English Blog

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/28/content_9726537.htm

 

The sun is rising in the east. China, once scorned as at the “sick man of the Asia”, has proven itself to be a economic and political superpower, outpacing the world with double digit rates of economic growth, and gaining access to many elite international organizations like the WTO. However, with this success has also come the spotlight of the international media, and criticism regarding its terrible human rights record. The world views China’s rising power with trepidation, unsure as whether it will commit itself to humanity and justice, or to continue oppressing it’s populace.

 

Individual Chinese have not been lagging behind either. Chinese have secured international acclamation in fields ranging from business to sciences, firmly cementing it’s place in the new world order of the twentieth century. In only one field has China has failed to shake off the vestiges of it’s old image, and that is the field of sport, where Chinese athletes as a whole have failed to pull off any earth-shattering feats in any sport but a few that were their traditional strengths.

 

As the 2008 Olympics draws to a close, we question: have the games successfully made up for these downfalls? In my opinion, the answer is yes.

 

The spectacle and pomp of the opening ceremony has successfully showcased the softer side of the nation by reminding the world of china’s contribution to culture and the sciences. This reaffirms its commitment to harmony and friendly competition rather than the belligerence and antagonism that many have worried it’s arms buildup signified.

 

The freeing up of press controls leading up to the games to allow the international media to report freely has also shed let on many domestic issues, and the Chinese government has taken pains to show itself as being open to criticism, as the recent Sichuan earthquake has shown.

 

The amazing success of the Chinese athletes in all sports, trouncing their closest rivals the USA by over 15 gold medals has helped wash away the last vestiges of the world’s scorn upon them. No longer will anyone call China the “sick men of Asia” and no longer will anyone look upon Chinese as being inferior to the West.

 

But most importantly, the Olympics have given Chinese confidence in themselves. They justly take pride in their ability to organize and triumph in an international activity, and beat the “white man” at his own game, and most of all they know that they are ready to take center stage on the international scene.

 

The Olympics of 2008 represented the final act in coronating the world’s new leader: China.

Teenage Gangsterism

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/04/24/teen-gangs-of-britain-89520-18952674/

Gangsterism amongst teens is a rising problem in Britain, as well as the rest of the world. These teenage gangs are a far cry from the playground bullies that we once knew, for the brutality and seriousness of their crimes are easily comparable to adult gangs in the same neighbourhoods, easily escalating to full fledged gang wars that leave young teens dead on the streets. The sheer number of teens being sucked into this vortex of destruction leads us to ponder the simple question: why?

Gang related activities and violence is prevalent amongst teens of a certain sector of society, mainly the school dropouts or ones with broken families. Alienated by society, these disillusioned young men seek a sense of belonging and of acceptance, and unfortunately in many cases the only place they can turn to are street gangs. It is in these gangs that they get the “brotherhood” they need, and leads to the creation of a culture of violence, where youths are coerced by peer pressure into joining the gangs, then find themselves stuck in a involuntary contract, where leaving the gang would mean their ostracization or even death.

So how do we solve this problem? It is my belief that perhaps in this case Britain and other nations with a problem of gang culture could take a cue from our sunny island state of Singapore. The Singaporean system of Co-Curricular Activities, or CCAs, is, in my opinion, a good way to solve many of these root causes. CCAs give youths a goal to achieve outside academic life, and the team spirit and brotherhood experienced by team members is also able to replace misguided trust that gang members place in their organization. CCAs also solve the problem of loitering youths, for by occupying them after school you prevent them from being bored and use up their energies in a productive way, for while it may sound ridiculous, being bored is a reason why youths join gangs. Our system of CIP also helps to instill a sense of community awareness in youths from young, and helps them to see the big picture of society and how their actions might be adversely affecting it. Finally, as a option of last resort, Singapore drafts problem teens into National Service at an early age, where the regimented lifestyle would give them discipline and enable them to find a new purpose in life, as well as make that crucial transition from boy to man.

The problem is urgent and it needs to be solved now, before gang culture worms its insidious way into the mainstream of affected nations. Let teens find their glory in the sporting arena, not the merciless arena of the slums and streets.