Too Late to Abort

Too Late to Abort
Source: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,124000,00.html

I was appalled by the failure of sex education in Singapore, which is reputed to be watertight, with stringent censorship of any forms of media, insulating the young generation from any exposure of sexual themes.

Yet, such audacity still prevails.

Times have indeed changed. Kids in primary school are dating. It would have never been the case a generation ago.

As people try to assimilate into the Western culture that permeates our society, they are subconsciously influenced by the media that manipulates their malleable mindset.

The only reason for music videos being such a popular hit nowadays, featuring beguiling females with disproportionate attributes promiscuously-dressed that serve only as eye-candy to tantalize the taste buds of lustful lechers, is that sex sells, despite being a torture to the eardrums.

Another contributing factor would be the boundless, omni-potent Internet.

On this sea of information, everything, including pornography is readily available. Moreover, born in the Computer Age, kids nowadays, unlike us, are especially Net-savvy.

They are so vulnerable, constantly bombarded by subtle messages of ‘sex’ when they yet mature enough to soak up the fullisade. As such, parents, as guardians, are responsible in providing adequate guidance in ‘the birds and the bees’. This means restricting accessibility to sources with explicit sexual content and instilling progenies with the sombre ideas of love, one step at a time.

Sex is not just physical intercourse, but rather a emotional commitment to a lifelong partner – an idea not easily accepted by physically mature but mentally naïve youths. They must be taught to exercise self-control and not treat sex, which used to be a taboo topic, as a casual joke, otherwise, dire consequences follow.

It is a current trend the puberty is occurring at a younger age. Rumours attribute growth hormones present in our modern-day diet – fast-food as the cause for explaining the pregnancy at nine years of age.

Hence, it is necessary to introduce sexual education earlier before disaster strikes.

However, I find that early sexual education may not be completely beneficial. Conversely, it could have been the exposure from sexual education that sparked the curiosity of these adolescents to explore and experiment. Perhaps, we should review when the time is ripe for the revelation of truth.

I feel that parental guidance is the crucial important factor in preventing the catastrophe as it eliminates the prerequisite conditions by preventing exposure to sexual contents that are detrimental to their mental health.

Juvenile delinquents often develop with parental negligence. This leads me to question whether parents in Singapore have been fulfilling their duty in family education and spending adequate quality time with their kids, rather than dedicating themselves to the frantic rat race for money against time.

If this trend persists, the situation might exacerbate, leaving multitudes of homeless orphans abandoned in rubbish chutes in the near future – a bleak future.

I do sympathise the victims of this incident, for it would take a lifetime of counseling to overcome this widely-publicized incident.

Sometimes, ignorance is bliss for tender ages.

(500 words)

Scuffle for organs sparks donor debate in Singapore

Scuffle for organs sparks donor debate in Singapore
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070228/od_nm/singapore_organs_dc

I personally believe that fault lies in the recently amended Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA), that allows for mandatory harvesting of healthy organs should any non-muslim Singaporean or Permanent Residents demise – unless the person has specificallty opted out beforehand— so as to ease the current organ shortage.

The organ, ultimately, belongs to the donor, and hence it should only be just if he, or his family, has the right to decide whether he will take it along to the coffin or save another life.

Instead of legally “impounding” the organs, the government should attempt a softer approach and display flexibility in such circumstances, so as to reduce distress felt by the family members.

I feel that the choice of donation should be voluntary and never be an obligation “forced” upon by the government. We should empathise with the reluctance to donate the deceased’s organs and respect their decision. What’s more: there is absolutely nothing to gain in this unfair trade we call – charity. It is simply not pragmatic.

The fact is: humans are selfish by nature. Ugly as it is, face it. With the exception of humanitarians, who would risks their lives to donate their organs without any gain except a thank-you letter in return? This leads me to wonder: Should organ trading be legalised? Is money the only measure for fair trade?

National Neuroscience director Associate Prof Lee Wei Ling, the princess of the Lee Empire, argued that incentivising a potential donor with money is ethical, for the end result, she said, is still another life saved.

I beg to differ.

First of all, it is immoral transact parts of the human body as if any other commodity. Indeed, it can save more lives, but who can ensure that the recipient’s life is worth saving? He could well be a serial murderer with kidney failure, but so happens to be filthy rich.

Besides, domination of the wealthy and the deprivation of the poor of organ transplants opportunities would be inevitable.

Secondly, one cannot define how much an organ is worth, for they are not meant to be traded. One cannot price Einstein’s brain and trade for his intelligence’s worth with a MasterCard. That is, unless, he is willing to trade.

As such, unfair transactions arise. People in the Third World countries might trade off their organs at low prices as a desperate resort to egress the poverty cycle, benefiting organ traffickers when organs are sold to the wealthy at exorbitant prices.

Hence, I feel that the government has its reasons to enforce the HOTA for I believe Singaporeans are willing to donate their organs even before their eternal sleep, only that they are lacking a driving force.

Evaluating various viewpoints, I feel the Sim’s family is stubborn and inconsiderate not to donate to the needy – for they had nothing to lose. Neither did they have anything to gain.

There are two solutions to organ shortage: HOTA or organ transaction.

Or simply, you can choose not to donate at all.

(500 words)