ProEd Rox

Last lesson of the afternoon

2009-09-04T13:33:00.000+08:00

Political Disaster in Taiwan

2009-08-19T11:49:00.001+08:00

The article I am reviewing today is the political disaster in Taiwan. It all started when a typhoon struck Taiwan. It was one of the worst hits that ever happened in Taiwan. However, the President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, failed to help the victims. The failure of rescuing the victims in time, the slow response towards this incident was the main reason that the people are now angry with him. Now, this problem has turned into a political one. The citizens were unhappy with him and votes had dropped drastically. Now, Ma Ying-jeou is trying to appease the anger of the people. Bodyguards had to step in to protect President Ma Ying-jeou from the very people he had come to comfort as he visited survivors of the typhoon that may have left more than 500 dead across central and southern Taiwan. Recently, he had bowed in front of many people to apologise to them. He said that the government could have done a better job and reacted faster, and he will take full responsibility as he is the President. Another reason why the people are angry is because of the Sichuan earthquake last year. They compared their President to China’s, and seeing that President Ma Ying-jeou had been much slower to respond compared to China’s. Initially, President Ma Ying-jeou had rejected foreign aid, and appeared arrogant when meeting survivors, and telling the British ITN television network that victims failed to take the initiative to evacuate.

My Favourite Food

2009-08-19T11:01:00.002+08:00

On my dining table, I saw immediately that it was my favourite food. The meat was white and looks plain, but with the help of the skin, it was as if adding colour to it to make it brown and looks delicious. The smell is simply irresistible; it has a strong smell of the rice. And there was a soup beside it. The soup smells good, with the ingredients added into it. With the ginger and the vegetables, together with the meat and the sauce, makes it mouth-wateringly tasty. The tender of the meat, mixed with the sauce and the gravy, makes it so appetizing. As I took my first bite on the meat, and started to chew it, I knew at once that I would finish the whole plate. The meat was in my mouth, slowly breaking down, and I could not wait to take my second mouth. The meat was so soft, tender, and easy to dissolve in my mouth. Next, I took a spoon and took a spoonful of soup and drank it. It was so warm and it helped to bring the food in my mouth together down my gullet. The soup was so soothing and makes a perfect combination of the meal. Slowly, I ate the meal, savouring it and enjoyed the moment. The food was Chicken Rice.

Favourite Poet

2009-06-30T10:33:00.001+08:00

The poet I am going to write about is Langston Hughes. The reason I chose him is because at that time, there was racism in the United States of America, and he could use his poets to bring out the problem of racism to the Americans.
Throughout his career, Hughes encountered mixed reactions to his work. Many black intellectuals denounced him for portraying unsophisticated aspects of lower-class life, claiming that his focus furthered the unfavorable image of African Americans. However, other critics have noted the uneven quality of his writing. Critics agree that Hughes is at his best when he depicts the everyday experiences of African Americans and that these depictions are often their best in his most simple and direct poetry.
Later in life, Hughes was criticized for failing to address controversial issues and to reflect the more militant fight for civil rights. However, later critics note that Hughes remained constant in his focus on the problems of racism and the failure of African Americans to realize the American Dream. Basically, throughout his career, he had been writing about the problem of racism and there were people who agreed and disagreed with him, but he didn’t give up but continued.
I have read some of his works and I think it really shows the crux of this racism problem that arises in America. At the same time, he also wrote some poets to encourage people to live on, like “Life is Fine”, where it tells how good life is. After I have researched and slightly understood about Langston Hughes, I think that he is patriotic but at the same time, hoped that America would change to a multi-racial country. All in all, I think that Langston Hughes’s poets are good.
Langston Hughes was the great-great-grandson of Charles Henry Langston (brother of John Mercer Langston, the first Black American to be elected to public office). He attended Central High School in Cleveland, Ohio, where he began writing poetry in the eighth grade. Although his father once discouraged him from writing and sent him to study engineering, but because he liked writing so much, he dropped out of the degree course and continued to write poetry. His first published poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, was also one of his most famous, appearing in Brownie's Book. Two other examples of his poets are “I, too, sing America” and “Let America be America again”, where he writes that the present America is not what he wants.

Sources: http://www.famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/langston_hughes http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-literary-criticism/hughes-langston

Why I like this poetry

2009-06-29T09:23:00.003+08:00

Although I seldom read poetries and don't really understand the poetry, I feel that the author has composed it quite smoothly and easier to understand. I find that the words are beautifully phrased, like “Grains of the golden sand--How few! yet how they creep Through my fingers to the deep”.
I think that the author has described his feelings through the sand, though I do not know how to explain his feelings. I also think that his poetry is quite practical, and its very much like reality, about losing dreams and hopes and the feelings.
All in all, I think that this poetry is well-written and I enjoyed reading it, although there are many parts of the poetry I don’t really understand and have to guess.

Figurative Language

2009-06-29T08:47:00.002+08:00

I think that the figurative language used in this poetry is good. Firstly, I would like to say about the figurative languages he used, like O God. This is a hyperbole statement. In a way, the author has described his feelings in an exaggerated manner. He describes that he feels sad that his hopes has flown away.
I also think that he used metaphors, like "I stand amid the roar of a surf-tormented shore". The author also describes his feelings that he feels like shouting to release his emotions, grief within him to feel better.
Lastly, I think that the symbolism he used is the sand. He feels that he is like the sand in the pitiless wave. That the sand crept through his hands into the sea and he cant even save one in the pitiless sea. I think thaat the author feels just like the sand.

Poetry

2009-06-29T08:45:00.002+08:00

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roarOf a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand--
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep--while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

Illegal transplant of kidneys

2009-03-07T15:47:00.000+08:00

Today, my speech will be on the illegal transplant of kidneys. I am an Indian politician and I am very much against the sale of kidneys illegally. My country is both not as rich and educated as some countries like Singapore. They know that some Indians are both uneducated and poor. Hence, some Singaporeans take advantage of us and instigate some Indians to transplant one of their kidneys to them. Without knowing the importance of the organ and because of the desperate need for money, they ignorantly sell their kidneys to the patients who have kidney failures. What make me feel more enraged are the middlemen. The patients have paid tens of thousands dollars, but what the donor gets is only a few thousands of dollars. The middlemen have earned a lot just by introducing the donor to the patient. If the patient is caught in his own country, the police will track down to the donors. If the donors are caught, both the donor and the patient will get punished while the middlemen get to escape Scot free. This is totally unacceptable and something should be done. Moreover, there was a case in which a doctor removed a kidney without their consent. This is totally unacceptable and they should be punished severely. I believe that the government plays a crucial role in preventing these cases to happen again. I hope that the government can educate the people of India to stop selling their organs ignorantly and also punish the middlemen severely so that this will not happen again.

Endangered animals

2009-03-07T15:20:00.002+08:00

My name is Desmond and I am a student activist for animal preservation and I strongly believe that animals should not be hunted for their body parts as medicinal ingredients. Every creature has its rights to live and I encourage everyone to practise conservation. Firstly, try not to buy the parts of animals, especially those that are endangered, like the skin of a tiger or the tusk of an elephant. You will always be told that these things help to ward off evil spirits. But do they really work? Many people on Earth don’t buy things like these but they don’t get possessed by evil spirits too. So, in fact, it makes no difference whether or not you buy the parts of the animals. Therefore, save your money and not buy such things that are of no use to the house. Every time you buy one, you are encouraging the poachers to hunt for more. Today, there are more than 1/5 of the animals in the world that are endangered. If this continues and the poachers don’t stop, in less than 25 years, the endangered animals will all be extinct. I believe none of you hopes that these animals become extinct and I also believe that all of you want your descendants to be able to see the animals you see today. Nobody wants the animals to be part of history. Hence, I appeal to all of you – stop harming the animals. Every creature on Earth has its right to live. Thank you

Nothing but the truth

2009-03-07T15:08:00.004+08:00

Miss Rooney: We were about to begin. In fact, we usually begin by singing the national anthem. Maybe you can lead us. After all, you are patriotic enough to lead us. Come on, let’s get started.
Philip Malloy: But, my voice isn’t that nice.
Miss Rooney: It’s the patriotism that counts. Come on, we are all honoured to be the same class as you.
Philip Malloy: All…all right (clears his throat). Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?Whose broad stripes and……and. And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave…gave-------.
Miss Rooney: Wait a minute. This is only the first paragraph and you are singing it wrongly. Are you sure you know the lyrics?
Philip Malloy: I…I…(knowing that his lie was going to be exposed, he finally admitted everything)
Miss Rooney: What?! This is atrocious!
This news spreaded like wildfire and soon, almost everyone in that state knew of this. Reporters came and interviewed Philip and everyone criticised Philip. Embarrassed, Philip made a public apology to Miss Narwin but the citizens continued criticising him. Miss Narwin got back her job as a teacher. On the other hand, Philip could not take the pressure and like Miss Narwin, his whole family migrated to another country and was never heard of again......

Help to save Earth

2009-03-07T14:21:00.005+08:00

Dear ladies and gentlemen, my name is Desmond and I am the president of the Activist's Club in Singapore. After a recent nationwide survey done in Singapore, I've found out that primary school students have a nonchalant attitude towards environmental issues. As such, I've come here to make a speech in this primary school. As many of you know, the Earth has become polluted and is very "sick". The amount of trash collected in Singapore per year has accelerated tremendously. As the time passes, Singapore has to improve and boost the economy and due to the growing of population, there has to be more factories in order not to have too many people unemployed. Hence, the amount of pollutants given out through factories has also increased. All the pollutants have an effect on the world as they will cause damage to the ozone layer that protects Earth from the UV rays of the Sun. It has no good effect to us. There is only one way in order to save Earth- decrease the amount of pollution. As a child, you can also help to save Earth. Here are some things you can do at home or in school. Turn off the electricity supply whenever you leave the room, no matter how short the duration is. If your house has a heater, only on it 10-15 minutes before bathing, and not for the whole day. Lastly, turn off the main supplies of the electric supplies like the TV or the radio. All this trivial little things you do can reduce the amount of heat generated and the electricity bills. This can also save money. Remember, you are never too young to start.

Overfishing in Japan

2009-01-28T17:33:00.000+08:00

Dear ladies and gentlemen,
My name is Sin Yu Ang Desmond and I am a member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals. I am delivering a speech on the cruelty of whaling in Japan.
Most of you should know that whale is a delicacy in Japan and many of them eat it. However, the population of whales in the world is dwindling as the Japanese are overfishing. Have they ever thought if they continue overfishing, the whales have a high chance of becoming extinct? Sadly, I don't think they actually did.
In 1946, there was an agreement that every country should not overfish. In 1986, the quota for commercial whaling is reduced to 0 by IWC. However, there was a loophole. The Japanese made use of it and always catch the whales and say that it is for scientific research. But where does the whale's meat end up in? Most probably on the Japaneses dining table.
On average, the Japanese catches about 1000 whales per year. As such, whales are considered endangered. At this rate, the whales will be extinct not long after. Is it worth to cause the whales to be extinct just to have the delicacy?
Here, I urge all of you to stop eating the whale's meat. Every animal has its rights to live. For the sake of these creatures' lives, please stop overfishing.
Thank you.