ONEVOICE
HIGHLIGHTS
#OscarsSoWhite Controversy!
U16 Football Team Triumphs
ZIKA - What do we know?
Donald Trump - What is he doing?
February 2016
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
CONTENTS
Lifestyle
Grade 7 Orientation Camp - Katherine Taylor
Red Sky in the Morning (Book Review) - Tan Kai Ryn
Elementary to High School - Anna Terry
A Broken Fortress - Kimberly Yeo
How-to-have a Positive lifestyle - Melissa Yip
International New Years - Russell Yap
Confessions of an Introvert - Winston Harjadi
Globetrotters: Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? - Tessa Rodrigues
Reflections- Rahil Chamola
#OscarsSoWhite - Emma Chia
Sports
U16 Football (South Zone Local League) - David Kim
Exercise and Barbie - Shi Hui Tan
Current Affairs
Jobs of the Future - Michelle Julia Ng
ZIKA - Ally Tan and Christopher Chan
American Politics - Nicholas Tan
A Visit from Brother Larry - Trinh Le Quang
Julian Assange - Natalie Chow
Donald Trump - Guan Jie Fung
Discrimination Against Women - Gabrielle Sng
2
FROM THE EDITOR
Dear Readers,
Continuity of anything is not an easy project to uptake. Continuity of a student publication,
dependent on organization, hardworking writers, and diligence, is definitely not easy. Following a
landmark year for One Voice, we aim to continue the success of our previous years by nourishing
new writers and editors, hoping that they’ll be able to breathe a constant fresh air into the
publication. It is important to us to diversify our content this year, and we have decided to publish
monthly in hopes of producing a streamlined and focused issue that caters to the wide range of
readers in our SJI International community.
As always, we thank you for your dedication to the subscription.
Happy Reading!
Theo Chen
Tessa Rodrigues
Natalie Wong
Gianna Siddiqui
Daniella Andriesz
Megan Wee
Risma Remsudeen
3
LIFESTYLE
4
Grade 7 Orientation Camp: Around the World
Katherine Taylor
Do you remember your Grade 7 Camp? For some it was just a year ago, for others it feels like
years ago. On the 29th of January, the Grade 7s participated in the yearly orientation camp. The
camp kicked off to a roaring start with the scavenger hunt, where the Grade 7s would have to look
for different items around school and take photos of each one. After long searching and photo
taking, the campers returned for a scrumptious dinner, which was then followed by a screening of
the classic film Home Alone, everyone watched in unity and awe as they sat munching away on
their popcorn. After a long day, the campers hit the hay and said goodbye to their first day of this
exciting camp.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the Grade 7s were rushed out of bed and quickly changed,
before long the campers were sat in the canteen eager to take part in the activities ahead. The
campers were able to experience the thrill of the Wet Games such as the slip and slide; which many
students who have taken part in the Grade 7 camp would remember to be one of the best games
ever! Every single camper was covered head to toe in mud. The most fun of all was when the
facilitators threw water balloons down from the balcony above at the enthusiastic participants. By
the end, all the students were drenched in water and mud, which made for an interesting scene!
I interviewed some Grade 7s and asked them on their overall experience and thoughts about the
camp.“I really enjoyed the activities, the facilitators were very helpful and friendly, my favourite
part of the camp was the slip and slide, it was funny to see my friends getting very muddy and very
wet!” said Safira Meacham of 7IGo. “I really enjoyed the slip and slide too, I also had fun during
the scavenger hunt, all of us were working really well together and created a stronger bond.” added
Arielle, from the same class.
After facilitating the camp, I have watched the Grade 7s grow stronger as friends, classmates and a
year group. The games have brought all of them closer together which is important, as these will be
the ones they will walk with through this journey of high school. Every activity helped them grow
in co-operation, unity and reliability allowing them to depend on their friends and know that they
will be there to help them through.
In conclusion, the camp was a roaring success, which everyone enjoyed. Thank you to all the
facilitators, runners and the council who made this camp possible, thank you to the Grade 7 tutors
who spent the night in school, and to all the campers we hope you had a memorable and fun
experience!
5
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
Red Sky In The Morning by Elizabeth Laird
Tan Kai Ryn
Occasionally, when you go out, you may see children who are well past their pre-school
years being pushed around in wheelchairs or behaving in a childlike manner. People around
them may cast disapproving glances, frowning at their apparent misbehaviour. But we
should be more understanding towards them because they are likely to be afflicted with
developmental problems such as Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and dyslexia.
In Red Sky in The Morning by Elizabeth Laird, the protagonist, twelve-year-old Anna
Peacock, is thrilled when she learns that she is going to have a baby brother. However, her
life is turned upside down when she realises that her brother, Benedict, suffers from
hydrocephalus and requires a great deal of care. Hydrocephalus is a rare medical condition
which results in an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain. Thus, Benedict's head
grows larger and heavier over time, making it increasingly difficult to carry him around.
Anna fears that her classmates will taunt her over her disabled brother. She has trouble
explaining his disability to them as she thinks they will not understand. However, after
word of Benedict gets around, her classmates express sympathy and go to her home to play
with him. Through this experience, she learns that she should not be ashamed of Benedict.
I enjoyed this book tremendously because it put me in the shoes of someone who has a
disabled family member. Laird’s rich descriptions painted many vivid images in my head
and the characters felt extremely real. For example, Anna is your typical teenager who is
dealing with mood swings and fleeting friendships, which I am sure most of us can relate
to. Similarly, I am sure we have all met someone like Debbie, Anna’s egotistic classmate,
who is constantly obsessed with fashion and makeup.
I thought the most moving scenes were at the end of the book, when Anna lovingly cared
for Jackie, a toddler with Down Syndrome. The parts where Anna painstakingly and
patiently looked after Jackie and even taught her some basic skills, such as how to put on
her shoes and brush her hair, really warmed my heart!
I feel that Anna is an ideal role model for all of us. Despite the fact that Benedict was
disabled, she remained resilient and it did not weaken her unconditional love for him. Even
so, I believe several aspects of the book could be improved. For instance, the character of
Tony, Jackie’s brother, was very colourful. He was arrogant, spoilt and selfish,
exemplifying intolerance towards the disabled. Fleshing out Tony’s role would have helped
to highlight the close-minded attitudes that the disabled have to confront in society every
day.
In addition, the segments where Anna describes her feelings for boys were somewhat dull
and draggy, detracting from the otherwise brisk pace of the book. Nonetheless, I would not
hesitate to recommend this novel to people of all ages! This compelling story will open
your eyes to the needs and challenges of disabled individuals and their caregivers.
6
Elementary to High School
Anna Terry
Going from elementary school to high school is a big
change. Don’t you think? You're leaving behind all
you know, the teachers, students and the familiar
environment. You're being pushed into a school where
you have to be more independent and work hard. In no
way am I saying this is a bad thing. This transition
from elementary to high school is a big change,
probably the biggest change someone would have
experienced at this age.
For some people this change is a shock to their system
like jumping into freezing water without checking beforehand. On the other side of things some people go
through this transition smoothly - the change barely a bump in the road for them. Whatever the case
everyone has different opinions on this transition in their life and how it went for them. So I interviewed a
few Grade 7s to see what their opinions are as they have just experienced this change and have now been in
high school for over a month. I interviewed four Grade 7s from a range of former schools to see what they
would say.
Alisa, who was previously from SCGS said that the biggest change for her throughout this transition was the
difference in who is moving around the school saying “In primary school the teachers used to come to teach
the subjects and now we have to go to the teachers classrooms.” Safira, who was previously from SJI
Elementary school agrees with Alisa’s opinion on what the biggest change was saying “That we’re not
staying in the exact same class and we have to keep on moving around.”Alisa’s first impression of high
school was similar to many other Grade 7s. They all mentioned independence as something they have gained
since moving up to high school. In Alisa’s response to what was her first impression she said “Independence,
we get to be more independent, there are more subjects to learn and I thought it would be more stressful than
primary school.”
Sofiah, who was previously from SCGS found that the biggest change that she experienced from moving up
to the high school was that is was an easy transition saying “I feel as if this high school is more comfortable
as in they give you more chances to improve your potential.” When asked Sofiah’s first thoughts about high
school she said “Well I was worried about making friends but now I have no problem.” Seraphina, who was
previously from SCGS said that her first impression of high school was that “It’s fun and more enjoyable, its
not as stressful.”
When I asked these four girls what struggles they had surrounding high school they all mentioned travelling
around the school and finding classrooms saying that this was there main struggle about changing from
elementary to high school. Seraphina saying “In my old school I didn't need to travel from class to class but
now I have to so sometimes I forget my books.” Alisa had also said something similar which was “Yes,
finding where the classrooms were and learning the surroundings of the school.” Furthermore I asked about
everyones opinion on high school now that they have been here for over a month and how they enjoyed it.
Everyone had very positive things to say such as “Yeah I enjoy it, we get to be more independent.” and “It
has become easier and I enjoy it very much, I don't regret choosing this school.”
As you can see some students seem to find this harder than others but over time everyone has settled into
high school really well. They have all talked about independence being a massive thing that they gain in high
school. Everyone seems to be in agreement about liking the greater independence that students are given in
High School compared to Primary School. Can you remember your experience?
7
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
A Broken Fortress
Kimberly Yeo
With my heart beating fast and
adrenaline pumping through my
veins, I managed to heave myself
over the tall rusty gate. Jumping
down on the other side, I ignored the
burning pain my knees and calves as
I sprinted as fast as I could deep into
the forest.
I had to get there before the Nazis
caught up with me. I had heard of
the terrible things that had been
done to those who hadn’t fled in
time. Jews stripped of their clothes
and forced to breathe in poisonous
gas until their lungs collapsed. We
were being killed on mass, like pigs at a slaughter house. Just the thought of it caused bile to rise up
my throat.
Finally, I reached the craggy walls of stone shadowed by a cluster of trees. Walking along the side of
the wall, I spotted a faint green ‘X’, written with the chlorophyll of leaves that Marius and I had
painstakingly crushed. Putting my hand through the bush under the ‘X’, I gasped at the emptiness
within. Head first, I crawled through the small hole behind the bush until my whole body was
immersed in the darkness of the cave.
Once inside, I fished in my pocket for my box of matches. Feeling around on the ground, I grasped
the handle of the old oil lantern we had left in here all those years ago, and pulled it towards me and
lighted it. The soft glow of the lantern enabled me to see once again, and I looked around the cave,
my mouth twisting into a bitter smile as memories assuaged me. “This is our secret place,” Marius
grinned toothily at me. “You have to promise that you won’t tell anyone about it. Okay?”. “Okay,” I
whispered back, happiness flooding through me.
Later that day I had made us friendship bracelets, woven from the grass and flowers of the meadow.
Before he moved away, I had made him promise that we would be friends forever. We went to the
cave and slit each other’s palms. Pressing our wounds together, we swore that our friendship would
last for a lifetime. After he moved away, we wrote to each other everyday. But as the months and
years wore on, the letters came less and less frequently until they stopped completely. We hadn’t
written to each other in years.
When the Nazis started taking Jews and the war started, I wrote him a letter asking him whether he
was safe. But I never got a response. I was reassured by reminding myself that Marius was German
through and through, therefore he would remain safe.
In the distance, I heard a dim thudding noise. I pressed myself deeper into the cave, my breath
hitching as I scooted backwards. If they found me, I knew I would be shot on the spot. Hysteria
starting to take over my chest, my eyes flicked around the cave, searching for something to calm
myself down. Seeing the scratched signatures of Marius and I on the side of the cave calmed me
slightly as I heard the threatening thuds getting closer and closer.
8
I heard shouts, and the clicking of riddles, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I
heard someone call out “There’s an ‘X’ here!”
My hands now trembling, I felt my eyes tearing up in panic as I shuffled back quickly. My hand
scraped past a sharp rock, and I let out a muffled cry of pain as blood spilled out from the cut.
“There’s someone here!” I heard another shout. My life flashing before my eyes, I watched as the
bush was ruthlessly torn out of the way and a gloved hand reach into the cave. Light flooded into
the cavern, and before I realized it, someone was dragging me out.
Struggling and screaming, with tears now flowing freely down my face, I was hit in the face with
a rifle. I fell in a heap on the ground, my cheek smarting from the hit. “What are waiting for
Lieutenant? Dispose of the Jew.” I heard a bark from above me. Turning my head to face up, I
looked past the barrel of the rifle pointing at my head and looked at the face of my killer. A wave
of shock and sadness hit me as the man turned his face away and clenched his finger over the
trigger.
“Marius,” I whispered before the bullet lodged itself in my skull, and the light left my eyes.
How to have a positive lifestyle
Melissa Yip
“Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose
positivity.”
Everybody wants a positive lifestyle, and we all know that having a positive attitude feels better
than a negative one. But for some reason, people are easily drawn to the pessimistic side. So how
do we go about establishing a more jaunty attitude as a daily habit?
For someone like me, thinking in an optimistic manner and always looking at the brighter side of
things is normal. However, there are still others who see the world through a bleak perspective,
focusing on the bad and ignoring the good — especially during dark times when everything seems
bleak.
But I am here to tell you that it is possible to change your perspective and strive to make every day
a joyful experience!
The major key to living a sanguine way of
life is to get rid of NEGATIVITY. In order
to be happy, you absolutely cannot
surround yourself with "toxic friends" who
do not encourage your joviality. If your
"friends" are always gossiping, being
judgmental and do not make you feel good
about yourself or others, you need to get
rid of them as they do not deserve your
time at all. It is also useful to take a step
back and challenge your negative thinking.
Do not allow yourself to jump to negative
conclusions and instead focus on the
positive things you do.
9
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
Secondly, believe that happiness is a choice. Although our general well-being is partially
determined by genetics and childhood, about 40 percent of our happiness is within our control,
according to a study done by the University of Wisconsin in 2008. Recall that others do not dictate
your elation and you can always choose whenever you want to be in high spirits.
Another thing you can do is to encourage others and go the extra mile to help someone out
whenever you can. Instead of sharply criticizing them, give people much needed support when they
have concerns and see how just a few words of encouragement can go a long way. Listen to what
people say and offer a cheery thought. By doing this, your subconscious mind thinks positively
too!
Additionally, exercise regularly, get adequate sleep and have a healthy diet. When you exercise,
your body releases chemicals called endorphins, which reduce your perception of pain.
Accompanied by an optimistic and energizing outlook on living, exercise has several health
benefits, triggers an exuberant feeling in the body, improves self-esteem and reduces stress.
The same goes for eating a healthy diet — whole grains are also essential for improving your mood
because they stabilize your blood sugar. To illustrate, try swapping your white rice for brown and
stock up on whole-grain breads and oats. Eating clean, organic food and cutting down on fast food
also makes us feel good about ourselves.
Furthermore, not sleeping enough makes humans cranky. A study from the Binghamton University
revealed results which found that subjects who slept less were more likely to experience "repetitive
gloomy thoughts" while completing set tasks. Thus, getting enough sleep will lead you to better
health and greater satisfaction.
Finally, do what you love and love what you do. Be carefree as life isn't about following the rules
that have been laid out for you to conform to society. It is about taking advantage of it because you
only have one life. It is best to act silly, to do things that others would never have the guts to do, to
take risks and not be self conscious. You, as an individual; as a life, deserve to experience the
universe as the delightful place where you can be optimistic, and find happiness and contentment.
International New Years
Russell Yap
With Chinese New Year just finished,
you and your friends may or may not
have been picking out orange plants,
shopping for new traditional clothes,
and cleaning your houses from top to
bottom. But while a majority of
Singaporeans celebrate, have friends
who celebrate, or know about Chinese
New Year, there are many people who
celebrate the coming of the new year
through other festivals, be they
Japanese, Korean or Vietnamese. So
what does the rest of Asia do to usher
in the turn of their calendar?
10
Currently, the Japanese New Year is on the same day as the Western New Year. It used to follow the
Lunar Calendar, like China and Korea, but adopted the modern date, January the 1st, as the date for
its New Year’s Day in 1873.
To celebrate the new year, the Japanese people eat special dishes, osechi-ryori. Osechi-ryori are
usually preserved in some way, as they were in the Heian period of Japan, before there were
refrigerators. Therefore, many of they have a sweet-salty or sour taste from the drying or salting
process used to preserve it.
People usually also have buckwheat soba noodles, sashimi, sushi, and mochi, glutinous rice cakes
with sweet fillings like red bean or sesame paste, as well. Sometimes, people make kagami moshi,
decorations that look like snowmen made of two moshis with one of the many types of Japanese or
Chinese oranges on top. Japanese dolls and postcards also embellish the household. These
postcards are exchanged between family and friends, trading wishes of goodwill and prosperity,
sometimes in haikus, to celebrate the “first smile”, “first laugh”, and “first dawn” of the new year.
At Buddhist temples throughout Japan, a bell is rung 108 times, 107 times before midnight and
once after. This represents the 108 sins of mankind and their removal every new year.
One custom shared between Japan and the West is the modern addition of New Year’s game shows.
Celebrities on two teams play a variety of games against each other, like obstacle course races or
quiz bowls. Much like the Chinese custom, both Koreans and Japanese partake in the ritual of
visiting their relatives and wishing them good health and prosperity. In exchange, they receive the
iconic hong bao or red packet, filled with money!
As for the Korean New Year, Korean families all over Singapore rush back to their hometowns to
visit their families, much like the many Chinese families, donning new clothes or the traditional
hanbok. At their relatives’ houses, they perform a kind of traditional ceremony known as charye, to
commemorate deceased ancestors. Sometimes, people build moon houses, large pyramids of wood.
These are burned to ward off evil spirits. Sometimes, people makes wishes next to them. The
Koreans and the Chinese celebrate their new years on the same day, except in some special cases
caused by the one hour time difference between Korea and China.
In Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese people have Aluth Avurudda, their
new year celebration. Unlike most new year celebrations, the
end of the old year and the start of the new year are actually
several hours apart! The in-between period is called
Nonagathe, regarded as a ‘neutral period’ or auspicious time.
People are advised against doing anything, eating or working,
only carrying out religious ceremonies. Once Nonagathe,
usually about 13 hours, is over, people begin the new year by
cleaning the house and lighting an oil lamp. Women
congregate to play a special drum to announce the change of
years, then make kiribath, a rice-and-milk cake. Firecrackers
and fireworks are a central part of any Aluth Avurudda
celebration. Houses open their doors and children run to play in
the streets, eating plantains, kakis, sweet deep-friend cakes, and kokis, crispy, sweet treats made
from rice flour and coconut milk.
All these customs, in a multitude of countries spanning a very large continent, seem too similar for
it to be a coincidence. Maybe the reason they are so alike is because they were once all the same
tradition, back when the people celebrating them lived much nearer to each other.
11
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
Confessions of an Introvert
Winston Harjadi
Ever wondered how an introvert views the world
in general?
Studies have shown that one in every three
people is an introvert. You might not realise it,
but introverts are found in every corner. Who
knows? Your best friend may be an introvert, or
it might even be you. Read on to gain some
insight into the obscure mind of an introverted
individual.
Introverts are typically seen as shy and taciturn individuals who avoid huge crowds and
socialising. They usually fade into the background at social events and often adopt the role of a
passive listener in conversations. Compared to extroverts, who are portrayed as loud and
gregarious, introverts pale in comparison. However, a commonly overlooked fact is that
introverts are often also capable of socialising with people, and are actually keen on voicing
out their opinions if they feel the need to. In fact, some introverts have the same level of ability
as extroverts in numerous areas, such as public speaking and the fostering firm relationships. In
some cases, introverts even outshine extroverts in these areas, being more perceptive to
people’s thoughts and feelings.
Over the course of history, there are many introverts who have achieved success in their fields.
One being Albert Einstein, the world-renowned physicist who developed the theory of
relativity. Another, would be J.K Rowling, the prolific author of the prominent Harry Potter
series. From these examples, it is evident that an introvert’s shy nature belies a quiet strength
that serves to propel him or her to greater heights.
Take my sister for example, who people perceive her as and the person I personally know are
two very different individuals. On the surface, she appears to be a lively and bubbly girl who is
constantly surrounded by a large group of friends; the heart and soul of every single outing
who is always cracking jokes to brighten up the atmosphere. However, deep down, I know she
prefers to work alone in serene environments, away from the hustle and bustle of late night
parties where she can reflect on and evaluate her actions.
Introverts fully realise their strengths when in solitude. After all, it is where they can formulate
ideas and concepts without having to worry about interruption. Doing this allows them to gain
inspiration. They can often be seen sitting in a corner, brooding over a particular matter in
absolute silence, leading to them being labeled as loners. Extroverts, on the other hand, derive
their energy from social situations. Hence, are often seen surrounding themselves with friends
as through social interactions, they gain rushes of adrenaline that provide them with motivation
to carry out tasks more efficiently.
Introverts are also more inclined to take part in activities that require analytical skills such as
chess. These activities stimulate their cognitive thinking skills which revitalise them.
Conversely, activities that are too intense tend to overwhelm introverts. Introverts may also
appear to be cold and distant to people in general, but they are no different to extroverts in
many ways.
12
In society nowadays, introverts are shunned by the general community due to their eccentric
personality. An introvert is often seen as having a personality defect, and is hence frowned upon
by the public. Schools and workplaces are designed to cater to an extrovert’s needs, with
discussions and debates often taking center stage in these facilities, utterly neglecting the fact that
introverts need to have a personal space to calm down and collect his thoughts. Introverts thus see
the need to alter their persona to that of an extroverted one in order to survive. Extroverts are
viewed in high regard, as they epitomise the characteristics a person should exhibit. In
reality,introverts also have desirable qualities that are worth emulating, for instance, the capacity
to sympathise with people as well as leadership skills, albeit concealed. Introverts have an
ubiquitous presence in society, which means that there is a lot of untapped potential that has gone
to waste. So the next time you see a person sulking in a corner, extend a warm hand of welcome,
offer him a place in your clique and the person will be eternally grateful to you.
Do You Want to Build a Snowman?
Tessa Rodrigues
On the 10th of June 2015, Simren and I went to interview
Mr. McFarlane about his two trips to Iceland which,
according to him, is the furthest he could get from Sydney.
His urge for distance and his desire to see the location of
Bjorkʼs music video inspired him to hop on a plane in
2013, and then again in 2014, to fly to the top of the world.
The first time he went to Iceland in June of 2013, he
travelled with a friend for five days and then spent a week
and a half by himself driving around the entire island.
When met with our surprise, he explained that during
winter, although there were only around 5 hours of
sunlight and there were a couple of blizzards, the wonder
of the Northern Lights made the trip spectacular. He went
at a time when there were peaks in solar activity, which
means that he saw them at their best! Mr. McFarlane then
travelled to a hot spring spot one night and sat in
natureʼs hot tub, just staring at the Northern Lights dance
above him.
The second time he ventured to Iceland was in the summer (February) of 2014. It was much
easier to drive around as it was practically 24 hours of sunlight. We were green with envy when
he described seeing the midnight sun shine on the ice lagoon. An ice lagoon is usually found at
the end of a glacier, where chunks of ice fall off into a lagoon, allowing the iceberg to find
course to the ocean. Opposite, you will find a beach with black sand, completing the aesthetic
wonder that is one of the many ice lagoons found in the region.
He didnʼt have much to comment on in terms of food, besides the radical animals he tasted
(one of which was reindeer - definitely not on his recommendations list for Icelandic food) and
the sky rocket prices for everything. One simple meal he had on his first day was around $60!
He expressed that one of his greatest difficulties in terms of this trip was how expensive
everything was. Due to not being able to grow much besides fish, the Icelandic people depend
heavily on imports, hence the taxes are extremely high.
13
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
Although Mr. McFarlane had such high praise for the locals of Iceland, he did mention that they
seemed cold at first, much like their climate. However, as he continued the conversation with
many of them, he soon learnt that they were extremely friendly and very proud of their country.
With a population of only 320,000 people, the Icelandic peoples have the highest number of
petrol stations per capita and fun weekends with runters (the Icelandic version of beer rounds).
One way to crack their cold exterior is when you sing high praises for their country and intrigue
them with facts from your own. Donʼt forget to ask them which is their favorite glacier!
One piece of advice stuck out to me especially during this interview and it was the message to not
let things like distance and time stop you. Mr. McFarlane learnt this during his winter trip, which
happened during the CNY break. He continuously mentions that despite the expenses (due to the
high tax), itʼs worth every single penny!
So save up, and maybe you can join him on his third trip to the top of the world!
Reflections
Rahil Chamola
It was you who sat silently
in the corner, crying.
You were the one who's tears
I could not help but see.
You were the one to whom
my heart went out.
You were the one who's wan smile
poked holes in me.
You were the one dubbed the social
reject,
the last one picked in the group.
You were the one, the only one,
with no one to look to.
Why was this, you ask me?
Do you really want to hear the truth?
It's because you dared, you dared to care,
something the others didn't care to do.
And caring is wrong, isn't that what you're told,
Because you're the focus of you!?
Who gives a damn, if the others can't!
Because you can, and you will too!
Yet despite all these words of consolation,
you cannot contain your tears,
They drip down your pale cheeks,
as they have over the past years.
Be strong, I caution, time is what will tell,
but if you give up now, things will not end well.
This is that turning moment, it's do or die.
Stay strong, you've suffered enough, it's time to turn the tide!
14
You look up and suddenly shudder,
and as if a man possessed wipe your eyes,
You reach for the towel, and when you take it,
you seem to have made up your mind.
You're still young, and there is yet time,
to give up now would be weak.
And that's not what you were taught to do,
were you, no Siree!
As you now look up at the mirror,
I smile as I look back.
For I am but a
a reflection of what you want to have.
Always as an image,
on the other side I will stay,
wanting only what's best for you,
guiding you from within, just a mere look away...
#OscarsSoWhite
Emma Chia
According to a Los
Angeles Times study,
the Academy of Motion
Pictures Arts and
Sciences consists of
white members making
up 94% of the academy.
Since 2010, only 7.5%
of acting nominees have
been non-white. Its no
surprise that this year,
for a second
consecutive time, for
two years in a row, the
Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and
Sciences has once again
failed to nominate any
non-white actors this year in their four acting categories – Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best
Actress in a Leading Role, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Best Actress in a Supporting
Role.
The Academy Awards, the biggest Hollywood event of the year, brings together actors and all
esteemed artists in film and motion sciences. Competition is tight, with only 5 actors and
actresses given the Oscar nod per category. Being nominated for the prestigious Oscar is an
instantaneous bonus to the accolades of any actor, often meaning both an increase in job offers
and higher pay. They also are henceforth formerly known in the business as “Academy Award
nominee” so and so. It improves both the branding and perceptions of the actor to Hollywood
and the public.
15
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
There has been much debate regarding the performances of several black actors in films this year
that arguably should have earned them a nomination. Performances by non-white actors that were
deemed Oscar-nomination worthy such as Michael B. Jordan’s as Adonis Johnson in Creed, Will
Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu in Concussion, Benicio Del Toro in Sicario and Samuel L. Jackson in
the Hateful Eight are examples of the Oscar snubs. However, the biggest Oscar snub is claimed to
be Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation, whose performance won him the Screen Actors Guild
Award in the category of Best Actor in a Supporting role. This is an extremely controversial
argument as the nominees of these categories have given exceptional and remarkable
performances in their movies.
The movie ‘Straight Outta Compton’ was one of 2015’s best reviewed films, yet was shut out of
the Academy Awards save from a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. The Best Picture
category at the 2016 ceremony will only have eight nominees out of a possible ten nominees,
making the exclusion of ‘Straight Outta Compton’ a puzzling outcome. The question that is
begged to be asked is - how much of #OscarsSoWhite lies on the Academy and nominating
committee itself?
The issue that the public chooses to emphasise on is the “racism” and “biasness” of the Academy,
however, should we be looking at the Academy as a whole, or the industry? I believe that the
main problem here lies with the lack of beautiful roles and opportunities written for and available
to non-white actors. If analysed carefully and seen through an objective prism, one would realise
that all the roles of the nominees this year are all written and only suited for white actors
specifically. Not just that, coincidentally or not, more than 50% of the roles were based of an
actual individual in history, forcing the writers to abide to the individuals heritage to retain
accuracy of the story. It is evident that the main underlying issue is the lack of good juicy roles
for non-white actors, and if the public should pick on a issue, it should be the shortage of
opportunity for the overwhelming talent of non-white actors. As two-time Oscar nominated
actress Viola Davis said in her Emmy speech in 2015, “The only thing that separates women of
colour from anyone else is opportunity.” When asked on a opinion of the nominations this year,
she explains that she believes “The problem is not with the Oscars. The problem is with the
Hollywood movie-making system.”.
16
SPORTS
17
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
U16 Football (South Zone Local League)
David Kim
The SJII U16 Football team has been participating in the South Zone Local League for
more than 3 years and the team had yet to see themselves progress pass the second round,
until this year.
This year’s performance
showed a spark in the
football talents of
Josephians. SJII being an
International School has
always been faced with a
mental barrier that local
schools are better than them
in competitive sports. This
year, The Saints (SJII’S
U16 Football Team) defied
odds as they managed to go
on a winning run beating
three local schools.
Having started with a hard
fought 2-0 win over Beattie
Secondary School, The
Saints managed to beat
Henderson 5-0 and
Mayflower 3-0 respectively.
Despite the successful run
they lost their last two matches against Ang Mo Kio Secondary and Queensway Secondary
meaning failure to proceed to the next round. SJII is one of the very few International
Schools in Singapore competing in the Local League. The team was selected by Mr. Brown
consisting 20 players from a trial. Without any training, the team headed straight into the
match against Beattie and stunned with a 2-0 win. The team’s top scorer Herald Neo
bagged six goals including a hat trick against Henderson Secondary School, when asked
about the team’s exceptional performance says, “Our run had to be credited to the team’s
effort into the matches and the communication also played a big part to our wins.” Arthur
Hsu the U16’s winger and provider of two goals says “looking at our history we never
achieved this before (winning three matches in a row), 3 wins gives us more confidence to
play in the League and grow our reputation.” They certainly did with SJII coming third
behind Queensway and Ang Mo Kio Secondary.
This is the highest position SJII has ever been in the Local League group stages. Ending the
tournament with three wins and two losses (7-0 to Ang Mo Kio and 4-0 to Queensway) the
Saints exit the tournament with dignity and fuelled with hunger to do even better next year.
These are just one of many achievements from SJII’s sports teams this year, sparking hope
that SJII can do just as well or even better than any local schools in Singapore.
18
Barbie & Fitness
Tan Shi Hui
Barbie has been a mainstay in the toy industry for a long time, and over the years, it has blessed
many girls with joy and fun. With her slim waist, skinny legs and petite frame, Barbie perpetuated
the idea of an ‘ideal’ woman. She even had her own love story to boot, one with Ken, which
heightened her popularity. However, just like some toys, Barbie has become synonymous with how
girls should look. Expectedly, because of her body shape, she attracts much criticism for presenting
an unattainable and unhealthy body shape for girls to emulate, giving them unnecessary pressure.
Nowadays, fitness models also have a similar influence on teenagers.
However, is Barbie all that bad? Is it unhealthy to look up to supermodels or fitness models?
In my article, I will be looking at the positive and negative impacts of fitness models on today’s
teenagers and the steps to be taken to lead a healthy life.
There is nothing wrong aspiring to look like a super or fitness
model. In fact, that aspiration gives many teenagers around the
world the motivation to work out. Looking at someone’s success
story often gives others the intrinsic motivation in order to spur
themselves on and succeed too. Realising someone else of a
similar plight/shape/condition has succeeded often give us hope
for the future and drive to press on. These are positive impacts
fitness models can have on teenagers.
However, the problem arises when the desire to look like the
fitness models become an obsession, which powers teenagers to
go on drugs or extreme diets just to look like their fitness
models, compromising their health. Thus, I will be addressing
some of the health issues with looking like fitness models and
why their body shape is so detrimental to their health. Common
fitness models like Jeff Seid, and super models include Victoria
Secret Angels. Firstly, these models, especially fitness models,
are on an array of steroids and growth hormones that allow them
to become so big and vascular. Anabolic steroids can lead to
many heart diseases and liver cancer. Secondly, these models are
on unhealthy diets that will increase the body’s production of cortisol, which is a harmful stress
hormone. This can in turn lead to heart diseases and diabetes. Lastly, any obsession is never good,
and too much exercise will also harm your body. Super or fitness models that promote that workout
regime which includes exercising almost every day can lead to wear and tear in your body over
time, affecting your general health. Be it lifting heavy weights or hitting the treadmill, our human
body always needs a rest when training hard for an extensive period of them.
So how much should we train then? And how do we keep fit or lose weight if too much exercise
may also be counter-beneficial?
Personally, the advice I would give is to exercise hard, but listen to your body. If you are catching a
flu or there is muscle ache still persisting after an intense session of exercise, take a break and rest
for a couple more days before resuming strenuous exercise. These are all signs from your body that
it needs rest. Never push through even when you are injured or sick. This will only exacerbate the
problem and keep you out from exercise even longer when you injure yourself or fall into a more
serious illness.
19
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
Everyone knows that it’s possible to actually look like Barbie - but is it okay to want to look like
Barbie?
Of course. However, bear in mind what is achievable naturally and realistically and set your own
goals after being inspired by models.
To end off, I will be sharing 3 simple but
effective ways to keep fit and lose weight.
Firstly, aim to sleep at least 9 hours a day. I
cannot stress this enough but sleep is
absolutely vital to the human body. The less
you sleep, the more cortisol will be produced
which induces over eating, and thus, you will
be unable to lose weight. Sleep also helps the
body recover and rest, so that you will not be
fatigue and your stamina will also increase.
Secondly, drink at least 10 glasses of water
every day. Water helps to regulate so many
body processes, it amazing how some people
don’t drink even 5 glasses of water every day.
Drinking water instead of soft drinks and fruits juices will also help to reduce the empty calories
that you take in everyday, which will help you to lose weight and keep your body fit.
Lastly, eat healthy. I believe in moderation which includes even
sweets and soft drinks. We can consume them, but in sparse
amount and not regularly. By not regularly I mean once a month.
Instead, get sugars from natural sources like fruits. Vegetables
are also a must eat everyday as it contains many vitamins that
keep your body healthy as well as acts as a weight watcher to
prevent over eating.
Fitness is wonderful and keeping fit is certainly a joy to many.
However, there is so much more in the world than just having a
great body. Plan your workouts or diets around your life, not the other way around, and never
compromise your health just to look good. Remember to
never let the world determine your physical appearance.
As long as you are healthy, you should not fuss too much
about your body shape.
I hope that I have been helpful to you! In order to make
the article less wordy and more interesting for everyone,
the article was an extremely brief outline of some basic
fitness concepts. I will be more than happy to answer
fitness questions more specifically at [email protected]. Feel free to drop me an email and I
hope everyone has a fit week ahead!!
20
CURRENT AFFAIRS
21
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
Jobs of the Future
Michelle Ng
We’re all at a point in our lives where the subjects we take now may influence our future career
paths. Some of us have interests we want to pursue, some of us just want to enter high paying
professions and the rest of us just want to find a rich partner and spend the rest of our lives in a
country club playing golf. Fair enough. But no matter where we see ourselves then, knowing the
job market will play a vital role in getting there, and the job market of 2036 will definitely be
drastically different from the one we are familiar with.
Take, for example, the stereotypically high paying professions today. You’d probably be thinking
‘accountant’ or ‘something to do with law’, but did you know that accountants and auditors have a
93.5% chance of being automated, while paralegals and legal assistants have a 94.5% chance of
being automated? With the increasingly sophisticated technology of the 21st Century, society is
looking more and more to the elements that make us uniquely human. What is it about you that sets
you apart from a programmed piece of machinery?
Researches in the National Public Radio (npr.org), and American radio station, have identified nine
key traits, four of which they found to be the most important. These are as follows:
1) Do you need to come up with clever solutions?
2) Does your job require you to squeeze into small spaces? (eg: coal miners)
3) Are you required to personally help others?
4) Does your job require negotiation?
With these traits in mind, they have generated a website that informs readers of the percentage
chance that their job would be automated in the future, and it looks a bit like this.
22
Among the least susceptible to automation would be jobs like choreographers (0.4%) or Chief
executives (1.5%) among others, and you’d be surprised to know how indispensable your high
school teachers are as well (0.8%). The site is accessible via the link http://www.npr.org/sections/
money/2015/05/21/408234543/will-your-job-be-done-by-a-machine and though it may not be a
definite prediction of the future, it’s still reasonable food for thought; about the evolution of
technology and how this would affect our future.
So, before you get excited planning paths to future career options, stop and ask yourself: Will this
even exist in 20 years’ time?
Zika: What’s the big deal?
Alexandra Tan & Christopher Chan
Zika is a rare virus
transmitted by daytimeactive Aedes mosquitos (and
not until recently, sex). It
doesn’t do much harm,
causing almost no symptoms
and leading to no lasting
harm. In fact, most people
with Zika don’t even know
they have it and those who
become ill tend to have only
a fever, rash, joint and
muscle pains and headaches
lasting up to a week. No
deaths have been reported.
So if this disease is seemingly so harmless, why is it suddenly all over the news? Zika has recently
spread to much of the tropics and subtropics globally, including areas such as Egypt, India, Africa,
Indonesia and much of the Americas last April, when an outbreak occurred in Brazil. Concern isn’t
over the effects of the virus but mainly on women who become infected while pregnant (due to a
high possibility that Zika can cause microcephaly - an abnormal smallness of the head) or those
who develop temporary paralysis after exposure.
So, in order to understand this mysterious disease and what it could potentially cause we must go
back to the beginnings of it.
Zika has always been around - at least for the past 70 years, first discovered in 1947 when
scientists researching yellow fever placed a rhesus monkey in a cage in the Zika forest, near the
East African Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, Uganda. The monkey developed a fever
indicating an unknown febrile illness, and scientists were able to isolate a transmissible agent from
the sick monkey and it was named the Zika virus (or ZIKV). Just a year later that same virus was
found again in the Zika forest, this time in an Aedes africanus mosquito.
Evidence of human infection with ZIKV was only found two decades later in patients in Nigeria.
Similar studies conducted then showed that the Zika virus had spread to other parts of Africa and
Asia, establishing it as an endemic in that part of the world.
23
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
In the past decade Zika has spread widely, far beyond its usual boundaries, causing outbreaks in
some of the most remote regions in the world. In 2007, a Zika outbreak was reported on the
isolated Yap Island in the Federated States of Micronesia. The outbreak here was characterized by
rash, conjunctivitis and arthralgia and initially thought to be dengue, and although this caused only
mild illness among 108 people (49 confirmed and 59 unconfirmed cases), researchers have
expressed concern about the potential further spread of Zika to other islands in Oceania and the
Americas, which is precisely what has happened. We are experiencing the biggest outbreak of Zika
yet, with more than a million recorded cases so far.
The main problem that people are concerned with from the Zika virus is that it causes birth defects
in babies. The Zika virus is said to be strongly linked to microcephaly. This is a birth defect in
babies that causes them to be born with abnormally small heads. Microcephaly is due to the brain
not being developed properly. It can be so severe that the brain is so underdeveloped that the baby
cannot carry out the basic functions of life and the baby dies. Children who do survive would face
difficulties in doing basic life activities.
What makes matters worse is than Zika is very hard to detect and diagnose. It is said that only 1 in
5 people will develop symptoms. The disease has also been linked to another nervous system
disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can cause paralysis. Deaths from the Zika virus are rare,
not including the decease rate of babies with microcephaly. Many South Americans are getting
anxious as they fear that their children would be born with these defects.
So what does the sudden spike in the Zika virus mean for the Rio Olympics? The Zika virus poses
a particular challenge in that only 20% of cases, as mentioned before, have no symptoms, and thus
won't get detected in a syndrome surveillance system. The mosquito population primarily
spreading the virus will decrease in numbers during the Brazil’s cool season, which includes
August and September when the Olympics and Paralympics will be held. However the
temperatures still do not fluctuate that much, hence mosquito bites will still occur all year round.
The main concern with Zika in Brazil is that athletes could contract the disease and when returning
home, the disease could run rampant in their home country just as it has in South America. So far
Rio will not be standing down and is still determined to host the games.
24
American Politics 101
Nicholas Tan
It is 2016, a new school year had befallen upon us. It is
at this time of the year that we all think to ourselves,
what can I do for myself? What goals shall I impose and
eventually forget about? As school has practically just
started, I am very busy getting everything sorted out, as
all of us are. So how will we keep up will the world
around us when we are simply have no time to spare?
Well, fear not! Thankfully, not only do we get the joys
and the excitement that a new year would bring, we also
have the pleasure of witnessing what could potentially be
the most disastrous use of democracy ever.
Yes, you guessed it, I’m talking about the current
American elections. With all the shenanigans of insulttossing, background blaming and butchering of the image of what people would expect a presidential
candidate to resemble. America introduces to us their newest form of recreational politics in the form of
Donald Trump. A man who allegedly (according to polls) is able to represent what U.S is really all about,
a man who has his faults, yet is accepted by a surprisingly large majority of thirty-one percent in the
republican race. So how did he achieve this incredible amount of recognition despite being constantly
treated as a “entertainer” by his fellow candidates? Here is what I believe to be the five most interesting
reasons that people endorse Trump, explained in the simplest context, requiring sparse amounts
contextual knowledge to hopefully shed some light on that dark gloomy bit in the back of your brain
that’s labeled “American Politics”.
Immigrant Resentment
With Trumps rather obscure definition of “to amend”, Trump’s presidential campaign has promised very
heavy restriction on the movement of immigrants into the U.S. This policy that he has promised has
stirred the population, especially those without college degrees. Essentially, the demand for low skilllevel employment is rocketing up into space as the foreign immigrants “steal” jobs from American
citizens due to the instability of their job, mostly due to the qualifications for the jobs in question being
practically nonexistent.
With the majority of Trump’s voters in support of the argument that immigrants, with an emphasis on
Mexicans, do in fact weaken society, it seems to imply that the economically frustrated portion of the
U.S. appears to be the backbone of this whole fiasco. “I would build a great wall...very inexpensively…
on our Southern border…” Trump has made it known that he wishes to build a physical barrier between
Mexico and the US in order to hinder entrance of… criminals? Yes, this may actually be a legitimate
solution, of course as long as he has “Mexico pay for that wall”. The idea of a wall was meant to stem
the amount of immigrants from the south in hopes of securing the low income jobs for Americans who
need the employment to sustain themselves and perhaps their families. This somewhat questionable
promise, shines a ray of hope on many people, because remember that within the majority of his
supporters(not at all entirely), there are people who are tired of political reason, instead they seek more
“real” answers, and to them, a wall is as real as it gets.
25
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
Trump is USA
Let me explain what I mean by this rather vague and uninformative title. People believe, and as do
I that Trump is a fairly rational man. In the sense that it is undeniable that Trump is successful,
where Trump is able to make the correct decisions at the correct time that enabled him to become
such a prominent figure. It is seen in the Great Gatsby and in many other movies and texts, that the
idea of the American dream is still vaguely alive today. Americans who believe in this American
Dream, the taste of glamour, riches and fame, all see this dream within Trump. Whilst it can be
argued that if elected, Trump will be running a country, not a company, which is fundamentally
requires different levels of caution in its
care, nothing is more reassuring than
knowing that the potential President of
their country has lived the American
Dream, and will know that path to
success regardless of the challenges
presented to him. It is because some of
the more educated of his supporters know
that Trump will do anything but bring
down the U.S. economy, because if the
U.S comes crashing down, the value on
his businesses will drop drastically as
well. Thus it is in Trump’s best interest
only for U.S to ever progress rather the
regress.
The Male White Minority
Wait… since when were white men the minority in U.S.A? In short, they are not. However, whilst
they are in fact not the minority, they sure feel like the minority. People say that they “deserved it”
or “they had it coming” referencing the hideous past on how poorly the white men treated all other
ethnic groups and females in U.S.A. However, the past has long preceded us, and whilst there is
much to learn from our roots, the abuse of white men is becoming more and more apparent as the
days go by. With the LGBT community finally being recognised last year on June 26, and with the
current presidential election having a woman as one of the front liners to replace a black president.
White men can’t help but think that the focus of the nation on new and “equal” concentrations of
authority are being rather exclusive of the generic majority. Thus with so many fresh new ideas like
Hillary Clinton being idolised, some people can’t help but get bored of this change, so supporters
jump on the Trump train, where the male white minority can hopefully start acting on equal
grounds as the rest of the majority of minorities.
He Doesn’t Look Like a Politician (Because He Isn’t)
And it doesn’t matter. People are tired of the mess that the political establishment is, in the sense
that with the huge disappointment that Obama was, given his potential as the first African-american
president, he’s left not much of a legacy behind for people to admire. Trump states crude sentences
on a regular basis with almost no regard to etiquette and how people will view him in the future
that give over-exaggerated promises, but is this also part of his campaign? Citizens are able to
support Trump because it is almost as if he were reading their minds. How does he know that I am
angry at immigrants? How does he know that that I am concerned about my right for an audience
in court when I am attacked because of my ethnicity? As seen where Trump as promised to protect
almost every ethnicity, given that they are American. Trump prepares not only the arguments, he
gives his speeches with charisma that rivals that of Hitler himself.
26
Trump is able to entrance his audience BECAUSE of his crude form of speech, so in actual fact, it
is due to this uncouth language that people like him. People like hearing what they want to hear,
Trump seems to have caught on to that.
You Only Live Once
What I believe to be the most ludicrous of reasons that people support Trump is that they simply
don’t care anymore. Some citizens of America have taken the stance from that of the Joker from
the Dark Knight. Some men want to watch the world burn. With Trump’s approval ratings being
rather broad in the sense that he has a mere seven percentage differential between his youngest age
group of supporters to his oldest age group, where his support from the elderly community being at
around thirty-six percent in December, it becomes apparent that age is not a good indicator to see
the general trend of who supports Trump. However, with interviews and surveys, on several
occasions, it is seen people gives reasons like “I have no family” or “This is so so fun”, showing
that some Americans who are able to vote are choosing Trump based on his comedic value. Whilst
this support base could be rather unstable, as seen in the recent polls of Trump’s recent losses to
Ted Cruz, it is still one of the reasons that Trump has been able to stay so far ahead of other
candidates.
There, you are now a semi-well informed person on American politics. I must say now that as the
author, I do not support Trump, as I feel that further insight on the potential outcomes of Trump’s
election need to be taken into consideration in order to obtain a more serious vote, where America
being world power needs to be more meticulous in the selection of its leader and the democratic
process should not be done on impulse.. However, I hope that this is a mystery that I have been
able to solve for you. To end on a light note, this isn’t an actual quote from a hopeful president,
“Just look at China, they built a wall. See how many Mexicans they have!”.
A Visit from Brother Larry
Trinh Le Quang
On Friday January 29th, our school has received a warm visit by brother Larry Schatz and I was
lucky enough to be among the seven scholars that had a chance to have a private talk with him.
Brother Larry Schatz is the Brother Visitor of
the Lasallian brothers in the Midwest
America, which is based in Chicago. As the
growth of Lasallian schools expands well
beyond their birthplace in France, brother
Larry set out on a tour to visit various
Lasallian schools in Southeast Asia. After
spending five days in the Philippines, he
ended his journey in SJII under the invitation
of Brother Lawrence. Here, he was more
than surprised to gasp the flourishing spirit of
the Brothers in Singapore and how a
Lasallian school has established itself as a
symbol of the Lasallian vision and spirit in
Singapore and about the house system that
honoured famous brothers in the past.
27
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
Having been able to meet a Lasallian Brother from faraway, we couldn’t help from asking him
about his job in the States. Brother Larry was indeed more than welcome to give us a quick
introduction of the Lasallian schools system in the United States and the underlying foundation of
these schools. He believed that the brothers’ missions have always been to support the ‘the least,
the last and the lost’. He explicitly stressed how intrinsic the Lasallian schools had been in
supporting the poor community such as the Latinos and the African-American, providing
affordable education for students from poor neighbourhood. Brother Larry told us the story of St.
John Baptist de La Salle and reminded us the very traditional principles of the Brothers. St. John
had given up his comfortable life to make sure that the poor in his hometown could be literate and
educated and thus, Brother Larry stressed the importance of a well-funded and prestigious school
like SJII to be able to also give back to the community.
Therefore, in his private talk with us scholars, he showed his great interest in the scholarship
program. Brother Larry was certainly intrigued with the diverse backgrounds that the scholars have
come from, along with our persistence and dreams in life. We, in turn, also told Brother Larry what
it meant to be in a Lasallian school. We all agreed on the fact that the motto of ‘Enter to learn,
leave to serve’ of the school is predominantly visible in SJII, so is the friendly and holistic
education that SJII is more than able to provide.
At the end of the talk, brother Larry expressed his enthusiasm and positivity in the way that St.
John Baptist de Lasalle’s legacy have been able to spread far to other parts of the world. He
strongly believed that as long as a school is willing to uphold the Lasallian teachings, to appreciate
its community at its best and to care for the underprivileged, it doesn’t need a brother to station
there.
Brother Larry has left Singapore, but his reminder of the Lasallian value to all of us is bound to
stay.
Julian Assange
Natalie Chow
Some sing high praises of his computer
programming skills and his fight for the truth.
But most criticize for his criminal acts that
endanger many.
Julian Assange is a 44 year-old Australian born
journalist and the creator behind WikiLeaks,
infamous for his genius skills to crack computer
codes. WikiLeaks, set up in 2006, publishes
confidential documents and images, and made
headlines for releasing the infamous leaked
footage of US soldiers shooting dead 18
civilians in Iraq. He made headlines once again
when he was wanted by Swedish authorities for
the questioning over two counts of sexual
molestation and one count of unlawful coercion, allegedly to have been committed during a visit to
Sweden in August 2010. He repeatedly denies these accusations.
28
Mr. Assange previously had been spending months fighting extradition while under house arrest in
England which was approved in February 2011 and was also supported by the High Court. After
the UK Supreme Court rejected the application to re-open his case, he sought refuge with the
Ecuadorian embassy, which he currently resides after being granted political asylum by the South
American country on 16 August 2012. However, if he steps out the embassy, he would most likely
be arrested due to the warrant for his arrest still in place. He fears being extradited from Sweden to
the US and put on trial for realising confidential US documents.
While the time limit for the prosecution team to interview him for sexual assault allegations had
run out and charges could not be laid against him, Mr Assange could not escape from the serious
allegation of rape, as it is only due to run out in 2020. Prosecutors have stated that their
investigations will indeed continue. Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino has urged the UK
government to respect his country's sovereign decision. In 2014, Mr Assange complained to the
UN that he was being unlawfully detained as he could not leave the embassy without being
arrested.
As of today Mr Julian Assange remains within the confines of the Ecuadorian Embassy. The
embassy has stated that Mr Assange is welcome to stay there for as long as he wishes. However,
the United Nations has ruled in February this year that the WikiLeaks founder had been subjected
to "deprivation" and called for his release. Both the UK and Swedish governments have rejected
this ruling so far, with the UK maintaining that it will arrest Mr Assange should he step out of the
embassy.
Donald Trump
Guan Jie Fung
Donald Trump, Donald Trump and Donald Trump.
When he first entered the presidential race, no one
took him seriously. It was viewed as a political
stunt; one that would help advertise his reality
television show, The Apprentice. No Republican,
Democrat, journalist or political analyst expected
his campaign to survive for more than a few
months, let alone be the frontrunner in Republican
polls.
Trump launched his campaign in June 2015 by
calling Mexicans immigrants “rapists” and
problematic people. Just a month later, he
commented on former Senator John McCain’s war
history. He pointed out how McCain was captured
in Vietnam and said that being captured does not
automatically make you a war hero; he also said
how he does not like people who were captured.
Despite the controversial and senseless comments,
Trump climbed up the polls; with an 11% lead over
other Republican candidates by the end of July 2015. No matter how reckless, how irrational, and
how mindless his comments were, Trump dominated the Republican polls. Senseless and baseless
comments like how Muslims should be temporarily banned from entering the United States of
America, and how thousands of Arabs cheered in New Jersey when the 9/11 terrorist attacks took
place.
29
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
A President should not polarize the nation, but instead unify, motivate and propel it. Trump cannot
deal with ISIS terrorists by simply banning the travel of Muslims into the United States. Instead he
needs the support and backing of Muslims to end ISIS, not just restrict them. On the same
principle, building a wall on the border of Mexico and the United States would not work. Millions
of Mexican immigrants contribute the U.S. economy - they help make the “American way of life”
possible.
With all these laughable comments and statements, how is Trump the Republican party
frontrunner?
Journalists who have attended his campaign rallies say that the supporters do not necessarily
support Trump, but instead support what he has done to the political field in America. Trump,
unlike many other presidential candidates, has mostly funded his own campaign through his own
fortune and public donations. His supporters are tired of money influencing politics. Unlike other
candidates, without any big corporate donors, Trump is not pressured into doing what the
companies want. Supporters also like how he addresses issues like how they are - without any fear
of backlash. He forces a discussion on problems, no matter how controversial they are. Mainly for
these reasons, and nothing else, Trump is the Republican frontrunner.
Although he is the Republican frontrunner, not many expect him to win the Republican nomination
this July and it’s even more unlikely that he’ll win the Presidential race, but isn’t that exactly what
people said June of 2015?
Discrimination Against Women
Gabrielle Sng
The twenty first century is experiencing some of the most life altering and pivotal changes in this
given day and age and more people worldwide are increasingly aware and supportive of gender
equality. In 2010, the New York Times reported the millennials to be the most tolerant group of
people out of all the generations thus far. Hence, it is not surprising to see more women stand up
for themselves in pursuit of what they set out to achieve. Some people argue that given such
revolutionary changes in the mind-sets of individuals and common phrases of ‘freedom of speech’,
discrimination against women is now a thing of the past. However, is this comment totally valid?
On the other end of the spectrum, opponents stand firm in their belief that such discrimination is
very much prevalent, albeit in a much more sophisticated manner. I am more inclined to believe in
the latter and that discrimination against women is still apparent in society today.
Firstly, discrimination against women is still apparent in today’s society through the proliferation of
media. Many a time, I feel that the media has a tendency to over-sexualise women through the
precarious positions and stereotypes they portray women in. For example, there is a preconceived
notion imposed on society that the perfect woman is ‘stick thin’ with ample cleavage through
television programmes like the Victoria Secret fashion
show where the aforementioned ‘stick thin’ models are
seen parading down a runway in scantily clad
undergarments. Also, I have read articles about a plethora
of model agencies only employing females of certain
body types to represent their fashion lines. In addition to
the inaccurate body image perception of women
onscreen, music videos involving female artists also
often depict them to be submissive ‘sex kittens’.
30
A clear example would be Ariana Grande’s ‘Love Me Harder’ music video which precariously
objectified her as a tool for sexual gratification. It is clear to me that such portrayals of women in
the media often make them out to be something they are not as the images and videos we see are
often airbrushed and edited to entice the public. In an article found in the Guardian, a survey
conducted on American female youth showed that a quarter of girls just over the age of thirteen
have been sexually harassed before. This is unequivocally the result of inaccurate depiction of
women which led to unfair prejudice and discrimination pertaining to them. Thus, discrimination
against women is not eradicated but rather, take up a notch as it is openly aired via mass media.
Some people argue that discrimination against women is a thing of the past because women’s rights
parties and constituencies offer protection against such inequality and they help impose laws to
prevent such unjust treatment. In society today, some countries also adopt a democratic equally
gender controlled parliament which ensures there are regulations aimed at protecting women and
laws against such discrimination. An example would be Rwanda’s parliament which has fifty six
percent of its seats occupied by females. Proponents of this stand argue that with such pivotal
changes made in the government system, the capability and talent of women are displayed and
utilised and it suggests that there is no longer any discrimination against women due to the fact that
women now control equal amount of ruling power.
However, I feel that this argument may not necessarily be true because such female dominated
parliaments are few and far between. Most parliaments, along with the majority of the workforce in
developed countries, are male dominated and this results in the untrue belief that perhaps women
are just not as capable as men. Also, male dominated parliaments worldwide adversely result in
gender inequality amongst its citizens and this is prevalent in certain countries, more so than
others. For example, in Afghanistan, only eighteen percent of women between the ages eighteen to
twenty five are educated as women are perceived as the less capable and weaker gender. Female
subjugation is also apparent in Saudi Arabia as women are forbidden from driving because they do
not have the same social standings as their male counterparts. Such disparity in treatment of both
genders only benefits males and serves as a form of discrimination against women because they are
denied basic rights. Thus, I believe that discrimination is still a current affair because many women
worldwide are still under the control of men.
Some people also argue that the
entrance of more women into the
workforce represents the eradication
of discrimination against women.
According to the Straits Times,
Singapore was reported to have closed
seventy percent of its income gap
between males and females.
Proponents of this stand hence argue
that because more opportunities are
given to women, the gender inequality
gap between males and females is
significantly narrowed as women are
given a voice and social footing in
society.
31
ONEVOICEMAGAZINE February
However, is this always the case? Just because more females are given education and a chance to
speak out, it does not necessarily mean that people around the world are accepting of this change.
Resistance, regardless of the form, is often faced in such situations and a clear example would be in
the case of Malala Yousafzai. She fought for her right to education but her choice evoked
unhappiness amongst certain prejudiced people and she was shot by the Taliban who disapproved
of her actions as a result. I strongly believe that such violence definitely depicts the discrimination
certain groups of people still harbour against women and how sexist mind-sets still exist.
In conclusion, discrimination against women is still very much rampant in society today. I firmly
think that just because it does not appear face front does not mean it disproves of its existence. The
ethics of gender discrimination have evolved in such a way that we must look beneath the surface
in order to recognise it. Hence, it is paramount for us to continuously educate ourselves and others
so as to raise awareness of this situation. Only through education will we find the panacea to this
ever present issue society faces.
Thank you for reading!
We hope you enjoyed reading the final issue of the year. Looking ahead, we hope to bring
new writers and perspectives to our readers in 2016. Want to be in the next OneVoice issue?
With the vibrant & diverse community of SJI International, the OneVoice editors are
looking to continue student submissions for the next issue. Please feel free to send us your
submissions be it artwork, photography, articles or creative writing to
[email protected] & you might just be in our next issue.
Follow us @onevoice.sjii on Instagram to find out more and keep up to date.
Subscribe to us at 32
http://bit.ly/18sbGUb