Monday, May 21, 2007
Personal response 3
Personal response
Newspaper article 3
What made mom do this?
The New Paper on Sunday
20 May 2007 (page 4)
-Societal issues
Integrity and moral values – these are the two main principles instilled and enforced in our young of today. However, when such conduct is not exemplified by adults, what message are we sending to our youth?
According to the article, Chua, like any other Singaporean housewife was out with her kids and maid, shopping at Giant hypermarket in Jurong. However, she took the opportunity and went on a shoplifting spree. This small act bares severe implications, of which perhaps Chua did not pre-consider. One of which is the dire consequences should she get caught, in which she did. The act of breaking the law is not only morally wrong, but is also a reflection of her capabilities as a good parent and role model. This transcribes that she is teaching her children how to break the law, a terrible mistake in the field of parenthood, and personally, failure as a parent.
What disturbs me however is the fact that she would use her own child’s trolley as a mode of shoplifting, and “dragging” her kids into the situation along with herself. Apparently, her children are still of tender age where they learn and grasp life skills, character and behavioral patterns, from that of their parent. Should Chua’s children not learn from her error in judgment, not only have their concept of morality in the near future been dampened, but also possibly the inability to differentiate right from wrong.
If we were to look at the situation from Chua’s perspective, we would perhaps be able to empathize with her circumstance. Having to care for three children, afterall, is no mean feat. Let’s not be judgmental here – Chua might have had a strain on her income, and hence out of love and concern for her kids, was forced into using underhanded means to attain what she deemed necessary for the survival of her family. However, this is still no excuse for a responsible adult, possessed with the power of reasoning and intelligence, to commit such an act. Yet, the article further discussed that she claimed that her reason for shoplifting was that “her children had a habit of throwing things out of the trolley” and that the reason why she did not pay despite being aware of the unpaid goods was that her children required a diaper-change. Soon after however, she was not pardoned as her allegations had contradicted with her previous statements. Evidently, her lying not only did not absolve her from her previous crime, but also made matters all the more out of her favour.
This incident is a valuable life lesson on that of values, those of which our parents have taught us, and those of which we are expected to uphold. Personally, I do not think what she did was wise, nor mature of that expected from any adult. In spite of this incident, let us reflect on our conscience, and perhaps then can we make a better choice for ourselves and the people around us.
Newspaper article 3
What made mom do this?
The New Paper on Sunday
20 May 2007 (page 4)
-Societal issues
Integrity and moral values – these are the two main principles instilled and enforced in our young of today. However, when such conduct is not exemplified by adults, what message are we sending to our youth?
According to the article, Chua, like any other Singaporean housewife was out with her kids and maid, shopping at Giant hypermarket in Jurong. However, she took the opportunity and went on a shoplifting spree. This small act bares severe implications, of which perhaps Chua did not pre-consider. One of which is the dire consequences should she get caught, in which she did. The act of breaking the law is not only morally wrong, but is also a reflection of her capabilities as a good parent and role model. This transcribes that she is teaching her children how to break the law, a terrible mistake in the field of parenthood, and personally, failure as a parent.
What disturbs me however is the fact that she would use her own child’s trolley as a mode of shoplifting, and “dragging” her kids into the situation along with herself. Apparently, her children are still of tender age where they learn and grasp life skills, character and behavioral patterns, from that of their parent. Should Chua’s children not learn from her error in judgment, not only have their concept of morality in the near future been dampened, but also possibly the inability to differentiate right from wrong.
If we were to look at the situation from Chua’s perspective, we would perhaps be able to empathize with her circumstance. Having to care for three children, afterall, is no mean feat. Let’s not be judgmental here – Chua might have had a strain on her income, and hence out of love and concern for her kids, was forced into using underhanded means to attain what she deemed necessary for the survival of her family. However, this is still no excuse for a responsible adult, possessed with the power of reasoning and intelligence, to commit such an act. Yet, the article further discussed that she claimed that her reason for shoplifting was that “her children had a habit of throwing things out of the trolley” and that the reason why she did not pay despite being aware of the unpaid goods was that her children required a diaper-change. Soon after however, she was not pardoned as her allegations had contradicted with her previous statements. Evidently, her lying not only did not absolve her from her previous crime, but also made matters all the more out of her favour.
This incident is a valuable life lesson on that of values, those of which our parents have taught us, and those of which we are expected to uphold. Personally, I do not think what she did was wise, nor mature of that expected from any adult. In spite of this incident, let us reflect on our conscience, and perhaps then can we make a better choice for ourselves and the people around us.
# posted by Kris @ 4:49 AM 
