VidS, Author at Gp Lah! — Page 36 of 43

History is irrelevant for modern times. Discuss.

• an understanding and appreciation of history can be a pointer to future events
• ignoring history runs the risk of shutting eyes to the future
• those who do not learn from history are destined to repeat it
• we can learn to understand change and how our society has evolved and will probably evolve
• history can be one-sided since it is often written by winners in conflict or those in power
• history is irrelevant since it did not stop wars, financial crises or even pandemics
• history is irrelevant in a VUCA world; brings up many questions.

Check out this other essay on history.

A suggested intro. Add your own scope and thesis

Historians do not perform heart transplants, improve highway design, or arrest criminals. In a society that quite correctly expects education to serve useful purposes, the functions of history can seem more difficult to define than those of engineering or medicine. History is in fact very useful, actually indispensable, but the products of historical study are less
tangible, sometimes less immediate, than those that stem from some other disciplines.

A suggested paragraph

History offers a storehouse of information about how people and societies behave. Understanding the operations of people and societies is difficult. An exclusive reliance on current data would needlessly handicap our efforts. How can we evaluate war if the nation is at peace-unless we use
historical materials? Some social scientists attempt to formulate laws or theories about human behavior. But even these recourses depend on historical information, except for in limited, often artificial cases in which experiments can be devised to determine how people act. Major aspects of a
society’s operation, like mass elections, missionary activities, or military alliances, cannot be set up as precise experiments. Consequently, history must serve, however imperfectly, as our laboratory, and data from the past must serve as our most vital evidence in the unavoidable quest to figure out why our complex species behaves as it does in societal settings. This, fundamentally, is why we cannot stay away from history: it offers the only extensive evidential base for the contemplation and analysis of how societies function, and people need to have some sense of how societies
function simply to run their own lives.

Does it answer the question?

‘Increasing life expectancy is always a desirable goal.’ do you agree?

Medical advancements have led people to lead longer lives. Specific diets, medicines and procedures are leading people to live longer but are also reducing the quality of life. Countries like Japan and Singapore have the highest number of ageing population which can cause problems economically. It is often seen that people with longer lives die lonely, this has significantly been seen in countries like Japan, Sweden and the UK. Keeping all these points in mind it can be contended that increasing life expectancy is not always a desirable goal.

Economically, higher life expectancy is considered as a marker of Social welfare. In many countries people believe that higher life expectancy is the indicator of a better and well-equipped healthcare system. For example, in Singapore the healthcare system is efficient and there are policies to take care of the elderly. This is also evident from the fact that Singapore topped the world in life expectancy in 2017 with an expected lifespan at birth of 84.8 years. On the other hand poorer countries have lower life expectancy because of poorly managed Healthcare systems, lack of access to clean water, food and sanitisation. Thus, higher life expectancy is desirable and necessary because it is an important indicator of the economic strength of a nation.

However, higher life expectancy also means that the healthcare systems and infrastructure are burdened. Higher life expectancy means that there is a need for additional medical professionals, equipment and facilities to take care of the ageing population. This leads to burdening of human resources and finances which are allocated to take care of people with longer lives. In order to raise the funds for these services to be provided, the working citizens of the country have to bear the expenses in form of taxes. Apart from raising funds for better healthcare, governments also need to introduce policies and programmes for the overall wellbeing of the ageing population. This is seen in Singapore where the government introduced the Merdeka Generation Package aimed at citizens born in the 1950s, to provide them with better peace of mind over future healthcare. Government schemes and packages like these ease the financial burden of medical costs for the elderly but put significant strain on the working younger generations. Thus, increased life expectancy is undesirable to a certain extent because it puts strain on the healthcare systems and the financial budget of a country.

However, it cannot be denied that longer life expectancy provides people with an opportunity to fulfil their life long dreams and spend time with loved ones. Today people are preoccupied with earning money and half their lives are spent in this pursuit. A longer life gives people the chance to experience whatever they have missed in their early years. Today many elderly can pursue additional skills like playing the piano or a guitar. Similarly, they can enrol themselves in online courses to learn skills that are required in a technologically advanced world. Thus, longer life expectancy gives us a chance to experience life in unique and diverse ways.

Longer life expectancy however does not mean that people have a better quality of life. Many elderly who have a longer life live a life that is of poor quality. Elderly people who live longer do not necessarily live meaningful lives as most of the time they are extremely sick and spend their end days either bed ridden or in a hospital. In such circumstances, the elderly are also considered a burden by society. This can be evidently seen in countries like India where many children abandon their parents or send them to old age homes. The separation of the elderly from their families leads them to live sad and lonely lives. Thus, increasing life expectancy can lead to painful and sorrowful lives which are spent in isolation and abandonment.

Longer life expectancy also makes people take life for granted. If people have shorter lives they may value it more and rush to complete tasks that are meaningful. A longer life expectancy can also lead to boredom and cynicism. The knowledge that our lives are limited gives us the motivation to pursue better things in life like creativity and nobility. Thus, increasing life expectancy is undesirable because it gives our life little purpose.

In conclusion, though longer life expectancy might be desirable in economic terms, it is overall undesirable to have a longer life expectancy because it leads the elderly to live lives that are spent in isolation, abandonment, and poor circumstances. Instead, life even if short, should be meaningful and provide purpose to people.

‘Conservation is a hindrance to development’. How far is this true of your society?

Singapore has embraced a relentless drive to develop and modernise and little has stood in the way of development. We have seen countless old streets and buildings get swallowed up by urban planning. For decades, the common consensus was that conservation of historical infrastructure and even of the natural environment hindered progress. In recent years, however, conservation has gained many supporters among the public and even among the urban planners themselves. While there is still a clear, common understanding that pursuing economic viability is key to our survival, there are increasing attempts to conserve more of our heritage through preserving historic and cultural sites and artefacts due to Singapore’s constant and stable economic development. In fact, conservation, when planned properly and done well, complements the development of Singapore, rather than hinder any progress.

Economic development is crucial for our survival and as a country with land scarcity; conservation can, render large tracts of land unusable for further development and can potentially hamper the progress of Singapore. This was especially the case in the early years after independence when conservation was not explicitly emphasized as development took precedence. Singapore demolished many historic buildings and cleared large tracts of forested areas to make way for modern skyscrapers. The notion then was that conservation definitely hindered the development of Singapore into a modern city-state and that there was a greater need to demolish degraded built infrastructure, reduce poverty, and unemployment by building public housing and factories. Calls to conserve the Bukit Brown Cemetery that was rich in historical and natural heritage was not completely ignored, since currently, only parts of it are being demolished to make way for a highway to ease the bad traffic congestion in the area. However, the plan in some 30 to 40 years is to develop a housing estate on the ground where the cemetery currently stands. Even today with greater recognition of the need to reinforce and integrate past heritage with present developments in Singapore, pragmatism still overrides. Hence, conservation is still seen as a hindrance to development and the needs of the people such as housing takes precedence over conservation especially when land space is limited.

However, with careful planning and consideration, conservation can be made viable for everyone and does not necessarily hamper the development of Singapore. If the old does not go, there is no space left for the new and so some people assume that conservation and progress cannot coexist. However, it is possible to strike a balance between the two, especially if old, heritage structures are repurposed for new uses. Staunch conservationists may decry that such conservation is often piecemeal, leaving us clinging onto facades while the rest of a building gets hacked off. However, for practical reasons, a compromise between historic preservation and demolition has to be struck. Adaptive use of historical buildings by modernising and preserving old establishments, which could have been in a dilapidated state after having suffered the ravages of time, marries the needs of conservation and urban development. For instance, traditional shophouses which used to serve as warehouses along the historic Boat Quay area now house restaurants and businesses. Boat Quay is still vibrant today, though now transformed into a shopping and eating paradise instead of being an industrial area. The current National Gallery of Singapore was also the former Supreme Court and City Hall. And it is currently one of the most famous tourist attractions. Hence, it is possible for conservation and development to coexist when slight modernisation can be done to preserve certain historical value.

Increasingly, there is a belief that heritage and identity can play an important role in Singapore’s efforts to construct a modern city, so as to leverage the economic benefits of conservation. Urban researchers worldwide are arguing that culture is the business of cities and the basis of their competitive advantage. Conservation strengthens a city’s symbolic images and also opens new opportunities for the economy. Culture and tourism are interdependent and cultural resources can be developed into new tourist products. To woo tourists to Singapore, historical sites such as Chinatown and Kampong Glam, which showcase our multicultural, multi-ethnic history, have been conserved. Tourism is one of the growing pillars of Singapore’s economic growth. Travel brochures have begun to describe Singapore as a city where ‘east meets west’ and ancient traditions blend with modernity. Hence, the economic pragmatism of some forms of conservation especially in terms of heritage areas with tourism value has seen a new emphasis on incorporating conservation in the development of Singapore.

Are the poor an inevitable feature of any society?

The rich-poor divide has existed in society for centuries and till today, philosophers and sociologists are still pondering about whether the poor are an unavoidable characteristic of society. Some say that it is a problem that can only be eradicated when the right measures and government policies are in place at both domestic and international levels. Others argue that it is a natural phenomenon in a society that would exist regardless of how societies are run. In my opinion, I feel that the number of people who are poor can be reduced but the poor would definitely remain as an indelible part of society as the world today presents several new problems, in addition to the existing ones, that exacerbate the situation brought forward from the past.

A prime reason why the poor are present and prevalent in some societies is due to existing debts in the form of international or individual debt. This problem can be solved through international debt relief or through micro-financing that may ease or eradicate the number of poor people. Third World countries such as Haiti and Cameroon are such examples; they are saddled with large amounts of debt, which saps resources meant for economic growth, causing these countries to be under-developed. As a result, poverty becoming a major issue as the majority of the people living there is unable to find jobs and cannot afford basic commodities. The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank launched the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative to provide debt relief for the world’s poorest countries, and a large portion of the international debt has been bought over by such organizations, to free up resources for economic growth in such countries. Poorer countries have benefited as a result as more money is spent on improving the living conditions of the people and poverty is minimised in these countries. Together with micro-financing through banks, it allows a wider scope of people to be debt-free, hence reducing the number of people in debt.

Another reason would be due to unstable governance in society that comes in forms such as corruption and organised crime. An upright and respected government has to be installed in order to ensure that the basic needs of the people are met. However, in societies ran by kleptocratic governments, funds in the form of education, farming and other subsidies meant for the public are embezzled, depriving the locals of opportunities to break out from the poverty cycle. Other societies that are dominated by criminal syndicates are also in the same situation. Protection rackets, drug-trafficking and loan-sharking are some activities that are prevalent in such societies, and with governments unwilling to crack down on such illegal activities, it leaves a negative impression on foreign countries and investors. As such, jobs are not created to provide employment for the people, and the poor continue to exist in society. Thus, ensuring that a government which is honest and unafraid to crack down on crime is in place may allow the number of poor people in societies to fall.

One other contributing factor to the existence of the poor would be discrimination in gender, cultural and racial aspects. Discrimination disadvantages certain groups of people into being unable to have the same rights as others, and as a result, they constitute the majority of the poor in many societies. Racial bias, for example, was a major issue in the US, such that before the African-American civil rights movement took place in the 1960s, African-Americans did not enjoy the same rights as white Americans. As such, they made up the bulk of the poor in the US in the past. However, with the help of pro-black groups such as the Black Panther Party, African-Americans are better off than before and poverty in America is no longer concentrated amongst African-Americans. Such rights groups still exist today, and they are still campaigning to stop discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all. They play an important role in eradicating biasedness in any form, such that people can get jobs regardless of their colour or religion. This also breaks down most social barriers, and it would pave the way to reducing the number of poor people disadvantaged because of discrimination.

The existence of the poor may now seem to be a relatively simple problem that can be solved in these changing times as certain trends are changing, but some solutions are more theoretical rather than practical and do not help in removing the ‘poor’ tag in societies as believed.

Gender, racial and cultural bias is one perennial problem that appears solvable but is impossible to resolve. This is because such discrimination stems from people’s mentality that has been shaped by negative influences as they grow up. As such, it is present in many forms in society, for example, in job interviews, discriminative employers may only offer jobs to certain groups of people and this creates a disadvantage for such people, which may be the reason why people who are discriminated against form the bulk of the poor. Also, in today’s society, the problem of discrimination is partly due to the older generations carrying historical baggage, such that the negative impressions they have of other groups of people are brought forward from the past and their actions could be discriminative. The problem also creates a vicious cycle when parents from these generations, out of stereotypical fears, inadvertently inculcate a sense of discrimination in their children. As such the people who are discriminated against might continue to feel resigned to be part of the poor and the problem carries on for generations. The population of the poor who are being discriminated against thus either grows or remains the same.

Another issue that contributes to the existence of the poor would be the different innate abilities in everyone. Some people are brighter than the others, while others can be more charismatic than others and the list goes on. Such traits distinguish each and every individual and it depends on which traits are more in demand that determines who might be rich and who might be poor. Generally, people who are intellectually superior to others would be in higher demand, and this could translate to them being better paid as well. This naturally creates a rich-poor divide in every society. Furthermore, a portion of the poor is also made up of people who are less skilled or unwilling to work. Comparatively, a person who is skilled would be more likely to secure a job than one who is not; a person who is willing to find a job would stand a chance of finding one compared to one who is not searching. As such, the poor basically constitutes of people who do not have the right skills or the right work attitude which dampens their chances of securing a job and breaking out of the ‘poor’ category.

Furthermore, studies have shown that the literacy rate in countries is a key determinant to the country’s economic prosperity, which can, in turn, increase the average local’s income. As such, most countries focus on making education available to every child in the country. Yet, for some countries, education may not be freely accessible due to political, geographical, social and other reasons. This is evident in populous rural areas which are highly inaccessible to the rest of the world, where the standard of education is not on par with education systems elsewhere. The level of education in such rural regions is limited in terms of choice, due to less resource made available for teaching. As a result, the people are deprived of accessible education services and end up forming the bulk of the country’s poor. However, this does not solely apply to rural societies. In developed countries such as the US and Canada, places in top-notch education institutions are reserved largely for the wealthy. This is due to the vast amount of resources concentrated on the varsities that provide the best form of education. As such, when such schools are compared to schools that are widely available to the public, there is a disparity in terms of quality of service provided, and this puts the poor at a disadvantage. In the end, it does not solve the situation of the poor in such countries.

In addition, in many developed and developing societies today, social mobility has become increasingly disparate between the rich and the poor. This is largely due to the tendency of the rich to cluster together to share resources and capital, such that the rich are becoming richer while the poor are becoming worse off. Income gaps in countries are widening as a result and this segregates the rich and the poor. As seen from today’s trends, the rich naturally have the capability to use resources unavailable to the poor, for example, they can afford to send their children for tuition to give them every possible advantage in terms of academic tests. Statistics show that students from the top income quartile have increased their share of places in elite American universities from 39% in 1976 to 50% in 1995, which shows us how the rich could possibly be gaining an edge over others in certain areas. As such, the poor have become the underdogs in areas where the rich seem to be dominating, and in the long run, this trend may have adverse effects on the chances of poor in improving their social status.

Finally, relativity also suggests that there will always be both the rich and the poor. A person who is better off than others would naturally be considered to be part of the rich, while the poor applies to the rest of the people. It tells us how people are grouped into either the ‘rich’ or ‘poor’ group. Take, for example, a person who earns a salary slightly higher than another is considered to be richer, while the other person is considered to be poorer. A poor person may not be identified as one who is not capable of affording basic necessities, but one whose financial worth is less than that of others. This is because an individual who may be considered to be poor in a developed country may not be so in a developing country. This serves to tell us that regardless of whether a society has a portion of its people who are poor, there might be others who are even worse off than them, and the problem of the poor existing in societies would thus persist no matter what happens.

“Technology gives us the ability to control our own lives”. How far do you agree or disagree?

We live in a society in which various technologies impact our daily lives ubiquitously. From domestic solar panel heaters that save electricity to smartphone technology that provides applications of different uses for people, technologies have brought abundant convenience and bestowed us with a wider range of abilities to explore and achieve more. On the other hand, some people accuse that advanced technology is insidious for our personal ability buildup as we heavily rely on its convenience and capability. Consequently, our most basic and crucial skills would be gradually eroded. Those who perceive technology have enslaved us and omit the fact that we are the inventors of these sophisticated mechanisms. This proves that human brains are far more elastic than what has been found when technology does not serve as a facilitator for us and equip us with capabilities to pursue our goals. It is always up to our choice to terminate their existence. In light of this, I agree with the statement to a large extent.

Firstly, technology can be and has been developed specially and expertly to enhance our abilities with overwhelmingly positive results. One good example is the well documented “Sesame Street Effect” numerous studies showed that children from all sorts of backgrounds and skills who watched the show actually improved in their school readiness, literacy and numeracy abilities as well as social skills. Here, technology was deliberately designed to present an appropriate amount of intellectual stimulation, optimise engagement among young viewers and enable transference to real-life situations. Likewise, we could look at the many groundbreaking websites that are sifting through the noise of data online to help researchers, policymakers and educators refine their communication and data analysis skills. Khan Academy uses the YouTube platform to help slow learners take all the time they need to revise the High School curriculum. As such technology facilitates education for different groups of people which conventional form of education does not provide and hence gives us the necessary ability to pursue our goals and eventually control our own lives.

Some may argue that technology encourages the conditions in which skills can be lost without our notice. In giving over many of our simple tasks to technology, we have paid the price for further development in these skills for the extra bit of convenience. For example, the art of cooking has been almost been mechanised over the past decade from premade mixes to pre-packed poultry, from the invention of bread makers to talented multifunctional gadgets at every kitchen needs, we have automated skills that were once considered vital for the initiation of any female into motherhood. In such a way we have regressed in our basic abilities due to the rampant use of the technology. Nevertheless, individuals who are driven to be better at their real-life work, achieving real-life goals and grooming their real-life skills would usually be more focused on how they tap into technologies that help them get there, instead of being overly dependent on technology and passive in enhancing their abilities utilising the assistance of technology. For example, there is a difference between an entrepreneur who uses Twitter, Facebook and his iPhone applications not only for leisure but to communicate with his or her customers and understand market trends versus those only using game technologies to “poke” people, stalk their crushes and play Fruit Ninja. Many successful Web 2.0 businesses like Threadless and Tome Shoes made their millions because their founders intended to establish a successful business using online sources. Thus, more often than not, technology would give those who possess the intentionality to gain more ability what they look forward to.

Critics may also say that, with the advent of the industrial revolution where advanced nations moved into an era of extensive mechanization, basic skills that were initially done by hand, from harvesting of crops to assembly of complicated parts were largely automated by the late 1900s. This gave rise to Luddites protests that people would lose their jobs as the practising of these basic skills was what was earning them a living. The emergence of technology diminished human work and people’s ability to gain a livelihood. Moreover, our traditional arts in the form of handicrafts have been replaced by standardised manufacturing of products and hence are in great danger of extinction. As such, technology has weakened our ability and willingness in making art pieces using our own hands and would eventually erode our tradition and culture.

Nevertheless, we should also credit the industrial revolution for freeing people from their mundane chores so that we can strive to learn and innovate increasingly sophisticated skills. More options were given to men, women and children to handle ideal lifestyles instead of endlessly toiling under the sun. They could receive better education and seek better job opportunities which led to a higher standard of living for them. Also, the increase in efficiency brought by machines in the food industry has also helped eradicate global poverty so that famine was no longer a hindrance in industrialized nations for their people to reach a better life quality and even pursue their life goals. Therefore, technology has granted people with time, health and opportunities to acquire sufficient abilities to steer their own life and gain control of it.

In conclusion, technology with its vast usages and capabilities creates greater access to information for us. Provides us with help in our education and work and most importantly grants us more freedom and efficiency so that we have time to focus on our individual development. Although we can recognise the various instances by which technology has caused us to become less adept, it would be far better for us to acknowledge how technology has improved and enhanced our abilities. As humans, we make use of our intelligence and evolve with the advancement of technology and steward it as a strategic assistant in human development rather than as a monster that is constantly required to be kept on a leash. As Jonas Salk once stated, “This is perhaps the most beautiful time in human history; it is really pregnant with all kinds of creative possibilities made possible by science and technology which now constitute the slave of man – if man is not enslaved by it.” Indeed, after all, it is us who should make the effort to harness technology in benefiting us and enhancing our abilities to control our lives.

‘In the modern world, image is everything.’ Discuss.

In the past century, the image has rapidly evolved from mere vanity to being regarded as of great importance in the modern world, where technology is ubiquitous and the concept of the image can be portrayed everywhere. An image is not merely the vivid representation of an individual or an object, but also a powerful tool manipulated by us to impress and entertain people, for self or for profit. Image is an important factor in society nowadays as it draws a line between the prominent people and the society’s unfashionable mob. It also separates the normal everyday products from high-end gadgets. While a good image is an eminently valued asset in today’s context and can help attain success to a certain extent, there are other elements that are just as important if not more important than it, such as substance. In today’s world, the image may seem like everything, however, where are many other aspects which are just as substantial that can lead to a successful life.

Over the years, with the introduction of print and visual media like newspapers and televisions, the role of images in the representation of ideas has changed significantly. The media plays a strong role in the dissemination of information in today’s modern society, and everyone has the equal ability to tap into the effectiveness of media to accomplish each’s own agenda. As media is accessible to almost every individual, it has led to a society that is easily influenced by images that the media portrays, deceiving them to desire something that they do not necessarily require. These images are the most prominently shown through the usage of advertisements by corporations to promote their own goods or services. Commercials and advertisements are designed in a way that captures the attention of the viewer in the shortest time possible, thus altering the perception of the individual according to what he sees. One good example of print media is women’s magazines, where beauty and especially fashion is heavily emphasized. Page after page, those magazines exude attractive advertisements of branded accessories, handbags, clothes, make-up and slimming centres. The need of looking elegant and classy has become so deeply entrenched in the modern societal psyche that many people, both man and women alike, are willing to fork out thousands of dollars to lavish themselves on expensive designer clothing, beauty treatments and products. Where looking fashionable is concerned, money is no object.

Reinforcing the fact that an individual comes under the influence of images every day, the amount of influence exerted on individuals is colossal. And more often than not, individuals succumb to the effect of these images. The massive amount of mass media portraying an ideal beauty causes people to internalize the standard definition of beauty and they take measures to attain the propagated ideal. This explains the fascination or even obsession with image and fashion, especially of celebrities. The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports that, among the most prominent trends in 2007, about two-thirds of its members reported seeing men and women who requested cosmetic surgery because they wanted to remain competitive in the workplace. One such example is of Hajnal Ban who claimed that she was not taken seriously for her chosen profession of politics because of her height. Thus she had her legs surgically lengthened by 3 inches. This goes to show the number of pain women endures just to attain that desired image of themselves. There are also more movies and television shows that emphasize on an individual’s outlook appearance, such as 200 Pounds Beauty and Extreme Makeover, where the characters underwent various cosmetic surgeries to transform themselves into the ‘modern beauty’. To them, looking beautiful brings them confidence, and is their key to success. To them, image matters. Hence the viewer’s opinion is swayed to think the same way.

In the case of political parties and governments, it is common to see governments creating impressions to project a representation of the state of the country. In context, in North Korea, Kim Jung Il led citizens to believe that their country was thriving and prospering, when they were actually faced with poverty and famine due to government spending on nuclear weapons. Governments also tend to portray a good image of themselves to the people, such as the Prime Minister of Australia, who made a formal apology for the past wrongs caused by successive governments on the indigenous Aboriginal population. The apology, beamed live around the country on TV, was met with cheers. But however good that image is, he should back it up with substance, by putting his words into actions, like enforcing policies that would be of benefit to the aborigines’ community, instead of just appearing admirable. The previous President of the United States, President George Bush also painted an image of Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction, which resulted in the Iraq war. Moreover, that image has yet to be proven reality.

However, though it may seem that the concept of the perfect image is the only aspect which we all want to acquire, besides beauty and brawn, we are also sought after for something more valuable, such as knowledge and a good disposition. This is eminently shown in Singapore’s education system, where the character and achievements of a student are the most important criteria to enter into a higher level of education. Within the education system, students are not judged for their looks, and that is the purpose of the school uniform, to make every student look equal, not striking. The best way to be outstanding in an education system like Singapore’s is to have excellent conduct grades, academic and co-curricular achievements and thus be named a bright student with character and values. The importance of fulfilling these criteria is due to the significance of one’s testimonial that could help a student enter an institution, such as to a junior college, or university. In Singapore, there are also a group of people who are the cream of the crop and are highly regarded by our government. They are the elite. The elite does not just possess a good image, but the ability and knowledge as well which are undeniably important characteristics as they are shaped to lead the future of Singapore. In this manner, there is only a need for the appropriate image and not the perfect one.

Selecting the best candidates, especially those of high calibre, will result in a good government. A good and just government is one that portrays the true image of the state or is able to mould the state into its desired image, like a prosperous nation. Thus it is crucial to pick the right leaders, endowed with the capacity to think critically, that is able to lead a nation, and not just for appearance. To the government, pragmatism is regarded over the image, and more often than not, it is a matter of, “Can you deliver?” that is the burning question. This meticulous method of selection for Singapore has been highly successful, and there is no doubt about which party would win the elections each time. One of the main reasons for Singapore’s success is attributed to our state of political stability, and that we have trust in our leaders to maintain good governance in Singapore, corruption-free.

Prominent figures in the media are inevitably tasked with being a good role model to their viewers who are greatly influenced by their actions. After scrutinizing the appearance of a character or an actor, before the viewer subconsciously decides who to pick as his role model, the next thing he will look for in the media persona is for his character. It is unlikely for a child or a right-minded adult to choose an ill-mannered villain as his exemplar. However, though the actor could have started out as a presentable role model, with many others taking after him, once his character wanes, the others’ will follow suit. Such is shown by various Hollywood stars that have led many to degrade the importance of marriage by their multiple changes of partners. In another light, Jesse Jackson, an American civil rights activist and Baptist minister was an advisor for Bill Clinton, the then President of the United States. He was known to some as the most important black leader in politics at that time, and it is no doubt that many look up to him. Yet, in 2001, his affair with a staffer, Karin Stanford, was made public and that resulted in a blemish in his once clean profile, thus leading many to reconsider their perception of him. Others might even think that having extra-marital affairs is normal. If a Baptist minister could do it, why couldn’t they? Thus it is a huge responsibility to maintain the role of a good example, as the outlook is not all there is to it.

Media has changed the perception of the ideal body image to masculine men and immaculately groomed and slim women. Especially for women, where the mass media promotes unrealistic and unhealthy bodies of painfully thin women, encouraging many girls that it is the ideal way to look. Research indicates that exposure to images of thin, young, air-brushed female bodies is linked to depression, loss of self-esteem and the development of unhealthy eating habits in women and girls. The American research group Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders, Inc. says that one out of every four college-aged women uses unhealthy methods of weight control – including fasting, skipping meals excessive exercise, laxative abuse and self-induced vomiting (Bulimia). There were several cases of models fainting, and in some cases dying, because of the extremity of their eating disorders, but it was only after such horrific events that fashion industries decided to do something about the situation. Italy and Spain have since banned super skinny models from the runway and requires the models to have a body mass index of at least 18.5. In 2004, Dove, a large company in the health product and beauty sector, released a series of print and television ads featuring happy-looking, lingerie-clad women with “everyday” looks, called the Dove Beauties. Dove’s campaign was striving to generate change from within the generally weight-conscious advertisement industry, showing that you are beautiful in your own way. Through these examples, it proves that a person might have good looks, but without health and contentment of the way one looks, it is difficult to live a self-fulfilling and happy life.

Through the years, the image has changed, especially after the emergence of the media, which has led many to misunderstand the concept of real beauty. The ideal image that the media portrayed has drastically changed the individual’s opinion. Leading to the countless effort spent on attaining that perfect image, deluding people from what is the main priority in life. Governments have also been known to paint the perfect image of their nation, coaxing their people into believing the untrue. However, in some cases, the substance is more sought after than beauty. This is evident in various institutions and the recruitment of future leaders where ability and personality are of the utmost importance. A bad image from the media can also lead to various followers, resulting in declining statistics significantly in the area of marriage. And lastly, the most essential thing to possess in life is health. A person might be the richest and most beautiful in the world, but without health, he is nothing. In conclusion, albeit it may seem that image is everything in today’s world, it is not so, particularly where the substance is concerned.

“The book has no place in modern society”. Discuss.

As the world continues to progress and develop at an ever-increasing speed, so have mediums pertaining to information. Nowadays, due to the widespread use of the Internet and new technologies such as portable iPhones, many have gone so far as to claim that the traditional medium, books, has lost its intrinsic value in modern society. Nevertheless, although I feel that factors such as inconveniences, high financial and social costs involved and lack of interactivity with regards to the book have all led to the diminishing value of the book in recent times, it still retains some place in society due in part to its credibility and accessibility as major reasons.

Ever since the Internet was created by the United States Advanced Research Project Agency (ARPA) in 1958 to regain a technological lead over the USSR, and later spread to the masses, it has increased exponentially in popularity and usage in recent times. According to a study conducted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the number of people connected to the internet worldwide has increased from 2 per 100 inhabitants in 1996 to 22 per 100 inhabitants in 2007. Plus, new technologies such as smartphones have been on the rise. On the other hand, revenue sale in the book industry have seen little rises in the previous years. Books had once been an integral part of mankind until a few decades ago, and its decline now has gained momentum over the years. Several factors have contributed substantially to this, in my opinion.

One is the convenience of the new mediums in contrast to books. Due to inconveniences associated with searching for information in books in the bookstore or library such as the time and effort involved, people are beginning to turn to faster and easier methods. The rise of Google, MSN and Microsoft’s bing.com have resulted in more effective and efficient online search engines, where any searches can come up with results pertaining to keywords in a matter of seconds. Just recently, Google released a revamped search engine, wanted to even 2 to 5 seconds of search time. Such continual optimizations have led to more people turning to online mediums to search for sources of information and entertainment rather than books. Furthermore, the development of portable digital devices like iPhones has allowed for easy searching of information or entertainment on the move, without worrying about the burden of lugging books around. One digital device, the size of a book but much slimmer, can contain more than 20 e-books, and only limited by its memory capacity. Therefore, as such, the book has lost its place in modern society, with other mediums
taking over, such as the Internet and new technologies due to the inconveniences that book pose.

Another factor is the financial and social cost of books as compared to the alternatives. Books require consumers to pay at the market price so that the firms operating in the book industry can maximise revenues and stay competitive. Thus, in some cases, books are much more expensive when contrasting with those online due to publishing costs, copyrights management, shipping, etc. In contrast, e-books have begun dominating the market at the turn of the century. Furthermore, they are cheaper substitutes, where studies conducted have shown that there are presently at least 2 million free e-books online. Although some online sources require nominal fees, citing reasons such as digital rights management, the overall costs are still lesser as compared to print materials. This is because searching, purchasing or shipping of the books require not only money but also time and effort whereas searching for online materials is much faster, possibly more efficient. Therefore, due to comparatively higher costs involved, other alternative mediums have gained more recognition and prominence, and books can thus be said to have lost its place in modern society.

In addition, the lack of interactivity of the book has also contributed to the declining book industry. Books are print materials which encompass only the author’s sole viewpoint or perspective pertaining to the issue at hand. More often than not, the comments in the book rarely look at other points of views or in different perspectives, thus causing many to feel a lack of immersion when reading a book as a source of information or entertainment. On the other hand, the expanding prominence of the Internet has given rise to new forms of communications like the development of discussion forums. These online platforms can then serve as effective places for the discussion of certain topics with different people so that everyone is able to understand viewpoints from across the world, say for example, what one Chinese feels about the policies in France. Such interactions can improve knowledge of global perspectives and also expand understanding regarding the issues, thereby allowing them to learn more from the online posts rather than from books. This is evident where discussion forums have come to become an integral part of countries such as Singapore with brightsparks and kiasuparent forums acting as widely popular platforms for discussing education issues within the community. Hence, the lack of interaction has resulted in the book losing its place in modern society.

But, the book still can be said to retain someplace in society today. This is because books are known for their credibility and accessibility. In most instances, books are written by credible writers and verified countless times by editors before being certified for publishing into the market. Such strict regulations with regards to the books show that books still form a significant part of society today by providing trusted information. However, online mediums do not have those regulations in place, instead, the internet is prided for being interactive and allowing anybody to change or modify content. One most notable example is Wikipedia.org, where anyone, regardless of who is capable of changing the information on any topic they desire. Therefore, the question of Wikipedia’s credibility has been raised by numerous sources, where Jorge Cauz, president of
Encyclopedia Britannica Inc commented on September 8, 2004, Washington Post article that Wikipedia’s information is rarely reliable. Therefore, books are able to retain some degree of place in society.

Plus books are also much more accessible as compared to online mediums. In most developing countries like some rural parts of China, India and Nepal, books are the only source of information. This is because those areas have not been connected to the World Wide Web and thus lack the online aspect. Thus, they are only capable of accessing books but not those that are on the Internet. Hence, books are still of much importance in many areas of society today.

Nevertheless, online mediums do not necessarily to suggest a lack of credibility. There is indeed a degree of unreliability, but such sources can be much more informative than that of books. This is mainly as these alternative forms of information are critiqued and modified frequently, sometimes by people who specialize in those fields. One significant example would be the Huffington Post, an American news website and content aggregating blog. In addition to columns by core contributors, The Huffington Post has over 9000 bloggers, ranging from politicians to celebrities to academics to policy experts, who contribute in real-time on a wide range of topics. Such learned and differing expert opinions on the issues at hand can prove to be an effective source of information and hence, also not necessarily very unreliable. Therefore, online mediums can also be
credible.

Furthermore, although many rural areas are subjected to the lack of connectivity to the Internet, extensive studies conducted have shown that many governments worldwide are taking steps to implement Internet services. In the developed countries alone, the number of connected people has risen from 0 per 100 inhabitants in 1997 to over 17 per 100 inhabitants in 2007. This is evidence that internet access has risen exponentially over the years, and thus books will not be the only accessible medium, and therefore, other alternatives are also able to hold someplace in modern society today.

In conclusion, the book has lost some ground in recent years not only due to its lack of interactivity but also the high costs and inconveniences associated with it. But although the book is still seen to be able to retain some place in society based on its credibility and accessibility, I feel that its hold on the people will continually be eroded by the increasing usage of the alternative mediums as sources of the information world.

‘Idealism brings disillusionment; realism brings results.’ Discuss.

What determines a person’s course of action? Is it based on ideals, often visionary beliefs, in order to achieve a means to an end, or rather, is it to accept the current conditions whilst taking into consideration the anticipated gains, costs, necessities and chance of success? One could argue that the latter would appear to be the more pragmatic choice. However, to state the idealism is without its merits is myopic.

In this modern age, it is believed that there is a common mutual interdependence amongst nations- much like the frail balance of an ecosystem- where an alteration in terms of one factor may have vast consequences to a seemingly unrelated outcome. Such is the nature of globalisation. In such a high stakes game, it would be madness to act solely on idealistic beliefs. As a result, to represent things in an ideal form, or as they might or should be rather than as they are, with emphasis on values, without considering the reality of the situation would be too great a risk to be deemed feasible. The violation of human rights occurs throughout many of the world’s nations. From an idealistic perspective, this phenomenon would be deemed undesirable, and we would naturally think that the complete eradication of such atrocities would hence be the most favourable course of action. However, in reality, this would amount to nothing more than a lofty pursuit. If a country should act unilaterally in invading another in order to exterminate such acts, the global consequence would be numerous. By espousing realism, on the other hand, there are tangible benefits to be gained. Instead of leaning towards a zero-sum game mentality, where it is all or nothing, progressive steps could be taken in order to solve such a problem. Perhaps by establishing international ‘watchdog’ organisations such as the United Nations, policies could be put in place in order to methodically curb such problems. Although such methods do not ensure that the problem would indeed be solved entirely, it is a step in the right direction.

Faced with such stark realities, one would be inclined to believe that idealism holds little value when realism brings about such concrete outcomes whilst the former seems to advocate that the object of external perception consists of mere ideas. What is interesting when considering these factors is that idealism is more often than not, the basis of future realistic action. Many of the things we take for granted today was once the brainchild of someone with a simple idea. It may not have amounted to much at the point of conception, but the process is nonetheless of vital importance. Take mankind’s fascination with flight for example. A couple of centuries ago, flight for man would have seemed improbable. However, with the constant belief that defying gravity is indeed possible, the Wright brothers altered the face of history. This idealistic goal has even propelled past aviation and has lead to advances in space technology by breaking the final frontier. In recent history, we can witness the benefits of idealism, where racial equality is concerned. Not too long ago, African-Americans were seen as the inferior race in the United States; subject to slavery by their white masters, they were deprived of many of the things we take for granted today, such as education, the right to vote or equality in employment. If not for the visionary aims of such figures as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr, slavery might still be a common practice in America. In King’s speech entitled “I have a dream,” we see the embodiment of an idealistic aim, where although seemingly unrealistic at the time, is of vital importance in order to take realistic measures in the future.

In considering these binary opposites, it is important to note that simply gathering under either banner would be folly. Sheer idealism without undertaking a pragmatic outlook would indeed amount to nothing more than a dream, realism on the other hand, without any ultimate goal may yield some results an yet be without conviction. Hence, there is a need to acknowledge that despite being at opposite ends of the spectrum, the two are inextricably linked when anything of value is to be attained. We see examples of this fusion in our everyday lives. Take for example Singapore’s road to independence. What may have started out as mere nationalistic aspirations led to Singapore attaining self-governance? However, this did not come without a dose of realism as the British would only grant Singapore independence if it was certain that it would not fall to communism. As a result, operation Cold Store was put in place, in order to exterminate communist movements on the island. Similarly, the Obama administration espouses such slogans as “change”, and “yes we can”. This does indeed seem like a grand idea given the current economic situation. However, the importance of laying the foundations upon which realistic policies can be implemented so as to bring about this very change cannot be ignored.

Hence, it appears that it is a situational decision, of whether to adopt either notion or to integrate them to achieve a goal. For all the benefits of pragmatism, it must not be forgotten that realism is merely the process to which idealism was the impetus.

Joy and Sorrow

Introduction
Joy is something most people experiences in lives. It subjective but it is a matter of how we look at it. In general view, when one is affected positively either mentally or physically by an event and is able to feel extremely happy, Joy could be said to have been created to the self by the event. Hence, Joy is a feeling of great happiness, a state of mind that encompasses both physical and mental emotions gained from activities that create great happiness to the self. In the later part of the essay, I will be examining how human perceive joy and how it potentially differ in different culture.

Great happiness like joy can be obtained from pleasurable activities such as snow skiing. However, different people may have different perception; some may deem skiing as a pleasurable activity while some might not. A child from a country that does not has winter, for example, Singapore, may find skiing adventurous and a pleasurable activity to do. However, for a child who lives in a country that has winter, for example, Denmark, skiing may be a boring activity rather than a pleasurable one for them. However, how one perceives an activity as pleasurable may also depend on one’s characteristic. For example, a lazy man may find skiing on the snow rather a tedious and tiring activity, whereas a sporty man may find skiing on the snow an adventurous and pleasurable activity. After all, it depends greatly on one’s perception of pleasurable activity before one finds satiety in it. It is often conceptually believed that through bad experiences we are able to learn and obtain good memories and may eventually lead to great happiness it. For example, a lazy man may find it tedious and tiring to ski in the snow as he falls dozens of time while skiing. But the experiences of falling and picking up the skill of skiing may allow the lazy man to understand the joy in skiing. This enables skiing to be a pleasurable activity to him. After all, it really depends on how an individual may perceive what is a pleasurable activity and what is not.

Joy can also be obtained through physical emotion that brings satiety to the self. Examples of physical emotion include gaining better looks or appearances, to recover from illnesses and etc. To a dengue infected patient who has been hospitalized for weeks, recovery would bring satiety to the self as the patient would be able to resume his or her daily life. Satisfaction could also be gained from gaining better looks or appearances. When one gained a better looks, for example through plastic surgery, one may gain confident and be more satisfied as one’s desires of being more impressionable or beautiful is been fulfilled. However, different people may perceive the feeling of satisfaction through plastic surgery to gain better looks. People who believed in staying natural would definitely find gaining a better look through plastic surgery not satiety to the self. However, some people believed that plastic surgery is a privilege to have in this modern society as it could satisfy their desire which brings satiety to the self. For a born looks disfigured person, it is not their will to be born disfigured. However, reconstructive plastic surgery could bring satiety to the disfigured person as it allows him or her to looks like normal or even better. To some, there might be a temptation to acquire the physical or material satisfaction, but it is only the temptation that creates the devil. Often, after people acquire the physical or material aspect of what they previously tempted or desired to acquire, they usually feel unsatisfied and wants more. This is because, in economics, human wants and needs are unlimited. But however, to a certain point I believed, that when people acquire what they previously tempted or desired for, there is inevitably at least a minute satisfaction to the self.

Different state of mind affects differently how people perceive joy. A mentally perverted person may find murdering a sense of satisfaction to his or her physical and mental emotions, which leads to great happiness. However, to the norm, it is regarded as something inhumane and insane, and creates negative physical and mental emotions rather than satisfying it. In this case, different thoughts or mental thinking may lead to different perceptions of satisfaction. One common idea mentioned was, a pianist may find gardening rather a satisfying activity while a gardener may find playing the piano a satisfying activity. In this scenario, the pianist finds joy in gardening while the gardener finds playing the piano a joy. This is a clear example of how different people may perceive joy differently. It sadistic to treat murdering or inhumane behaviour as a joyful thing to do, the person who commits the act may find joy at that period of time but may find it horrifying or guilty when the person repented after his or her thoughtless act. However, we should be aware that each individual has a different perception of joy at different period of time, during the period when the person commits something inhuman the perception of joy is different when he repented. We should take into consideration the fact that at that period of time, the person, indeed experiences joy as his or her physical and mental emotions at satisfied.

In conclusion, satisfaction from physical emotion depends largely on people’s different perception of satiety. Also, we have to take into consideration that at different period of time people also have a different perception of joy. Once one is able to gain satisfaction through physical emotion or mental emotion that they gained from their activities, one is able to gain joy or great happiness.

Introduction:
Sorrow is something we have to face in our lives. It is inevitable but it is a matter of how we perceive it. In general view, sorrow is perceived as when one experiences great suffering from negative instances which negatively affect both physical and mental emotions. Hence, sorrow is a state of mind, mental suffering that encompasses both physical and mental emotions gained through a series of unfortunate events or negative instances. In the later part of my essay, I will be examining how sorrow may potentially differ in a different culture and how human perceive joy.

Unfortunate events can bring about great mental suffering to one as one is negatively affected. For example, John, a national soccer player, has lost his legs during a car accident. For John, it could be one of the worse events he could ever have as his legs are one of the most important things to him as he earns a living with them. Not being able to live a normal life, has to be wheelchair-bound and not being able to continue his career as a soccer player, John emotions could be devastatingly impacted. This not only brought sorrow to John, but it also brought sorrow to those who are close to John, especially his parents. In this scenario, negative impacts to one’s emotion brought by unfortunate events or negative instances could bring sorrow to one. If John were to look at it on the brighter side, he could carry on with another career perhaps painting or coaching for soccer. These other fields of opportunities that he could possibly carry out may bring him to greater heights in achievement in his lives and may also bring joy. However, the fact that he lost something precious could not be escaped; sorrow will still exist even at least temporary before he finds joy when he takes things on the brighter side of life.

A loss of kin, someone or something close to one could bring sorrow to one as it affects one’s physical and mental emotions negatively. For example, one may think that it is a sorrow for John as his grandfather has passed away. However, if John’s grandfather has been suffering great pain from kidney failure for years, it would be a sigh of relief for John that his grandfather finally could rest in peace than feeling sorrow about it. In this case, the child’s physical and mental emotions are not negatively affected. However, if John were to lose his grandparent due to an accident at a young age, it could be a sorrow to him and could even affect the growth of the child. In this case, the child’s physical and mental emotions are negatively affected; hence it is sorrow for the child after the unfortunate accident. For John to lose his grandparents due to an accident may be a sorrow to him but it may not be as well. If John did not know he has a grandfather or has not seen his grandfather since birth, he might not have affection towards his grandfather. Hence, the death of his grandfather would have a minor or no impact on John. Since it is not a negative instance it may not result in mental suffering gained from this instance. However, we have to understand that John is still the grandson of his grandfather and they are blood linked. Sorrow may still come indirectly from the parents of John as John’s parents may experiences sorrow from the loss of their kin.

A change in lifestyle or culture could bring about great suffering to the self as it affects one negatively on their physical and mental emotions. For example, a billionaire family may have got used to the royal way of life for years but after a sudden bankruptcy, their lives could be completely changed. They might have to live in a slum, eat expired loaves of bread or a minute amount of staple food every day. This sudden change in lifestyle for them, in their own perception, could be treated as negative instances. This negative instance has created mental suffering to their physical and mental emotions. But it is a matter of perception of how they perceive it as a negative instance. If the family has a positive mindset and always tends to look at things on a brighter side, they might find it not a negative instance but a great chance for them to experience new life before their wealth could be rebuilt. However, we must also consider the fact that they have been enjoying life for years and this sudden change might take time for them to be inured. During the period of time when they are trying to get themselves accustomed to this situation, they might find it negative and thus create mental suffering to their physical and mental emotions.

In conclusion, it is often revolving around the feeling of losing something in various aspects of lives, which is important, that create mental suffering. Very commonly, the series of unfortunate events often have a link to losing something, such as the loss of close ones, precious items, wealth and many more. Also, it also important that the perception of losing something or someone important may potentially change an instance from being a negative one to a positive one. When one perceives a loss of something or somebody important as a negative instance, mental suffering could be present as the physical and mental emotions are often negatively affected as well.

Is courage a necessary virtue?

Courage refers to one’s bravery in times of fear or distress and bringing about an action that shows fearlessness and valour in a person. One may receive praise or applause for displaying bravery or showing courage at unexpected moments yet at the same time, there are people who are criticized for showing the same sort of grit and valour. Hence, people wonder whether or not courage can necessarily be seen as a virtue. Although courage may not be seen as virtuous if it is inflicted upon others instead, and no effective actions or solutions are seen, this essay agrees to a large extent that courage is in fact virtuous in the aspects of leadership, wars, and when one is fighting for a cause.

Courage is virtuous in the aspects of leadership as it is essential in order to carry out laws that may not be appreciated by others. As a leader, one has to do what is right and what is good for the betterment of people. However such may not be seen as popular or receive much support from the public should it not be what the public want or desire. As such, it takes courage to stand by-laws implemented for the good of people even if leaders may face ridicule and criticism from their own people. For example, changes in healthcare in the USA have caused many people to criticize Barack Obama’s administration even if these laws of increased self-reliance and less dependence on the government were meant to help people to be more responsible for their own well being and healthcare. Even so, Obama’s administration still stands by these laws displaying Obama’s courage while he leads his people despite the criticism he may face. Therefore, courage is a virtue in the area of leadership as it is essential in order to carry out laws that are necessary for the betterment of people.

However it may be argued that courage may not be a virtue should that courage inflict fear into others hence creating uncertainty and worry in others thus, it is not deemed as virtuous. Courage is termed when one chooses to ignore or target the fear that one feels and decides to take concrete actions because of the newly found courage to do something. As such, it would only be natural if one would choose to empower another person to take courage too. However, there are instances where people inflict fear upon others in times of difficulty and hardship. People do this to display their own bravery and honour and sometimes even their authority over other people. This then creates an element of fear and worry in their victims hence cannot be seen as virtuous but rather tyrant like and cruel. For example, the hijackers of the 9/11 attacks were empowered by their leaders to take courage and to fight for the good of their families and people so as to create a more utopian world to live in. They gained courage through influential speeches directed to them and even the provision of weapons to prove to them that they were more than capable to handle the job. Yet, at the same time, the newly found courage was used to create mass terror and fear among passengers in the hijacked aircraft. Thus, depicting them as cruel, heartless people rather than courageous people who gave up their lives so as to contribute to the betterment of their people. Although it took courage to take up arms and rage a war against the West through the 9/11 attacks, that courage was not perceived as virtuous or brave and was rather seen as impulsive, insensitive, and cold due to the loss of lives and fear instilled in the hearts of millions. Therefore, courage may not be deemed as virtuous when pain or despair is inflicted upon others instead.

Having mentioned that, courage is still seen as a virtue because courage displayed in times of war shows an unwavering commitment despite the dangers and risks posed hence is viewed as admirable and virtuous. In times of war, uncertainty runs high and a lot is at stake, especially the lives of innocent people. This is especially so when one puts his or her own life ahead of others so as to protect other people and to carry out a job that needs to be done. As such, due to the many dangers and risks posed to a person such as casualties and even death, courage in times of war is admirable. For example, the assassination of Osama bin Laden was deemed as one of the greatest counterterrorism victories of all time. This was so because the job was well done by US special forces, the naval SEAL who displayed immense courage even with the pressure to carry out the job successfully and to keep themselves alive and lit. Their courage was admirable because, despite the difficulties that they faced or treaded upon, they managed to successfully capture the most wanted terrorist in the world, thus receiving much praise for their valour because their discipline and commitment were seen as virtuous and something to be admired and modelled after. Although, it may be argued that these men are trained to be able to react to difficult situations such as these their courage can still be seen as virtuous because it shows, to give up their own life so as to save millions more thus is virtuous and courageous. Therefore, courage is a virtue, especially so as one’s life is at risk for the sake of many others.

Conversely, courage may not be a virtue if there are no real solutions or actions that help ease the current situation hence overriding the idea of courage being seen as a virtue. Even if one shows courage and bravery, if that bravery is not channelled to produce concrete actions for results, that courage would not be at no avail and would mean nothing especially if one has failed to carry out certain aims or goals planned in mind. Moreover, this may no longer be seen as a virtue but the person may not even be seen as courageous anymore but rather impulsive and impractical instead. For example, Gorbachev was praised for mustering the courage to improve relations with the West and USSR through reforms and plans. However, even with the courage mustered to save relational problems with the West and improve standards of living in USSR, his reforms such as perestroika and glasnost were not radical enough hence no real concrete or desirable actions were carried out. Whatsoever, not only did it cause a lower standard of living in USSR, Gorbachev lost the confidence of his people and his courage was no longer seemed like a virtue but rather a curse. Therefore it can be said that unless concrete actions or solutions are seen courage is not a virtue as it may very well be just as bad as not having any courage.

However, there is no doubt that courage is a virtue when one makes use of their courage to fight for the rights of others so as to help them and ease their pain or burden. When someone challenges the status quo, it is likely that he or she will come under scrutiny or even be ridiculed. Yet their courage is a virtue because they are pushing on so as to see through their plans to help others and improve their lives and even make a difference to the lives of the people they support. People like Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Martin Luther Jr. are famous not for the lives they led but by the number of people they inspired and touched through their valiant acts and were controversial yet acceptable especially when it was meant to help others. Whatever problems that they had on their hands, they managed to juggle that and successfully do what they set out to do. As such, their courage in times of complexity and wanting to improve the lives of others is seen as a virtue. For example, not only did Nelson Mandela have to protect his people, he had to fight the criticism and ridicule he faced while he was protecting the blacks. However, instead of ridiculing the whites for their lack of empathy and compassion, he tried to reconcile with them and to take a conciliatory role with them so as to bring about peace among all people in his nation. Hence, his courage is seen as virtuous because he was willing to run into an angry mob of unhappy people and to be criticized in order to fight for the rights of people, at the same time, make an effort to understand and reason with the whites which took him immense courage especially since his life and his family’s lives were at stake too. Therefore, his valiant acts are virtuous. Although it may be argued that Mandela could have chosen not to mediate with the whites he took the extra step and effort to take a compromising role with them further reinforcing the fact that his courage is virtuous and righteous. Thus, fighting for the rights of others is virtuous especially so when one does not need to do so and still chooses to so as to make a difference in the lives of others.

In conclusion, although it may be argued that courage may not always be seen as virtuous when pain is inflicted on others and brings about no concrete action, courage is still largely a virtue when one is expected to do what is politically right when one gives up his or her own life for others and fights for the well-being of others. Courage will always be present in times of hardship and fear but it is how people choose to display their courage and improve the lives of people around them. As C.S Lewis once said, “ Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point,… the point of highest reality.” Therefore, there is without a doubt that courage is, in fact, a virtue.