Life

"If you or your loved ones are stricken with an illness and your only hope of being cured is therapeutic cloning, will you go for it? Why?"

2005-05-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

There are numerous debate around the world over the justification of the use of therapeutic cloning to cure certain diseases such as the Parkinson's disease. Therapeutic cloning involves the extraction of stem cells from the human embryos, after which, the human embryos will be discarded as it wil be of no use. Such action spark off international objections on stem cell research as they deemed it as a devaluation of the human life. These objections normally revolve around the religious and moral views of the issue. Certain religions such as Catholicism strongly disagree on the carrying out of stem cell research while others such as Islam agree to the research as long as it benefits humanity. As can be seen, different religions have different beliefs and views on stem cell research.

I will choose the use of therapeutic cloning if that is the only cure to the illness. If the use of stem cells in human embryos will result in such strong objections from the international community, the scientists can always work on adult stem cells. Although the use of adult stem cells might not be as successful as those found in the human embryos, it can at least resolve the arguments on the moral and religious aspect of the issue. Furthermore, I believe that with the advancement of technology, adult stem cells can proved to be as useful as the stem cells in human embryos in the future.

Would you buy products that contain GM foods for consumption by your family? Why or why not?

2005-05-12T00:40:00.000-07:00

After reading all the different viewpoints on the debate of GM food, I would have second thoughts buying GM food. Personally, I believe that people will buy GM food as long as it is proven scientifically safe by scientists. Till today, there is no peer-reviewed publications of clinical studies on the effects of GM food on human. Even animal studies are few and far between. It is such uncertainty that makes people think twice about purchasing GM food. Some people bought GM food without even realising that they are gentically modified products. This is due to the fact that there are no label on the products that state that they are genetically engineered food. Hence, consumers bought them, thinking that they are buying safe natural products. Therefore, I believe that consumers should have the right to know what they are eating and that producers should have the resposibility to inform the consumers that they are buying GM food by putting labels on the products.

By purchasing GM food, we are telling the producers that there is a demand for such products. Hence, sometimes, producers and manufacturers will produce different kinds of GM food in a short period of time, ignoring the needs to test for its effect on the human body and the environment. There might be unseen effect of the GM food on the environment. Unintended genes might be produced in the process of manufacturing GM food. These genes might have an adverse negative effect on the surrounding. For example, monarch butterflies are reported to be poisoned by pollen from corns genetically engineered to resist insect pests. Such effect can be minimised if producers are willing to spend more time to test their products, ensuring that they are safe for human beings and the environment.

As one of the country's decision makers, would you advocate the use of GM crops? Why or why not?

2005-05-11T23:44:00.000-07:00

As one of the decision makers of a 3rd world country where its people are suffering from malnutrition and hunger, I would advocate the use of GM crops. Under such conditions, the first thing in mind of a decision maker of the country is to minimise or eliminate the sufferings of the people. According to Judith N. Scoville, an ethicist at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, she said that 'Christianity has always had a strong moral imperative to feed the hungry'. Therefore, the most important and urgent matter to do is to find food supply, large amount of food to feed the people, regardless of its ethnic issues surrounding the matter and the food supply source.

The reason why there is a debate over the use of GM food is beacause they think that GM food is unsafe, both for the consumers and the environment. Hence, as long as people take the efforts to prove that GM food is safe for consumption and it does not bring any harm to the environment, I see no reason why GM food should not be sold in the market. Furthermore, when ejected with certain genes, it can bring about great benefit to mankind. When people consume GM food that contain 'helpful' genes, it can help them to deter against certain diseases such as Hepatitis B. A research team of the Science University of Tokyo has succeeded in using genetically modified rice plants to produce the Hepatitis B antibody, which can be used to produce immunity to the virus. Therefore, it can be seen that GM food can help human beings to defend themselves against certain diseases.

Moreover, GM food is able to provide a stable supply of consistently high quality products. Plants with their genes modified are able to grow at a much faster rate than those which are not. Hence, GM food provides the solution to a country that is facing with widespread hunger and malnutrition.

"What are your views on abortion?"

2005-03-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

I believe people abort their babies because they have to do it, in another words, they do not have a choice. I mean, who would want to abort their own child if given a choice. Juvenile couples who become parents suddenly will feel helpless, not knowing what to do, thus making them to decide to abort their child. Mothers, whose life will be endangered if they insists on giving birth to the child, will have no choice but to abort the baby. Life is unfair. There are couples who tried very hard to conceive yet they failed to get a child while there are others who chose to abort when given the most wonderful gift God has bestowed to them.

In some countries, abortion is legalised. I do not know the reason why the government legalised abortion when it is regarded as the most cruel thing to do. Its a baby that we are talking about, a life in a mother's womb. Shouldn't abortion be seen as some kind of murder? We are removing the rights of a child when we legalise abortion, a basic right of a child and that is to live. I am strongly against the act of abortion unless it is necessary to do so. Life is beautiful. I do not see the need for abortion just because the child is deemed to arrive at an inappropriate time, like for example, an unplanned pregnacy for a couple. People should learn to cherish the gifts that were given to them, they should learn to accept them for what they are and not try to get rid of them because of some selfish personal reasons.

"Far too much attention is given to beauty products and treatments." Do you agree? (2004)

2005-01-23T10:35:00.000-08:00

In the modern society, people do care lot about their looks and image. This leads to a rise in the demand for beauty products and treatments. The media began to advertise extensively beauty products such as wrinkle-free lotion, black spots removal wash and other kinds of products that will make one look youthful and energetic. However, other than beauty products and treatments, there are other far more important events in the world that are worth giving attention to. People are also paying attention to global events that are happening in the world such as natural disasters that shocked the entire Asia, sports event that are constantly taking place and other domestic news that are happening in one’s country. Therefore, to a smaller extent, far too much attention is given to beauty products and treatments.

There are other global issues that people are giving their attention to. For example, the media is giving a huge coverage on the tsunami that occurred in the Asia-Pacific region. That natural disaster shocked the whole world with a death toll of almost half a million. People are paying attention to the issue and governments of the respective countries are trying to help by sending medical staffs and personnel over to the countries in need. People are raising funds, donating necessities and doing what they can for the tsunami victims. At this point in time, there is no mood and time for beauty products and treatments. Therefore, it can be seen that more attention are given to the tsunami victims and families in time of emergency and needs.

''There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests.''

2004-11-30T01:38:00.000-08:00

Perhaps that is something that makes the world goes round. Perhaps that is something that makes strangers from different parts of the world to come together and befriend with each other. Maybe, it is something that helps to sustain a friendship or any other kinds of relationship. Countries work together for a common interest, a common goal. They hope to achieve a win-win situation where no party loses out in the agreement. Maybe that is how things work out in reality. Probably that is how businessmen work out their contracts and clinch a deal. They believe in something called 'mutual benefits', or should I say 'self-interest'? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps permanent interest only exists if man only thinks about himself. There can be permanent friends if one chooses to believe that one does not live in a world of one’s own and that one thinks of others before oneself. Two different people from two different parts of the world are brought together by the name of fate. Isn't it amazing how you met this friend of yours out of the billions of people that exist in this world? If the statement 'There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests' is true, are we saying that the friends around us are still with us because they are still of value to us and that we can still make use of them? I hope not. If it is, think again.

Comments on whether gifted children should be allowed to skip grades

2004-11-26T22:20:00.000-08:00

The letters present to The Straits Times show several views of the public on whether gifted children should be allowed to skip grades and advance to a higher level as compared to their peers. Basically, there are three writers, namely, Siti Aisha Mostafa, Lai Ee Sa and Thomas Anthony who agreed that skipping grades help to develop the potential of gifted children better as by advancing to a higher level, they will be presented with a more challenging education path. However, I disagree with what these writers wrote. I agree with Lee Siew Peng who too believed that no matter how gifted the child is, he should not be allowed to skip grades. ''Grade skipping might teach a young child to calculate the trajectory of a ball. But children are probably happiest when they are able to throw and catch a ball and play with their age peers instead,'' an academically gifted child too needs to play and mingle with friends of his age. This helps to develop the social aspects of this child. It allows the child to build up his social skills and widen his social circle. Furthermore, a gifted child can explore other areas such as Greek mythology or subjects that interest them where the 'slower' children have to no time explore in. This helps to develop a gifted child laterally and diversify his scope of general knowledge. Isn't it a better way to develop a 10 year-old mathematics whiz-child than having the child preparing for Advanced Level Mathematics where children of his age only study in tertiary education? I believe that gifted children should advance together with their peers so that they are able to communicate with them and understand them better. All in all, gifted children are still children, they still need to have fun and make friends, let nature takes course and allow them to develop according to their interests. I believe in this way, they will have a more memorable and happy childhood.

1. Should marriage be a legal contract between individuals or a non-binding relationship based on love? Why?

2004-09-14T22:01:00.000-07:00

Marriage should be a non-binding relationship based on love and not a legal contract between individual. You only marry someone if u love that person and not because of some legal contract between you and your life-long partner. A couple in love will get married to show their commitment and sincerity to one another. For these people, the legal contract is no longer necessary if the relationship is rooted on love. Moreover, the legal contract does not necessary ensure that people stay married. A couple will get divorced if they feel that they no longer love each other (which is a sad thing), irregardless of whether there is a legal contract between them. However, this does not mean that the non-binding nature of the relationship encourage irresponsible behaviour amongst couple. One should not do something irresponsible to betray the trust of one's spouse if one truly loves one's spouse. A responsible couple will think of the consequences of a divorce, for example the child will be living in a single-parent family after the divorce which is unhealthy to his growing-up life. Therefore a responsible couple will decide whether they will be getting a divorce after considering all the consequences of their decision.

My views on advertisements

2004-08-01T22:18:00.000-07:00

Advertisements are created to increase the sales of a particular product. It normally portrays the better side of the product to attract more consumers to purchase that particular product. Advertisements provide information on the latest product in the market. This enables the consumers to make comparisons between various products before deciding what they want to buy. Advertisements help to boost the sales of a product. It provides the various bargains and discounts one can get from purchasing that product from that particular company. They create an 'illusion' to enable consumers to feel that the goods they are buying are worth their money. Advertisements help companies to gain market share of the product as they portray the goods of these companies being more favorable than the goods of rivals companies. Hence, advertisements do play a part in increasing the sales of a product. In order to boost the sales of a product, companies normally have to fork out a sum of money to advertise their goods to make them appealing to the consumers. However, it does not necessary mean that the larger the amount of money spent on advertising the good, the better will be its returns in terms of profits earned by the company. Sometimes, the company might suffer a loss when the profit earned from selling the products is unable to cover the cost of advertising the product. Therefore, the company has to take the risk in deciding whether the amount of money spent on advertising the good is worth the profits earned in return.

"What is one value or belief that you hold on to in life? Why?"

2004-07-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

To do everything to the best of your ability and to achieve the most out of it is one belief that I hold on to in life. To do everything to the best of your ability means that u have tried your best and thus will not feel guilty if things do not go in your way. Indeed, in everything u do, u hope to achieve the most out of it. To me, that is called satisfaction or a sense of achievement. That is something that keeps me going in life. It gives me the motivation to spur me into achieving something greater in life. To be able to reach beyond my goals makes me feel that my potential are not fully maximise yet. This call for a need to improve in whatever I am doing in life. In life, everything that we do has a purpose, we do need to find ways and means to achieve that goal ahead of us. However, it will not be a smooth-sailing journey to fulfil that dreams of our. It will be full of obstacles and challenges. Therefore, in no matter what we do, we just need to try to give everything that we can to reach for our goal. In this way, we will have little regrets and be able to live life to the fullest.