Reflective Journal 5, Term 4

Reflect on the course of study, discussions and assessment for Cultural Differentiation in Year 4, Semester 2.

This is the final semester; the year is finally coming to an end. During this semester, I have taken Cultural Differentiation Elective (CDE), a comparative study on the themes of feminism, youths and leadership of two nations, namely the United States of America and China, with the aid of case studies.

With regards to the course of study, case studies based on the Harvard Business School are given in the form of tutorials, which the student is expected to be familiar with before the class. I have enjoyed reading these insightful case studies, with many new perspectives involved. However, I feel that there should be a platform (forum, wiki) for fellow students to discuss their views before class, thus allowing them to gain greater insight even before class commences, instead of going to class with addled brains. The three main themes, feminism, youths, and leadership is vital to the future of us students, and I greatly appreciate the effort taken to link these themes to ourselves. For example, questions such as "Would you prefer Communism or Democracy?" and "Would you like to stay in the US or China?" are asked during discussions as food for thought. However, although we have identified the benefits and disadvantages of each style, I would suggest that we also understand how the other countries (i.e. Singapore, Britain, Japan) are dealing with these issues, to understand if there is a growing trend or the ones we have studied are isolated cases (and if so, why?).

Of course, I understand that it is already difficult enough with the current scheme of work, which is why I figured that our discussions would play an important role in the module. To ensure that the discussion proceeds smoothly and achieve its target, students must contribute with quality. However, there are many type of contributors during discussion, including those who are dysfluent, banal or even those pretentious ones who give lots of statistics but do not bother to explain the interrelationship of these facts. Thus, although one may have complete understanding of the discussion, another may have no inkling of what has been going on, yet nods his head sagely the whole time. I thus suggest that groups of students take turns to produce a summary of each discussion, so that a better understanding of the subject can be attained (for those "blur" students).

Last but not least, the assessment of the module comes into play. This is a very important section of the module to us students, as it is recorded in our grades. The assessment involves oral presentation, assignments, reflective essays and a research paper, a fair way to ensure that we students have grasped the necessary knowledge and understanding of the various themes. However, I notice that there is a flaw in the system. We are given 2 hours a week for our discussion, but that is seldom the case. Giving some buffer time for the class to get ready or calm down after an intense debate, the actual time we have left is probably an hour and a half. With a huge class of 39 students, the discussion can be quite fast-paced. As a result, several points prepared in advanced may have already been expressed by the other students before one gets to speak up. I find that this may prove to be a disadvantage as there may be times where the topic of discussion moves ahead rapidly before one can express his views on the matter, often leading to backtracking. I thus feel that the weightage of class discussion should be reduced and transferred to the reflective journals, where it is easier to analyse the understanding of a student.

In conclusion, CDE has been very enriching for us students to learn about the contrasting ideals and mindsets, and will prove useful in our future careers, but as the saying goes, "Nothing is perfect", and there is always room for improvement. I would like to thank the teachers for their dedication, for nurturing our passion for this module, and for bothering to clarify our doubts patiently in our times of need.

Reflective Journal 4, Term 4

Reflect on the leadership in China. China's ruling Communist elite has brilliantly managed to reform its economy without giving up power. Three hundred million people has been moved out poverty within the last 25 years, and China is currently the greatest producer of coal, steel, cement, and many other materials.

However, these stunning economic reforms are not matched evenly by political reforms. After 2009 December’s contentious Copenhagen climate meeting, China was heavily reprimanded for failure to exercise leadership. But it’s important to consider the speed at which China is evolving into a global leader, and the implications for both China and the world. Despite all these challenges, I feel that the most challenging of all would be to nurture a new generation of leaders that will lead China to the top. Without them, Beijing's public promises of a prosperous, democratic future will go unfulfilled. With predecessors such as Deng Xiaoping and Mao Zedong to raise the leadership standards, there is a huge burden on the next generation of leaders to perform well.

China's "Fifth Generation" is set to take the reins of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by 2013. The most defining collective experience for these leaders was the hardship of the Cultural Revolution and the resulting missed opportunities for formal education. The Fifth Generation lacks the strong political bonds of previous leadership generations and consists of leaders from a variety of class backgrounds. Their educational credentials differ from the fourth generation, reflecting a shift from technical disciplines to economics, politics, and law. These emerging leaders also have more extensive foreign education than their predecessors. Can they perform the political breakthroughs required for China to be a world leader?

Also important is the issue on democracy. Should China require a breakthrough in democracy to become a world leader? True, it has progressed thus far with the wisdom of its leaders, but can this continue forever? All it requires is one wrong decision by the ruling elite to bring decades of effort to naught. If democracy is to be introduced, however, then more discussion could be made and there could be greater insight into the various issues. It can also be argued that democracy is less efficient than communism with all the discussions causing delays in implementation.

For example, during the 2008 Sichuan Great Earthquake, Premier Wen Jiabao arrived at the disaster area just 90 minutes of the incident. This, and many other measures taken won praise globally for the efficiency and instantaneous response. Compared to Taiwan, during the Typhoon Morakot in 2009, where Taiwan's ruling democratic party Guomintang has been heavily criticized for reacting slowly after Morakot. According to Radio French Internationale, widespread media criticism accused the President of being too proud to ask for outside help from the United States, Japan and Singapore. (http://www.rfi.fr/actuen/articles/116/article_4747.asp)I believe this reflects the efficiency between Communism and Democracy, where communism is capable of speedy responses, unlike democracy which requires much discussions and hence more delays. With that in mind, China should consider if it truly should incorporate democracy into its political system.

Last but not least, we should reflect on what the current (and past) leadership has contributed economically. Chinese President Hu Jintao came into office eight years ago with the ambitious goal of closing a widening wealth gap by equalizing economic growth between the rural interior and coastal cities. Some coastal urban areas fast approaches Western standards of living, while much of the interior remains mired in Third World conditions. And the faster the coast grows, the more dependent China becomes on the money from that growth to facilitate employment and subsidize the rural population.

It is also of no help that some international companies operating in China already are beginning to consider relocating manufacturing operations to places with cheaper labor or back to their home countries to save on transportation costs Chinese wages are no longer mitigating. For example, Foxconn, a contract manufacturer with renowned products such as the iPhone and the iPad, has been pressured to raise its wages to ward of suicides and protests happening this year. This has led to a "domino effect" where other foreign companies based in China are also pressured to raise their wages. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/china-business/7807903/Foxconn-suicide-factory-raises-pay-70pc.html)

To conclude, China's ruling elite faces many challenges politically, the most pressing matters including the recruitment of the next generation of leaders, as well as the issue of democracy. However, apart from politics, economic reforms still have to be made to resolve the major rich-poor gap in China. The leadership in China has progressed far, but definitely have more room for improvement.

(761 words)

Reflective Journal 3

It has been already half a term, and CDE has proved enlightening. The whole lesson revolves about student presenters and the debate their speeches have promoted. Each presenter has shown his unique form of presentation, be it from brimming with confidence to a display of nervousness, or the usage of unique methods such as a timeline.

I have found it much of a difficulty to perform in the front of an audience, and I applaud those who have left a lasting impression on their peers and their teachers. To Alcander, who braved the odds of being first and setting the benchmark with his outstanding organization and succinct background information. However, I feel that he was not natural in his presentation.

I would also like to commend Chen Shenghui, who pioneered the usage of a prop and visual aid. With the help of his prop, he has helped to clarify his main point of argument, which is a great help to those who difficulty analyzing the speech.

What I found so interesting about the speech is the fact that it has encouraged participation, but people are speaking just for the sake of the marks, resulting in less insightful comments. Some people, no offence meant, are continuously reusing the same feeble attempts to gain credit, such as the continuous questioning of the statistics and constant introduction of irrelevant points without a link to the question. As a result, most of the class is sidetracked and lost with no end in mind.

Furthermore, the teachers do not seem to be directing the discussion towards a particular point, allowing the discussion to wander with people objecting and approving of each other's comments. As such, there have been times when I have left the class with not much gained as compared to when doing the self-research.

I particularly found it intriguing that some people are not participating during the class forum. Is it due to the lack of comprehension of the presenter's speech, or perhaps they are lost in the myriad of comments posted by their peers. For me, I feel that whenever I have a point to make, the topic is veered away to another point, and I have to brainstorm on another point to make. In my opinion, the discussion is too fast and too little time is being spent on the discussion.

In conclusion, I do admire the way students have presented their topics to the class, especially in terms of creativity of their way of presentation, and the unique viewpoints on the question itself, however the debate after the presentation can be improved on.

CDE Reflective Journal 2

Reflect on the changing role of women in society. Draw on examples from China, the United States and Singapore in your reflections.

It is undeniable that women's role in society has change over the years. Instead of being expected to stay at home and manage the households, women can now choose to work alongside their male counterparts or even go overseas. Instead of not being given the chance to learn, they are now well educated and many have even succeeded other men, such as Indra, chairwoman and CEO of PepsiCo, Oprah Winfrey, a famous talk-show host worth more than $2.7 billion, and many others.

In China, women are now allowed to choose their own husbands, or even to be single, something impossible in the past. Furthermore, women has ascended up the various social ladders to reach the top of various sectors, be it political or economical. However, in the rural regions, women are being discriminated against. Baby girls are being abandoned in favor of boys who can continue the family line, largely due to the "One Child" policy.

In America, women have made much more progress than their counterparts in China. For example, Hillary Clinton is the first first lady to run for public office in 2000, becoming a senator for New York. Later, she even tried for the nation's first female president, before conceding and serving as the secretary of state. Before her career in politics, however, she had a brilliant education at the Yale Law School before becoming the first female partner at Rose Law Firm. All these breakthroughs represent the progress which women have made in America. However, feminism in America seems to have evolved into a different matter. As quoted by Carrie Lukas, vice president for policies and economics at the Independent Women's Forum, "they don't seem to want to recognize their success, or that women really do have equal opportunity today". In my opinion, modern feminism has evolved to encompass politics, harnessing politics to advertise themselves. During the recent elections, candidates Hillary Clinton and Obama, and even Sarah Palin were heavily criticized by feminists, despite this reflecting the gender equality they had been fighting fighting for so long.

I feel that Singapore is a very unique country. Being in the Straits of Malacca, it is open to the exchange of ideals from the East and the West. Thus, women in Singapore are treated more equally, and women have as many opportunities as their male counterparts as compared to China, where women seldom climb to the top of the political ladder. Singapore, being a democratic and pragmatic country, does not allow tradition to create stereotypes of women, but rather grade them according to their capabilities.

In my opinion, women should be respected for their dedication towards equality, but they would be foolish to not recognise it when it is in front of them. As the Chinese saying goes, give them an inch and they will reach for a yard. Women are being respected internationally and are being given more freedom and rights. Instead of acknowledging that, if feminists such as those in America continue bickering for more opportunities and equality, one day their male counterparts may just walk out on them and leave them to their own devices. It is advisable for a community of these feminists to meet together in a symposium and decide on their objectives on equality. Although the original suffragettes have largely succeeded in their quest for equality, the younger generation has little idea of the past scenarios and thus take this successes for granted, unlike the Chinese who appreciate their current treatment and thus there is little feminist protests or riots, let alone attacks on politicians.

In conclusion, although women has have an improved social status, they have to learn to treasure it well and reflect on their past conditions, instead of continuously pushing for gender equality to the extent that it has become a major political issue.

CDE Reflective Journal 1

For this reflective journal, I will be commenting on youth apathy towards politics, with examples from China, the United States, and Singapore. Firstly, let's start with the "Me Generation". Does it truly exist?

In modern society, most people are more concerned of their personal interests than of the general good. However, in China, there is little interest in demanding voting rights, let alone overthrow the country's communist leaders. The "Me Generation" does exist, but not just in China, but also in the States and Singapore.

I believe that it is only when their personal interest are compromised will they start taking part in politics. In China, youths, when wrongfully accused by corrupt officials or when they are unable to cope with the sudden change in policies, go online and gather support to retaliate or protest against the government, earning them the nickname of 愤青, or "angry youths". Similarly, be it in America or Singapore, students and other citizens will vote for politicians who best represents their interest, such as the college students who voted for Obama, when Obama promised cheaper loans for college students and revitalization of community colleges.

During lesson, it has been mentioned that youths in China do not participate actively in politics due to various reasons, such as fear of being treated as a political prisoner, or unsure what overthrowing the government will bring to the country. In my opinion, it is not necessary to be actively involved in the country's politics. Plato once said that if the masses take the role of the rulers, the society will be thrown into chaos. Thus, as long as the rulers rule well and the citizens prosper, there should be no issues.

Furthermore, when the citizens become too politically active, decisions cannot be made swiftly and decisively, as the people may constantly change the government on a short notice. Too many cooks spoil the broth, if protests keep erupting over every minor policy the government makes, and the government spends time to listen to every whine and complain, the nation will be unable to prosper.

It was also mentioned that students in America are politically illiterate. I strongly disagree. For if students are self-centered and interested in personal interests, they must also know of the policies which affect their interests. As I have brought up in class, environmentalists concerned over the recent oil spill have to have an understanding of the policies the president has proposed. Likewise, businessman and entrepreneurs have to learn the policies and taxes levied on them that will restrict their interests.

In conclusion, I feel although there is little apathy from youth towards politics, they are still familiar with it and that it is okay for them not to be too actively involved as long as the country progresses.

CDE Week 1

This week, we discussed about China's "Me Generation". Is it true that this current batch of youngsters are more interested in personal gains than politics for the greater good, as compared to their parents' and grandparents' generations? The various demonstrations and revolutions in China's history has proved that those were the politically active generation, keen to bring prosperity to China.

Although not discussed openly in public, politics is often discussed by netizens, pointing out the flaws of those new policies and also of corruption issues. These netizens range from the young to the elderly, showing no trace of a "Me Generation" online. Why then, is there a lack of opinions in public. According to China's Me Generation by Simon Elegant, the six friends at the start of the article never talks about politics. Why is this so?

There are a variety of factors. The younger generation may have been intimidated by China's violent, political past, and prefer their current peaceful lives to that of ancient times. They may also have been restricted by the government's various policies that discourage free speech.

Therefore, it is rather unfair for the authour of the article to assume on this "Me Generation" in China. This "Me Generation" should be looked for in a democratic country, such as Singapore, where facilities such as the Speaker's Corner are underused.

Food for thought: Not only the current generation, but also the elder generations,are becoming less active in politics. Why is this so?

The Measure of a Man

This post is maintained by Cheong Yu Chong Benjamin of Hwa Chong Institution, Class 4B1, index number 5. Reflections on my last year of secondary school will be conducted here, along with reflections of discussions in various lessons, such as Cultural Differentiation Elective (CDE).