves have escaped!', they might as well say 'There are wolves later in this film, just in case you wonder where they have come from'.
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