In the context of Singapore where many races and religions co-exist, Szilagyi’s view that the media should serve the ever-evolving public interest by focusing on social responsibility too, and not just freedom of speech. Although the Danish and Norwegian newspaper’s objective of publishing the insulting cartoons was to make a statement about the extensive self-censorship that has developed within the mass media since the murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh in 2004, they should have made use of alternative methods of dealing with it instead of resorting to such lowly means of printing a cartoon mocking another’s religion. To exacerbate matters and deepen the misunderstanding of the Muslims of the cartoons, several other European newspapers republished the cartoons. Singer may that such actions display press freedom, but I beg to differ. Such actions show us that the press in Europe lack social responsibilities, as mentioned in Szilagyi’s article. The media plays an important role in conveying accurate information and facts to the public, so offensive and bias views should not be published in the newspaper. Freedom of speech, as Singer has quoted from Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom states, “Everyone had the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers”. This Article may be used by the press to back their stand that they can publish anything they like, but, one can easily say that by publishing the offensive cartoons, they have lost sight of the purpose of their job as reporters of truths in the quest of seeking press freedom.

In Singapore, although many races and religions live together, we live in harmony. We rarely, or almost never, hear or see newspaper publishing comments that may incite racial, religious are ethnic hatred even though our press is given the right of freedom of speech. This is because our press understands that they have the social responsibility to maintain the social stability of our country. Unlike several European presses, our press considers the effects of publishing certain articles and practices self-censorship instead of blindly demanding press freedom by following what the other newspapers are printing and publishing. In my opinion, the newspapers in Europe should have given it much thought before publishing those cartoons in their newspaper. Such negative point should never have been published anywhere as Islam has already been getting negative press coverage of hostage takings, bombings and terrorist groups just because a small minority of the Islamic followers twisted the teachings of Islam.

So in my opinion, Szilagyi’s view of focusing on responsibility should be adopted in Singapore as it emphasizes on the media’s role of leading informed and high quality discussions with respect for minority rights. He recognizes that freedom of speech is important to any democratic country, but it should come hand in hand with self-censorship as the press serves the ever changing public interest.

George Orwell

George Orwell

He describes the actions of the wardens, head-jailer and superintendent of the jailers to draw the desired inference from his readers. He describes the wardens, head-jailer and superintendent of the jailers as indifferent people to make his readers feel sorry for the prisoners and disprove of their actions as they only care about getting their jobs done. He also described the prisoner’s actions when being brought to the hanging ground as clear-headed so as to draw a comparison between him and the normal living beings and to let his readers know that nobody has the right to end another’s life and to draw the anguish and sympathetic of the readers for the prisoners so that they would condemn capital punishments.

Some arguments against capital punishments were that it is wrong to end a person’s life when it is at its peak. Also, the cries for an extra second of life made it seem like he was against capital punishments as he understood the feelings of a dying man who hopes for more time in the living world. One argument for capital punishment is because the prisoner has caused the wardens a lot for trouble, so he should be put to death.

I feel that capital punishments should not be used as a punishment unless the person has committed an unforgivable crime like mass killing and murder because no individual has the right to end another person’s life as each life is as invaluable and precious to the person who owns it.

Introduction

Hello everyone! I am Tang Zhi Min Cheryl. I was previously from Anderson Secondary School. I was a member of the Infocomm Club in my scondary school.


Formailties aside, I would like to have a say on my character. I am a relatively academic oriented person, though I do have other accomplishments such as being the Vice President of my previous CCA. Also, I am a shy and introvert person, so I seldom take the initiative to get to know people though I try and still am trying to change. Though I am an introvert, when I warm up to people and get to know them well enough, I will open up. When I do, I can be quite talkative.

I wish to take on some leadership roles and responsiblities in future and am confident that if given the chance, I will perform it well.