War: Living Hell

Diary of a Civilian living during the Japanese Occupation in Singapore

How could the British surrendered to the Japanese? It is totally unbelievable! We always thought that the British forces were much more superior than the Japanese. Living during the Japanese Occupation was horrible! Everyday we had to live in fear. Resources were scare. The food we received were extremely less and we had to bear with our hunger.

Today, I saw a Chinese man getting beat up by the Japanese. He did not bow to them when the Japanese soldiers walk pass and was beaten up badly. When they saw that he was badly injured, they did not stop but continue hitting him. When I saw this, I was very furious and almost wanted to go forward to stop them. However my father stopped me in time and told me not to do so if not I would also be beaten up. I had no choice but to ignore this horrifying sight.

Everyone feared of the Kempeitai, which was the Japanese military secret police. They introduced the system of "Sook Ching", which tries to get rid of those deemed as anti-Japanese. The "Sook Ching" had claimed many lives of the Chinese! I heard that those men deemed as anti-Japanese were taken to deserted spots around the island and killed! Many of my relatives who had reported to registration camps for screening never came back. Luckily, my father and I managed to pass the "screening" and received a piece of paper bearing the word "Examined". Sigh... I hope that the Japanese Occupation would end soon.

Home-Based Learning

The most interesting thing I learned over the two days of Home-Based Learning is how to use a program called GeoGebra for the Mathematics Home-Based Learning. It is the first time I used this program. I find this program quite challenging but with the instructions given, I managed to make a picture with GeoGebra. I spent about 1 and a half hour trying to figure out how to make it. I made a drawing of a fish. =P I feel that this Home-Based Learning is very fun and I enjoyed it.

Assassination of Osama bin Laden

I think that the decision to assassinate bin Laden rather than bring him to trial a justified one was the right thing to do. Even if he was brought to trial a justified one, he would receive a death penalty for all he had done like the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City so it does not matter if he was killed on the spot or taken back to trial a justified one. Also, if they brought him to trial a justified one, there is chances that he is able to escape and even more trouble is caused. Hence I feel that the decision to assassinate bin Laden rather than bring him to trial a justified one was the right decision.

Spanish Civil War

Exploring space and solar system

The drive to explore space and our solar system is still an important human endeavor. I feel that it is very important because exploring space enable us to use devices like computers. Without space research, we would not be able to use computers, cell phones and cable TV. Hence I feel that exploring space is very important. I feel that exploring our solar system is very important as it enables us to find another suitable place to live in if earth is over-populated or about to be destroyed. Hence I also feel that exploring the solar system is very important.

Spanish Civil War

Spanish Civil War

NS

Making NS mandatory develops Singaporean boys into men. I feel that NS would Singaporean boys more mature and serious as you would go through many tough trainings. An example of this is my cousin. When he was in secondary school, he likes to fool around and play pranks on others but after NS I found that he had became mature and became more responsible. Thus I feel that NS would develop Singaporean boys into men as it makes you more mature.

IN-CLASS ONLINE LESSON #6

Dear survivors,

I am sorry to hear that Japan had been struck by an enormous earthquake. Many people died or were reported missing due to this earthquake. I understand that most of you lost your loved ones and also your house were destroyed by this earthquake but I hope that you would not lose hope and give up. Many countries had already sent help over to Japan. I wished that I could help you too by donating money or being a volunteer to and search for survivors under the debris. However, I am unable to do so and hence, the only way I can help you is to write this letter of encouragement to encourage you to be strong. I can understand the pain of losing your loved ones although I never experience such things before. You have to overcome this setback and treat this as a hurdle that you have to overcome in order to continue with life. Even if you fall, you have to stand up again and not give up. From this, we can learn to cherish our loved ones and not regret it when something happens to them as it would be all too late.

I admire your strong spirit and how you had reacted in this earthquake. We, Singaporeans have much to learn from you. You are able to move in an orderly manner under the desk during the earthquake. You managed to remain cool all the time. Although Singapore does not have any natural disasters, we must still learn from you how to react during a natural disaster. I can imagine what would happen when Singapore is hit by an earthquake. Everyone would panic and it would be very chaotic. Hence, I feel that Singaporeans should learn from you as such things could happen in the future.

I hope that you would remain strong and not give up. You had been given a chance to continue living hence you should live life to the fullest. I wish that you would remain united and maintain a strong spirit after the earthquake.

Love,

Chua Wei Jian

Which poster more effectively communicates a sense of teamwork?

I feel that the NSP poster more effectively communicates a sense of teamwork. I feel that the poster is more attractive as it has a slogan. In the NSP poster, the picture of the members are of the same size showing that everyone is have the same amount of power. However in the PAP poster, the picture of Goh Chok Tong is much bigger showing that he has the most power. Thus, I feel that the NSP poster shows more teamwork as everyone has the same amount of power and do not rely on a particular person.

Logical Fallacies

Arguing from Ignorance


Examples:

(1) No one can prove that fire breathing dragons does not exist
Therefore :
(2) Fire breathing dragons exist

(1) No one can prove that books cannot talk
Therefore :
(2) Books can talk

(1) No one can prove that eating ceramic is bad for health
Therefore :
(2) Eating ceramic is good for health


Explanation
Arguments from ignorance infer that a proposition is true from the fact that it is not known to be false. Not all arguments of this form are fallacious; if it is known that if the proposition were not true then it would have been disproven, then a valid argument from ignorance may be constructed. In other cases, though, arguments from ignorance are fallacious.
Example
(1) No one has been able to disprove the existence of God.
Therefore:
(2) God exists.
This argument is fallacious because the non-existence of God is perfectly consistent with no one having been able to prove God’s non-existence.