I feel that lotteries have been prevalent in Singapore. Many people have took up gambling in Singapore, as seen from the Singapore Pools lottery centre, having long queues when there's a 4 digits lottery on that day itself. I personally feel that lotteries is actually a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing in a sense that it helps us to relax if we are too stressed. However, it might have a bad influence as people might get easily addicted to it and bet day in and day out. In the end, this person might even become a compulsive gambler till he has marital problems and even cause him to go bankrupt.
When looking at a website, I saw that many people have took up the habit of gmabling. An evidence is in a website, saying that "Internet poker has surpassed sports betting as the most popular form of online gambling -- an industry that now takes in as much as $10 billion a year. There's one catch: playing online poker -- for money -- is illegal in the United States". It is obviously shown that people have took up playing poker. Now, on the social network website, there is also a game which millions of people all over the world play, "Texas HoldEm Poker". Even children, who were once not allowed to gamble in casinos, are able to gamble on online websites for free and without any age limit as well. These kids, if addicted, will play poker everyday and might even neglect their studies. Similarly, when they grow to become adults, they might even gamble persistently and become compulsive gamblers without a decent job. My mother, whom I interviewed, agrees with me by saying that gambling can be a way of relaxation for adults who feel stressed out from their work. Also, it might be bad as they might get addicted. She also added in a statement which I absolutely agree with, "Doing anything is fine. However, doing it to excess is not necessarily a good thing." She even quoted an example saying, "For example, a person studying to excess is not very good as he will be so obssessed with studying that he might miss out a lot of things in life, like going out to catch a movie with friends to strengthen your bonds with them,etc." I totally agree with her. Therefore, we must definitely note not to gamble to excess.
Also, lotteries are based entirely on luck. Probably, you will strike the lottery once in a lifetime. It is not common to strike the lottery. By the time you strike the lottery, let's say a thousand dollars or so, have you ever thought how much money you have wasted in your previous lotteries? Instead of wasting so much money on lotteries, why don't you use them in a more productive manner? Such as saving up your money. Occasinally, yes, you can gamble, but do not gamble too much. By the time you know it, you might have even saved up enough money for the rest of your life after retirement. Instead of depending on your children so much for money, you can use your money to support yourself and give your children a chance to save up their money. By doing so, you will also lessen the burden on your children. Therefore, let me reiterate my point that gambling is fine, but should not be done to excess.
Citations:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4801449
Friday, July 3, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A Poet I Admire
The famous poet I chose is E.E. Cummings. I chose to write about him because as soon as I saw this assignment that I have to do, the first poet who came to my mind was E.E. Cummings. His poems are famous for the abandonment of uppercase letters. He wrote his famous poem, "in Just-" as he loved his childhood in Cambridge so much that he was inspired to write it. Cummings began his new era of poetry by paying tribute to his father's memory in his poem, "my father moved through dooms of love" after his father's death. Instead of this poem being a somber funeral drone, it is rather, a celebration of the life and love that his father brought to Cummings' life and poetry. While making notes about his father, Cummings wrote, "He was the handsomest man I ever saw. Big was my father and strong with light-blue skies for eyes." Apart from these, after his mother suffered a stroke and died a couple of weeks later after being put into a coma, one of Cummings' poems was read at his mother's funeral service, "if there are any heavens.". From this poem, it could clearly be seen that E.E. Cummings loved his parents a lot and had a sense of closure knowing that with his mother's death, his parents could finally be together again. Next, I will be talking more about him regarding his life and his works.
Cummings attended Harvard, studying Greek and other languages. In college, Cummings was introduced to the writing and artistry of Ezra Pound, who was a large influence on him and many other artists in his time. After graduation, Cummings volunteered for the Norton-Haries Ambulance Corps. En-route to France, Cummings met another recruit, William Slater Brown. The two became close friends, and as Brown was arrested for writing incriminating letters home, Cummings refused to separate from his friend and the two were sent to the La Ferte Mace concentration camp. The two friends were finally freed, only due to the persuasion of Cummings' father.
This experience proved quite instrumental to Cummings writing. The Enormous Room is Cummings' autobiographical account of his time in the internment camp. E.E. was extremely cautious to attempt to publish The Enormous Room, however after great persuasion by his father, Cummings finally had a copy of the manuscript sent to Boston to be read. Edward, Cummings father, wrote after reading his son's manuscript, "I am sure now that you [E.E] are a great writer, and as proud of it now, as I shall be when the world finds out".
Cummings and Brown returned back to the states in January only to see Cummings drafted back to the war that summer. When Cummings returned after the armistice, he moved back in with Brown and soon met his first wife, Elaine Orr. In 1920, Cummings began to concentrate on his writing and painting. For the next six years, Cummings wrote many pieces of work, Tulips and Chimneys (1923), & (1925), XLI Poems (1925), and Is 5 (1926). Also during that time, Cummings and Elaine's marriage ended in a rather complicated divorce. Cummings had no concept of how to treat his new wife correctly, so she found herself love in the arms of another man.
In the same year that Is 5 was published, Cummings' father was abruptly killed and his mother was injured seriously in a car accident. With his new love-interest, Anne Barton, Cummings found out of his father's death at a small party in New York. Cummings and his sister, Elizabeth, immediately rushed to their mother's bedside. Although she was not expected to live through the week. Rebecca, Cummings' mother, was inspired by her children to continue living and she miraculously survived a fractured skull. E.E. explained the catastrophe in these words, "... a locomotive cut the car in half, killing my father instantly. When two brakemen jumped from the halted train, they saw a woman standing- dazed but erect- beside a mangled machine; with blood spouting out of her head. One of her hands kept feeling her dress, as if trying to discover why it was wet. These men took my sixty-six year old mother by the arms and tried to lead her toward a nearby farmhouse; but she threw them off, strode straight to my father's body, and directed a group of scared spectators to cover him. When this had been done she let them lead her away." This showed the immense love between Cummings' parents.
From his father's death to 1932, Cummings survived a poor showing of his play Him (1927), and published two other works of his artistic talents in CIOPW (1931), and ViVa (1931). Cummings also successfully married and divorced Anne Barton in the five years after the accident that took his father away from him. 1932 was an important year for Cummings because it was the year that he met the woman that he would ultimately spent his remaining life with. Marion Morehouse, the woman, was twelve years younger than E.E. It was uncertain whether E.E. and Marion ever officially exchanged vows, although their role in each other's lives was certainly that of husband and wife.
With a beautiful "wife", Cummings traveled the world. He ventured to Tunisia, Russia, Mexico, and France, among many other visits he made to lands across the Atlantic. Throughout these trips, Cummings manages to publish eight works: The Red Front (1933), Eimi (1933), No Thanks (1935), Tom (1935), Collected Poems (1940), 1x 1 (1944), and Santa Claus (1946). In Europe, Cummings wrote many anti-war poems in protesting America's involvement in Europe and the Pacific. He wrote the poem "plato told" to continue the work that his late-father had done as the Executive Secretary of the World Peace Foundation. His work was cut short for a brief period with the sudden deterioration of his mother's health. Soon after, his mother died.
(The dedication of what Cummings did for his parents were shown in the introduction paragraph.)
Fifteen years after his mother's death, Edward Estlin Cummings collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage at his summer home in Joy Farm. Soon after his death, three more volumes of his verse were published. Counting these works, Cummings died leaving behind over twenty-five books of prose, poetry, charcoal and pencil drawings, plays and stories. He did all this in his sixty-eight years of life.
Three Poems
1. i carry your heart with me by E. E. Cummings
Cummings attended Harvard, studying Greek and other languages. In college, Cummings was introduced to the writing and artistry of Ezra Pound, who was a large influence on him and many other artists in his time. After graduation, Cummings volunteered for the Norton-Haries Ambulance Corps. En-route to France, Cummings met another recruit, William Slater Brown. The two became close friends, and as Brown was arrested for writing incriminating letters home, Cummings refused to separate from his friend and the two were sent to the La Ferte Mace concentration camp. The two friends were finally freed, only due to the persuasion of Cummings' father.
This experience proved quite instrumental to Cummings writing. The Enormous Room is Cummings' autobiographical account of his time in the internment camp. E.E. was extremely cautious to attempt to publish The Enormous Room, however after great persuasion by his father, Cummings finally had a copy of the manuscript sent to Boston to be read. Edward, Cummings father, wrote after reading his son's manuscript, "I am sure now that you [E.E] are a great writer, and as proud of it now, as I shall be when the world finds out".
Cummings and Brown returned back to the states in January only to see Cummings drafted back to the war that summer. When Cummings returned after the armistice, he moved back in with Brown and soon met his first wife, Elaine Orr. In 1920, Cummings began to concentrate on his writing and painting. For the next six years, Cummings wrote many pieces of work, Tulips and Chimneys (1923), & (1925), XLI Poems (1925), and Is 5 (1926). Also during that time, Cummings and Elaine's marriage ended in a rather complicated divorce. Cummings had no concept of how to treat his new wife correctly, so she found herself love in the arms of another man.
In the same year that Is 5 was published, Cummings' father was abruptly killed and his mother was injured seriously in a car accident. With his new love-interest, Anne Barton, Cummings found out of his father's death at a small party in New York. Cummings and his sister, Elizabeth, immediately rushed to their mother's bedside. Although she was not expected to live through the week. Rebecca, Cummings' mother, was inspired by her children to continue living and she miraculously survived a fractured skull. E.E. explained the catastrophe in these words, "... a locomotive cut the car in half, killing my father instantly. When two brakemen jumped from the halted train, they saw a woman standing- dazed but erect- beside a mangled machine; with blood spouting out of her head. One of her hands kept feeling her dress, as if trying to discover why it was wet. These men took my sixty-six year old mother by the arms and tried to lead her toward a nearby farmhouse; but she threw them off, strode straight to my father's body, and directed a group of scared spectators to cover him. When this had been done she let them lead her away." This showed the immense love between Cummings' parents.
From his father's death to 1932, Cummings survived a poor showing of his play Him (1927), and published two other works of his artistic talents in CIOPW (1931), and ViVa (1931). Cummings also successfully married and divorced Anne Barton in the five years after the accident that took his father away from him. 1932 was an important year for Cummings because it was the year that he met the woman that he would ultimately spent his remaining life with. Marion Morehouse, the woman, was twelve years younger than E.E. It was uncertain whether E.E. and Marion ever officially exchanged vows, although their role in each other's lives was certainly that of husband and wife.
With a beautiful "wife", Cummings traveled the world. He ventured to Tunisia, Russia, Mexico, and France, among many other visits he made to lands across the Atlantic. Throughout these trips, Cummings manages to publish eight works: The Red Front (1933), Eimi (1933), No Thanks (1935), Tom (1935), Collected Poems (1940), 1x 1 (1944), and Santa Claus (1946). In Europe, Cummings wrote many anti-war poems in protesting America's involvement in Europe and the Pacific. He wrote the poem "plato told" to continue the work that his late-father had done as the Executive Secretary of the World Peace Foundation. His work was cut short for a brief period with the sudden deterioration of his mother's health. Soon after, his mother died.
(The dedication of what Cummings did for his parents were shown in the introduction paragraph.)
Fifteen years after his mother's death, Edward Estlin Cummings collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage at his summer home in Joy Farm. Soon after his death, three more volumes of his verse were published. Counting these works, Cummings died leaving behind over twenty-five books of prose, poetry, charcoal and pencil drawings, plays and stories. He did all this in his sixty-eight years of life.
Three Poems
1. i carry your heart with me by E. E. Cummings
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
Meaning: I think that this poem is trying to show a love for someone and how much he cares. Cummings uses metaphors to compare the person to his fate and his world. Also, at the beginning and end of the poem, Cummings tries to emphasise his love for this person by saying that the person's heart is with him.
2. if you like my poems let them by E. E. Cummings
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
Meaning: I think that this poem is trying to show a love for someone and how much he cares. Cummings uses metaphors to compare the person to his fate and his world. Also, at the beginning and end of the poem, Cummings tries to emphasise his love for this person by saying that the person's heart is with him.
2. if you like my poems let them by E. E. Cummings
if you like my poems let them
walk in the evening,a little behind you
then people will say
"Along this road i saw a princess pass
on her way to meet her lover(it was
toward nightfall)with tall and ignorant servants."
Meaning: Cummings is trying to say to those people who admire his poems(the princess) that if they like his poems, let the words and sensual feeling(tall but ignorant servants) follow them when they find their lover.
3. 2 little whos by E. E. Cummings
walk in the evening,a little behind you
then people will say
"Along this road i saw a princess pass
on her way to meet her lover(it was
toward nightfall)with tall and ignorant servants."
Meaning: Cummings is trying to say to those people who admire his poems(the princess) that if they like his poems, let the words and sensual feeling(tall but ignorant servants) follow them when they find their lover.
3. 2 little whos by E. E. Cummings
2 little whos
(he and she)
under are this
wonderful tree
smiling stand
(all realms of where
and when beyond)
now and here
(far from a grown
-up i&you-
ful world of known)
who and who
(2 little ams
and over them this
aflame with dreams
incredible is)
Meaning: As children we don't know who we are. All we have is our dreams which will eventually make us into knowers of whatever we think we know when we are adults. As children the horizons and ideas of ourselves are not yet limited by the fulfillment (or not) of our dreams. As adults we have already created our identities which are displayed in our life actions. It is a splendorous time to be young and to not know who we are and to have the identities forged before us.
Citations:
E.E. Cummings' biography: http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/e__e__cummings/biography
Meaning of "i carry your heart with me": http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/eecummings/11913/comments
Meaning of "if you like my poems let them": http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/eecummings/11919/comments
Meaning of "2 little whos": http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/eecummings/11873/comments
E.E. Cummings poems: http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/e__e__cummings/poems
(he and she)
under are this
wonderful tree
smiling stand
(all realms of where
and when beyond)
now and here
(far from a grown
-up i&you-
ful world of known)
who and who
(2 little ams
and over them this
aflame with dreams
incredible is)
Meaning: As children we don't know who we are. All we have is our dreams which will eventually make us into knowers of whatever we think we know when we are adults. As children the horizons and ideas of ourselves are not yet limited by the fulfillment (or not) of our dreams. As adults we have already created our identities which are displayed in our life actions. It is a splendorous time to be young and to not know who we are and to have the identities forged before us.
Citations:
E.E. Cummings' biography: http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/e__e__cummings/biography
Meaning of "i carry your heart with me": http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/eecummings/11913/comments
Meaning of "if you like my poems let them": http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/eecummings/11919/comments
Meaning of "2 little whos": http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/eecummings/11873/comments
E.E. Cummings poems: http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/e__e__cummings/poems
Monday, June 29, 2009
Figurative Language
The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
This poem, selected by me, is the one I will use now to discuss the use of figurative language in poems.
1. How are the figurative language used in the poem? Give the specific word(s), explain what type of figurative language it is and why the poet chose to use this figurative language?
Firstly, I will start with hyperbole. The hyperbole is used in the sentence, "I-I took the one less traveled by". There is a emphasis placed here when Robert Frost said "I-I". He used this literary technique to show that he is the maker of his own destiny and not anyone else. He is the one who will make the decision to decide his own fate. Another hyperbole is when he wrote "ages and ages", to exaggerate how much time has gone by since he made that decision to take one of the roads.
Next, we will look at the next literary technique, which is personification. I believe that this technique is used when they Robert Frost wrote, "Because it was grassy and wanted wear". By saying the the road "wanted wear", it is sort of like a personification as it shows that the road craved for being used. The road craving for something is almost the same as how a person would crave for something, probably also to be used. He used this to show that the road was really longing for use to exaggerate that it has really not been taken by people in a long time
Now, we will look at another literary technique, simile. In this poem, this literary technique is used in two instances. The first one is "as far as I could", while the second one is "as just as fair". This literary technique is used to show how far the persona looked down the road and what he thinks of the other, looking as good as the other road.
Another literary technique is metaphor. However, as the definition of a metaphor is that it is used to make a comparison between an object and another without the usage of "like" or "as", I feel that there are completely no metaphors in this poem at all.
Lastly, the literary technique used in this poem is symbolism. The "two roads" represent the decisions we people have to make in our life, which is what the "yellow wood" symbolise. These symbols are used to show that in life, people inevitably will have to make decisions, whether they like it or not. These symbols are also to show that a decision has to be made, even if the decision is a complete mystery to you. You will definitely have to make a decision to choose your fate.
2. Tell us why you like this poem in no less than 100 words.
I like this poem as it tells us that in life, we will inevitably have to make decisions, whether we like it or not. Sometimes even, we might not even know what our decisions might lead us to, negative or positive consequences. This poem also tells us that we must be extremely careful in whatever we do. We must be like the persona in the poem, spending such a long time thinking over what decision he should make as it could make a huge impact to our life, whether positive or negative. We must always be prepared to make decisions in our life and always think it through carefully before making the decision. This tells us that we are the maker of our own destiny. It is our decision that we affect our life forever. This is a very special poem as it tells us to do all these through an instance that might happen to us one day in reality, when you are in the forest and don't know where you should go, as your life might be at risk. Besides, this poem also tells us that taking the more common decision or path might not always be a good thing. Probably, all of them had met with difficulties along the way, but you would not know. Taking the less common decision or path might be a better option as you might discover or accomplish things people have not done before. Therefore, I like this poem as it is a very meaningful one, telling us that it is inevitable to make decisions, whether it will bring us negative or positive impacts and that we should not always be following people. We should have our own mindset as well in order to succeed in overtaking others.
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
This poem, selected by me, is the one I will use now to discuss the use of figurative language in poems.
1. How are the figurative language used in the poem? Give the specific word(s), explain what type of figurative language it is and why the poet chose to use this figurative language?
Firstly, I will start with hyperbole. The hyperbole is used in the sentence, "I-I took the one less traveled by". There is a emphasis placed here when Robert Frost said "I-I". He used this literary technique to show that he is the maker of his own destiny and not anyone else. He is the one who will make the decision to decide his own fate. Another hyperbole is when he wrote "ages and ages", to exaggerate how much time has gone by since he made that decision to take one of the roads.
Next, we will look at the next literary technique, which is personification. I believe that this technique is used when they Robert Frost wrote, "Because it was grassy and wanted wear". By saying the the road "wanted wear", it is sort of like a personification as it shows that the road craved for being used. The road craving for something is almost the same as how a person would crave for something, probably also to be used. He used this to show that the road was really longing for use to exaggerate that it has really not been taken by people in a long time
Now, we will look at another literary technique, simile. In this poem, this literary technique is used in two instances. The first one is "as far as I could", while the second one is "as just as fair". This literary technique is used to show how far the persona looked down the road and what he thinks of the other, looking as good as the other road.
Another literary technique is metaphor. However, as the definition of a metaphor is that it is used to make a comparison between an object and another without the usage of "like" or "as", I feel that there are completely no metaphors in this poem at all.
Lastly, the literary technique used in this poem is symbolism. The "two roads" represent the decisions we people have to make in our life, which is what the "yellow wood" symbolise. These symbols are used to show that in life, people inevitably will have to make decisions, whether they like it or not. These symbols are also to show that a decision has to be made, even if the decision is a complete mystery to you. You will definitely have to make a decision to choose your fate.
2. Tell us why you like this poem in no less than 100 words.
I like this poem as it tells us that in life, we will inevitably have to make decisions, whether we like it or not. Sometimes even, we might not even know what our decisions might lead us to, negative or positive consequences. This poem also tells us that we must be extremely careful in whatever we do. We must be like the persona in the poem, spending such a long time thinking over what decision he should make as it could make a huge impact to our life, whether positive or negative. We must always be prepared to make decisions in our life and always think it through carefully before making the decision. This tells us that we are the maker of our own destiny. It is our decision that we affect our life forever. This is a very special poem as it tells us to do all these through an instance that might happen to us one day in reality, when you are in the forest and don't know where you should go, as your life might be at risk. Besides, this poem also tells us that taking the more common decision or path might not always be a good thing. Probably, all of them had met with difficulties along the way, but you would not know. Taking the less common decision or path might be a better option as you might discover or accomplish things people have not done before. Therefore, I like this poem as it is a very meaningful one, telling us that it is inevitable to make decisions, whether it will bring us negative or positive impacts and that we should not always be following people. We should have our own mindset as well in order to succeed in overtaking others.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Will having fun make me happier than studying?
To many people, mostly students, they feel that of course, having fun is much better. They feel that just by having fun, you will not feel as much stress than when you are studying. I feel that of course, having fun will not make me feel as stressed. However, I feel that in the long run, I would rather study than have fun.
Next, I will discuss about why I feel that studying is better. Having fun, as the term states, is fun. However, as you play and play, you might feel a sense of emptiness in you, like you have been playing too much and your mind is never set thinking. Without thinking, you will feel like you have not been exercising your mind enough and will feel the emptiness in you, never learning new things.
Now, I will state why I feel that studying is better. As you study, you feel that you are learning new things and that you are forever thinking. Moreover, when you have learnt a new concept, you can even buy assessment books to see to what extent have you understood the concept. Also, you might forget the concept and study it again and you will never get tired as you will be learning new things again and again. Learning is a never-ending process. When you keep on learning, you will get the sense of satisfaction as you have learnt new things and will not feel the emptiness in you as compared to having fun.
Furthermore, if you study, you will have a better future and earn big money. On the other hand, if you keep on having fun and not study, you will never have a bright future and cannot earn enough money to support yourself. Then, in the future, as you do not have a job to support yourself, you will live on the streets everyday and not have fun anymore.
Thus, I feel that studying makes me happier than having fun everyday as I will be able to learn new things everyday as learning is a never-ending process, only until the time when you pass away. Also, learning gives me a brighter future as well and I will be able to do something for the community and have a sense of satisfaction, and not have fun the whole day and regret not being able to do anything for the community.
Next, I will discuss about why I feel that studying is better. Having fun, as the term states, is fun. However, as you play and play, you might feel a sense of emptiness in you, like you have been playing too much and your mind is never set thinking. Without thinking, you will feel like you have not been exercising your mind enough and will feel the emptiness in you, never learning new things.
Now, I will state why I feel that studying is better. As you study, you feel that you are learning new things and that you are forever thinking. Moreover, when you have learnt a new concept, you can even buy assessment books to see to what extent have you understood the concept. Also, you might forget the concept and study it again and you will never get tired as you will be learning new things again and again. Learning is a never-ending process. When you keep on learning, you will get the sense of satisfaction as you have learnt new things and will not feel the emptiness in you as compared to having fun.
Furthermore, if you study, you will have a better future and earn big money. On the other hand, if you keep on having fun and not study, you will never have a bright future and cannot earn enough money to support yourself. Then, in the future, as you do not have a job to support yourself, you will live on the streets everyday and not have fun anymore.
Thus, I feel that studying makes me happier than having fun everyday as I will be able to learn new things everyday as learning is a never-ending process, only until the time when you pass away. Also, learning gives me a brighter future as well and I will be able to do something for the community and have a sense of satisfaction, and not have fun the whole day and regret not being able to do anything for the community.
Monday, June 15, 2009
If you could eliminate one emotion from the world, would you? Which one? Why?
If I could eliminate any emotion from the world, I will not. Some people feel that many emotions that people have, such as selfishness, jealousy and one of the seven deadly sins, greed. These feelings, or emotions, have caused many people to even use despicable means to get what they want, power, money, etc. Therefore, if they were given the choice, they will choose to make the world a better place, by removing these emotions.
However, I disagree with them. Sometimes even, these emotions which people feel are bad might have a positive influence on people. For example, being jealous is not necessarily a bad thing. People who are easily jealous, with other people's properties, etc. might not stoop to despicable means to get them. Being jealous might actually even encourage them to work harder to get it.
Moreover, since people are given these emotions, we should not change them, otherwise, everything will not be natural anymore. We were supposed to have them since the very day we were born. Without it, we will not be natural anymore and will have this empty feeling in us, like we have something missing in us, and might even feel uneasy. We will have the feeling that we have lost our identity as humans. Obviously, all these emotions are given to us for a specific reason, although nobody knows for sure what it is.
However, although we might not know for sure what these emotions we have are for, but of course, if we can exercise self-control, we will definitely overcome our evil emotions. Probably, we could even use our emotions to have a positive influence on us. Hence, if given the chance to remove an emotion from the world, I would definitely not as everything will be different and it will not be so real anymore. We should exercise self-control at all times when your evil emotions are going to overwhelm you, then we can really make this world a better place with our emotions still intact.
However, I disagree with them. Sometimes even, these emotions which people feel are bad might have a positive influence on people. For example, being jealous is not necessarily a bad thing. People who are easily jealous, with other people's properties, etc. might not stoop to despicable means to get them. Being jealous might actually even encourage them to work harder to get it.
Moreover, since people are given these emotions, we should not change them, otherwise, everything will not be natural anymore. We were supposed to have them since the very day we were born. Without it, we will not be natural anymore and will have this empty feeling in us, like we have something missing in us, and might even feel uneasy. We will have the feeling that we have lost our identity as humans. Obviously, all these emotions are given to us for a specific reason, although nobody knows for sure what it is.
However, although we might not know for sure what these emotions we have are for, but of course, if we can exercise self-control, we will definitely overcome our evil emotions. Probably, we could even use our emotions to have a positive influence on us. Hence, if given the chance to remove an emotion from the world, I would definitely not as everything will be different and it will not be so real anymore. We should exercise self-control at all times when your evil emotions are going to overwhelm you, then we can really make this world a better place with our emotions still intact.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
What is beauty?
What is beauty? This is a question asked by many people. So, what does beauty actually mean? It is defined as the quality in an object that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind. There are two types of beauty, inner and outer beauty. Nowadays, people are more vain in terms of looking good and naturally place more emphasis on outer beauty. On the other hand, some of you might be wondering what is inner beauty. Hence, I will be discussing more about what inner and outer beauty are and which, in my opinion, is more important.
Some people have inner beauty probably when they are kind or have a heart of gold. Having inner beauty basically means that you have morals and values in you. This, is a beauty not seen by everyone. This is a perfect example of what Confucius said in the past, "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it". These people will normally have more friends, good friends, as they will trust this type of people and cherish their friendship helping each other when one of them is in need. There are some of these people who also have the outer beauty. Of course, this type of combination would be the best.
Next, I will be discussing about outer beauty. People who have outer beauty place more emphasis on their appearance, making sure that they look good no matter where they go. These people will normally be more popular and have more friends. However, they will not have any close friends whom they can trust and confide in. Their friends will just be those hypocritical people, deliberately sucking up to them so that they will have the most popular student in school as their friend. Naturally, their popularity will also shoot up. Furthermore, these people who have outer beauty will be so preoccupied with their looks and their popularity that they always hang out and purchase the latest fashion item. These people will most of the time not score well in their academics. Also, these people will normally be self-centred, thinking that they are the best and the coolest people. And the most important of all is that we must never judge a book by its cover. Sometimes even, in a competition, as they have a lot of followers, they might use them to do despicable moves to make sure they win and probably reward the person with something from them to shut his mouth. However, on the other hand, there might also be people who have the inner beauty as well. For this type of people, it would of course, like I said previously, be the best.
Now, in my opinion, I feel that inner beauty is definitely more important than outer beauty. Having morals and values are important to a person, no matter whether you look good or not. Because, having morals and values will lead you to the correct path of life and not commit any mistakes that might ruin your future. Those people with outer beauty but without inner beauty, however, will realise when they grow older that outer beauty will never last. In the end, when they grow old and become just like a normal civilian, they will realise that outer beauty does not last long and is not as important. They will also realise the mistakes which they have committed in the past and live the rest of their lives being regretful. They will also be lonely without a companion as in the past, they think that they are the best and nobody's good enough for them. Hence, I feel that inner beauty is important. Some of you might not realise or agree with me now that inner beauty is more important than outer beauty. However, as you grow older, I hope you will understand the importance of inner beauty, having good morals and values and agree with me. Also, I hope that you will realise it before you commit mistakes that might ruin your life forever.
Some people have inner beauty probably when they are kind or have a heart of gold. Having inner beauty basically means that you have morals and values in you. This, is a beauty not seen by everyone. This is a perfect example of what Confucius said in the past, "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it". These people will normally have more friends, good friends, as they will trust this type of people and cherish their friendship helping each other when one of them is in need. There are some of these people who also have the outer beauty. Of course, this type of combination would be the best.
Next, I will be discussing about outer beauty. People who have outer beauty place more emphasis on their appearance, making sure that they look good no matter where they go. These people will normally be more popular and have more friends. However, they will not have any close friends whom they can trust and confide in. Their friends will just be those hypocritical people, deliberately sucking up to them so that they will have the most popular student in school as their friend. Naturally, their popularity will also shoot up. Furthermore, these people who have outer beauty will be so preoccupied with their looks and their popularity that they always hang out and purchase the latest fashion item. These people will most of the time not score well in their academics. Also, these people will normally be self-centred, thinking that they are the best and the coolest people. And the most important of all is that we must never judge a book by its cover. Sometimes even, in a competition, as they have a lot of followers, they might use them to do despicable moves to make sure they win and probably reward the person with something from them to shut his mouth. However, on the other hand, there might also be people who have the inner beauty as well. For this type of people, it would of course, like I said previously, be the best.
Now, in my opinion, I feel that inner beauty is definitely more important than outer beauty. Having morals and values are important to a person, no matter whether you look good or not. Because, having morals and values will lead you to the correct path of life and not commit any mistakes that might ruin your future. Those people with outer beauty but without inner beauty, however, will realise when they grow older that outer beauty will never last. In the end, when they grow old and become just like a normal civilian, they will realise that outer beauty does not last long and is not as important. They will also realise the mistakes which they have committed in the past and live the rest of their lives being regretful. They will also be lonely without a companion as in the past, they think that they are the best and nobody's good enough for them. Hence, I feel that inner beauty is important. Some of you might not realise or agree with me now that inner beauty is more important than outer beauty. However, as you grow older, I hope you will understand the importance of inner beauty, having good morals and values and agree with me. Also, I hope that you will realise it before you commit mistakes that might ruin your life forever.
Monday, June 1, 2009
What is happiness?
What is happiness? Happiness is a state of being happy and contented. Some people live their lives being happy, while some do not. There might be a few factors which might make you happy. People experience happiness either when they have money or when they have the love they desire from others or even when they are happy with their appearance. However, have they ever thought of what true happiness is? Have they ever thought whether they are really happy? Have they ever thought of what truly makes them happy? I will be discussing more about what is true happiness.
Recently, materialistic people are more prevalent. They get the happiness they desire when they achieve what they want. These people normally want to lead a luxurious life and their need for these items will last forever. This type of happiness is only temporary and will not last long. For example, some people are so materialistic that they want and desire all the new items as they are very popular at that time or these people want to boast to others and let others think that you are very wealthy to gain more friends. When they get their desired items, they are happy. However, when a new model of the item they just bought comes out, you will no longer be popular among your friends as your item will not be popular anymore. Furthermore, if these people's parents decline their requests to have the new models of the items, they will no longer be happy and will forever lead a bitter life. Therefore, materialistic people are happy only sometimes and it is just temporary.
On the other hand, many people are particular about their appearance. They become happy only when they feel that they look good. Although it is a good thing that people keep their appearances good, it is bad to be too particular about it. People who are too particular about their appearance might spent hours in front of the mirror trying to put on some make-up, etc. However, this is actually a complete waste of time. Have they ever thought of how many things they could have accomplished in this time? But, I have to admit that maintaining a presentable appearance is important. Nowadays, looks and what you wear is important in a job interview. For example, if you see a man coming to a job interview with a torn and tattered shirt and another man coming to the interview wearing a business suit which is well-maintained, who will you rather choose for the job? Another example is the recent "Britain's got talent". When Susan Boyle came on stage for her first time wearing her village clothes and said that she wanted to be a professional singer, the spectators were in shock and were all laughing at her. Even the judges were sort of laughing at her. This is why wearing a presentable attire is important, but if you spend too much time on it and overdo it, it will not be as good anymore. Therefore, being happy when you fell that you look is actually a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing in the sense that you will be presentable in front of your peers, etc. A bad thing in the sense that you might spend too much time on it or even overdo it.
Lastly, some people are also happy when they have their family beside them. This type of people are those who know how to cherish those around them. As long as they have their loved ones by their side, they will feel happy and not complain about anything else. They do not crave for anything else except for the love from their loved ones. This, is what I call true happiness. This type of happiness will be with you forever and you will die with no regrets, having lived your life to the fullest with your family. Even when your loved ones die, you will of course feel sad, but happy that you spent so much time with them that you won't have any regrets.
I feel that true happiness lasts forever. However, it is something you must definitely pursue. An example will be the movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness". It is about this man, Chris Gardner, fighting his way to get a job and to raise his son. After fighting for it, he finally was able to make it rich and not be a homeless man anymore. The example of him not letting setbacks affect him is a perfect example as well. A man pursuing happiness should not let small setbacks affect him. Once he has set his goal for his happiness, he has to accomplish it. Well, I feel that true happiness comes when you have your family by your side, no matter if you are poor or rich. Some of you might not agree with me that this is true happiness but to me, it is. I feel happy when I have my family by my side and have their utmost support. Therefore, this is, to me, true happiness.
Recently, materialistic people are more prevalent. They get the happiness they desire when they achieve what they want. These people normally want to lead a luxurious life and their need for these items will last forever. This type of happiness is only temporary and will not last long. For example, some people are so materialistic that they want and desire all the new items as they are very popular at that time or these people want to boast to others and let others think that you are very wealthy to gain more friends. When they get their desired items, they are happy. However, when a new model of the item they just bought comes out, you will no longer be popular among your friends as your item will not be popular anymore. Furthermore, if these people's parents decline their requests to have the new models of the items, they will no longer be happy and will forever lead a bitter life. Therefore, materialistic people are happy only sometimes and it is just temporary.
On the other hand, many people are particular about their appearance. They become happy only when they feel that they look good. Although it is a good thing that people keep their appearances good, it is bad to be too particular about it. People who are too particular about their appearance might spent hours in front of the mirror trying to put on some make-up, etc. However, this is actually a complete waste of time. Have they ever thought of how many things they could have accomplished in this time? But, I have to admit that maintaining a presentable appearance is important. Nowadays, looks and what you wear is important in a job interview. For example, if you see a man coming to a job interview with a torn and tattered shirt and another man coming to the interview wearing a business suit which is well-maintained, who will you rather choose for the job? Another example is the recent "Britain's got talent". When Susan Boyle came on stage for her first time wearing her village clothes and said that she wanted to be a professional singer, the spectators were in shock and were all laughing at her. Even the judges were sort of laughing at her. This is why wearing a presentable attire is important, but if you spend too much time on it and overdo it, it will not be as good anymore. Therefore, being happy when you fell that you look is actually a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing in the sense that you will be presentable in front of your peers, etc. A bad thing in the sense that you might spend too much time on it or even overdo it.
Lastly, some people are also happy when they have their family beside them. This type of people are those who know how to cherish those around them. As long as they have their loved ones by their side, they will feel happy and not complain about anything else. They do not crave for anything else except for the love from their loved ones. This, is what I call true happiness. This type of happiness will be with you forever and you will die with no regrets, having lived your life to the fullest with your family. Even when your loved ones die, you will of course feel sad, but happy that you spent so much time with them that you won't have any regrets.
I feel that true happiness lasts forever. However, it is something you must definitely pursue. An example will be the movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness". It is about this man, Chris Gardner, fighting his way to get a job and to raise his son. After fighting for it, he finally was able to make it rich and not be a homeless man anymore. The example of him not letting setbacks affect him is a perfect example as well. A man pursuing happiness should not let small setbacks affect him. Once he has set his goal for his happiness, he has to accomplish it. Well, I feel that true happiness comes when you have your family by your side, no matter if you are poor or rich. Some of you might not agree with me that this is true happiness but to me, it is. I feel happy when I have my family by my side and have their utmost support. Therefore, this is, to me, true happiness.
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