ll7.

the
BROADER SEVEN
VIRTUES
PERSPECTIVES iss ue

ISSUE oNE +TWO./SGD $9.00./ 2009 MICA (P1 93 / 1 o / 2006)

01
SEVEIN I
o2
WAYS ,'J
l:,:i

TOSA
l ir;
I

l
1

$r

!
THE l

i
I
l
iI

WORL ii
i
 EVERY WELL-BRED COCKTAIL PARTY GUEST IO.IOWS
Why God is truly this to be true: the fastest way to committing social
kamikaze is to ialk aboui €ither religion or politicr. And
good forthe world.
Heaven for.l)id, you bring up both in dre sane breath.
To tbe most aggressive of secularists, those who wear thei.
BYSHIAO-YINKUIK
faith on their sleeves might as well join the ranks of the
hopelessly naive or the dangerously delusional. Fron cr t
favotrrite author A)d RaDd to celebrilv scientist tucha.d
Dawkins, naDy of our most respected intcllcctuals are going out of their
way to paint religion as the antithesis to trogrcssion, enlightennent and
civilisation. T}eir sohtion? Completely liberate society fron all forms
of religious s)nbols and to queslion the veracity of ali religious beliefs.

Interestingly enough, atheisni born

in ivory towers of hish acadenia
- as opposed to athcism ir its viv
cdal CoDmunist fom - has never
been aue to convince the masses as being a solution to the
world's problenN. ODe reason one that annoys hard core
atheists like Dawkins is that so many rank and fi]e atheists
have adopted a faithless life for thenselves not so nuch be-
catrse they believe it actually seNes a noble purpose but be-
cause they waDt to be libemted frcn thc nuisancc of haviDg
to ndhcr. rn 2n.ieni nrnms nr rh. midqr nf r|pir firn ,nd r.!
elry. After all, iiishardtoiake gratuiious pleasure nr all things
naughryand selfieNing once ),ou allowthat creat Chaperone
in rhe sky to tell you what yoo ought to do. cLrdously, such
nominal atheists may even respect rnd even secretly enrT
tliose who live by faith. People nosdy like liavins faith aDd
all the benefits that come with it - thcy just doD't nccessanly
want to take on thc inconvcDicnt yoke of faith for themsclves.

Jcu6i Sd,ndrit d P,-icst

DEMAND ABROADER PERSPECT]VE o3

 Few people actually believe
that a world without any fonn of religion would actuaily leork a 1999 Gallup poll
found that only 49% ofAmericans would vote an ath€ist for president. Moreover, the
wo d's brief dalliame with institutionalised faiihlessness did not paD out well: inspir-
ing and visionaryas itwas, despite having more than a century to prove itsell Com-
munisn showed that in a relisious vacuum, misinformation, poor social economic
policies, state wide corruption and mindless massacres prevail. Russia's gulags, Pol
Pot's Year Zero of Killing Fields, Mao's Cultural Revol tion and Kim Jung Il s legacy
of staration in North Korea all revealed that sodlessness leads no comnunity nearer
to goodness. Ir fact, in these colleclivised economies that depended on every com-
rad€ to uphold each other as eqtrals, inevitable disagreemenis aboutihe allocation of
resources eventually encourased consolidation ofeconomic power into srnaller and
snaller groups ofmen- Eventually, coercion, bdbery, and olher unscrupulous poliii-
caltools were used instead to requisition resources.

So in the face of anti-religion opposition, there has been a curious restrrgence of pro
faith supporteN {rom the nost unlikely of qllalters. The new prcponents of faith
as the panacca to the world's problems are politicians and political comnentatoN
some wbo are aiheist even - who sperl< less from a particular religious ideal and
nore, instead, from a objectivc standpoint of the redlistic value andbenefits ofGod
feaing folk.

B d.lhist proler uheel In Mr) 2oo8, furmcr British

Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled The Tony Blair Faith FouDdatioq an oryanisation
dedicated to provins that collaboration anong the si\ different major rclisioDs was
necessaryio addressiDg the world's nost pressing social problems- Blair's conviction ws that faith matters because it shapes our
noral and intellectual franeworks for undeNtanding the world and thus dictates our behaviour. To Blair, while faith has been used
to enfbrce ignorance and cause whole conimunities to withdraw behind antagonisiic shettoes,
"it is part ofour future and faith and the values it brings with it are an essential part ofmaking
slobrlisation work." Blajr's goal in his post-DoMins Street years is to rescue faith from beins
seen as irrelevant or worse antagonistic to global debate.

Conkoversial conseFative tlinker Dinesh D'Souza wrote "Wbafs So Gr€at About Chdstianity"
in 2oo7 to remind the world how faith fostered civilisation $ith core values of demooaticlike
respect for hurnan disnity, hunan ishts and human equality. Faith also inspired nodern sci-
ence by enforcing the ridiculous" concept that the universe is ]a'\tully ordered and raiionally
desisred, following logical laws that are discoverable ihroush hunian reason and persistence.
D'Souza points out tlat even the virulently atheist philosopher Nietzsclie conceded that the
CbristiaD cod was the very foundation olW€stern values and removins Him fton the eqtration
would mean the erosion and ultinate collapse ofthosevalues.

But perhaps the strongest wotd on tnis belongs to former Conservative Minister ofParliameDt
tumed award winning journalist Matthew Parris who headlined his December 2oo8 Op Ed
piece for i.imes "As an Atheist, i truly believe Africa needs God," subtitling it with Mis
sionaies, "fte
not aid money are the solution to Africa's bissest problen - the crushing passivity of
the people's mindset." 2:::*6;..2.
Parris adnitted that he used to s.ty he despise the fact that part of the equaiion of helping
Africans was havins nissionary churches in Africa, but he was willing to toleratc theD sirce
the chrrches were helping other NGos spread literacy, heal the sick and aleviate poverty- But
eventuat\ he changed his mind when he saw that the faith that emboldened the missionary to
seNe in such capacity was precisely the sane faith, eventually transfened to his unbelieving
flock, which differentiated the missionary's etbrts from the cha iable work of other secular
NGOS, govemment prcjects and international aid activists.
Praging ot o dnEr, n^:tlbi

I
I BROADER PERSPETTIVES thesevenv rtues ssue
Parris obscncd ihat faith lib€rated and rela\ed (the initiaily uDbelielins AJ- Faith convinces ordinarv
cans)", giving them a liveliness, a curiosity, an ensasement with the wo d,
a directness in theirdealings with others". He concluded that cveryonein the people to do extraordinary
lmow is fully aware that decades ofprovidiry nerc matenal neans and know
how have not beeD etroush to nake a dent in the long quest to free frica
things in hellish times
fron crushing povetJ. ln particular, he highlighted Protestant Christianity's because thev believe
teachiDs of a dircct two way linl< between every individual and cod, "unmedi-
ated by the collective, and unsubordinate to any other human being" as ihe
thev are not alone.
key element that could smash through the crushins oppression of sroup God is with them.
itrinl<, a totalitarian dictator's charisma and centuries of culiural bassage.

To solve the world s problens, it And it is thus, that

cones doM to whole beljcf slstenN that need to be supplanted.
Faith - above all things -
And onl]'religious faith goes \rhere we fear lo thread... can and will be our
Right into the inner sanctum ofthe hunu heart where every single person Deliverance from Evil.
first fornulates beliefs and cr es out ihe decisions that radicallv heal or hurt
the world arotrndthem.

The clevercst solutions to slobal problems isnart cars, nanotechnolosy, one

laptop per foor child) have always been limited by the outraseously simple
premise ihai people are not automatons they come with set beliefs andbe
haviours that dictate whether or not theybecome part ofthe problem or part
of the solution. Or to put it in teribly unfashionabl€ te.ns, people are in
conisibly sintul. we just dotrt Nani io do what we are supposed to do and
sometimes it tal<es the very fear of an omuipotent Cod with authority over
whole universes to change our petty minds.

Iraith (and the chantable Norks that steD out from what faith teaches) offers a sustainable long-
term solution to the world's problems as opposedto doing charitable works divorced fron any belief
in God. Faith fio tises a deep set conversion of the heart rehat Christiars call a "born again"
dpcricnce - where eacb indMdual renounces his fomer self-centred way oflife to adapt a mdically
God centred, other person c€ntred way oflife.

Faith is what brought together tens of thousands of activists, priests and punks to Cologne under the
banner of Jubilee 2ooo, callins on the G-8 to forsive the debts owed by the world's poorest countries
as per old Testament Jewish practices. Faith was what ushered in the world's first bloodless revolu-
tioD h the Philippines during 1986 where arrnies crossed overtojoin the people asainst the Marcos
dictatorship, laying doM their weapons when confronted with citizens amed only with prayers.
Faiih was what gave ordinary East Germans the courage to speak openly and passionately againsi
political oppression, environmental degradation and corNption that eventually lcd ihem io take to
thestreets and peaceably bring doM 4t) years oftotalitarianisn and the Berlin Wall.

Faith breeds resilience, lonssutrering and hope impossible traits tohoid onto when ihe scope and
complexilt' of slobal probtens seem too overwhelming for even the nost gifted and sood+earted of
hunan beinss to handle.

Faith convjnces ordinary people to do erlraordinary thhss h helish times bccausc they believe
they are not alone. God is with them.

,{nd it is ihus, that Faith - above all things can and will be our Deliverance from Evit. Illl

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE O5
 IMAGECREDII

\,\.E LI\,'E IN TIMES WHERE IT IS HARD TO REMAIN

WhyQue Sera Sera
hopetul- Tcchnolos/ has siven us, evcD liom a youns ase,
may not always be the the ability to see tbe houbles of oihers and undcrstand our
own troubles through ubiquitous nediuns like t|e telerision
best advice to follow or newspape.s. Yet, as we Brow up, the sense ot iniustice we
night har€ iritially felt upon witnessing wrongs and evil acts
BYTONGYEE can casily $'ane iDto a resigDation tliat thinss will probably
siay ihc samc. Nothing will change for the better. Que sera
sera. Chronic problerns likc povcfty and disease are too ofteD
clained lo be been solved by our o$n cleverness only to be thwaftcd by our
own selfishness.ldeals ofa better tomorrow are too often eloqu€ntly laid out
before the nasses only to be ripped asunder by corruption, self interest and
stupidiry. And so it goes oD, we accept disillusioDment as a way oflifej ile allow
our conscicncc to slowlydic; r{e rc ondto hopeby calhrS its blutr, protectnrg
ourselves from wbai seems to bc the incvitable disappoiDtment that folloxs.

Where then is thepoint inlile since oLrr hope for t|e better seemstuiilc? Aftcr
all, cortintral deference ofhope can make our hearts sick. Ask any child who is perpetually denied the ful
lilnent ofliis hope ofvisitingthe park witli lis parents, or Disn€yland, orthe like.l.alse promises hurt ihe
hcafts ofchildr.D, and those chiidren unfoftrnately srcw into adults who discove. thatbad cliildhood ex-
periences are not far fi orn ihe tmth ofthe real world. I hc hopc of a secure reijrcment proved to be false once
stalrrari banl<s collafsed under ihe nnmense impact of mismanasemcnt aDd irrcsponsibilib . Fairy -tale ur-
ions can also often crumble because ofa lacl of$isdom or chamcier. False hopc can nakc our hcarls sick-

DFMANDA RROADFRPFRSPFCT VF 07
 ril-
i
\ \C.
k* ..,
\h \
\ IMAGE CREDIT

\ l| riftr,r.0, Ir',^l,trqrrr.
'-\ /i.t.s
jrlss.r l)rr r.d,l,rJrnr
jr..tl. ir,i.ttrn.,1.n I js
.rj ..\

Yt f.

t*
1'l
:l
ti
t,.
-!

1
\
!.rl i\
ill

-r- .f'
#,' -

*X*
 Thankfully, this ailmcntcanb€ g.eati!, allcliated with rD ulrderstand
ing of its roots. With eac.h disapfoiDtneDt- we can b€ morc astute ir learning whcre to place our hope as
people aDd institutjoDs shoi{ their characier over titre. Thc disciphie of hope Iequircs ns Dot io sinlllv
exlend hopc as a feeling but rathcr as a skill of discer.nrent. scfarating the rlheat frcm the chaff Our
soLution is not io Dot hope but m(her to cxcrcise n'ise hope. A s'o d as tLrniultrous as ours dcmands that
ire continue to hopc, despjte realitr scrcarning at !s to stop. EdLtcation and he thcare challcngcs call !s
to hope. t e.rorisrn and conflict demand hopc. Cine and Poverty call rs to hope Not hoping for th. h.h cr
only makes us sicker.

'lo pro\c this, let us examine how hopes .ecentLl fulillled ha\c brought encouragingly new solutions lo
wo d troubles. Ex P.esiden! Bill Clinton, once shamed byhis philandeing ilays and almo$ nlPeacbed
from office, shor dbe among those falsc hopes tliat ive put in our dmi{er of disipponrtmcnts Yet, iftlie
ClinronClobal Initiative is anlrhnrg togoby, thenan and his ideals ar far frorn dead Clinton cffF'rivdv
gathered the world's top leaders, CLOS and cclcbities in a conce ed cffoit io use th€i.
expeience and influencc to solve rvorld problems with immediacy altd eftactilcDcss UD
likc more buiky irtemational iNtitutions, CCI acts fast by cutting pasl red tapc aDd the
blreaucracy ofbudget approval by tappitig on the large $!ns of money thil the world's
elite donatc. Tuned elder statesrnaD, CliDton lias channelled his experieDce into a lehiclc
thal demands we place commilme.t and i tiatire behnrd our bopcs. Richard Brallson's
sroup, lhe Elders, is dotug much ollhe samc i{ork, tapping on both thc xisdon and hnLt
cnce of the wodd s rnost cxperieDced sLatestncn. Dcspite huge challenges, both men seek
to cradicate poverty, heal thc wo d ard nnke it a bctt.r Place for xll.

Check your o$'n cynicism beforc you pass julgement on this. Forbelind thos€ hish idcals
are sornc very real solutions. Thcsc solutions are not blild but bom ofa tenac;tl bascd oD
the belief that some tliings are wofth pcrseveing fo. and that wc caD lind the wal to b ng
about eventual success. Successlul peoplc arc natumlLJ perlelering Dot because the) are drcarnvbutbe Thc capacity frrr
cause past srccess as wcll as failue assures ihern thai tireir hope is not fot nouglit Do Dot deslis. thos.
hope is the rnost
who hope, for beyond thosc who are blind ll opiimistic are men aDd $onren t\'hose hope stems Jiom.|,r-
llholb conrm itted io translate ev€ryone's hopc into Senuine change
significant iact of
actcr andeaperience. and lvho are
lile. It provides
Sowhcre does tliat leale us? -{s Sinsaporeans $e ohen cufhemise our wa.i human beings
ness lor ilutrv hope by calling it prudcnc,v or pragDl.rtjsln. Reelnrs from the disillL,sionrncnt bone ofour with a sense
early years of sun'ival, our pioDeering leadc$ saw little value ir ideals. only vrlue in prnctic.l action Yet,
ofdestination
in recent years, perhaps due to rnanylears ofsucc.ss Ne hale eniored, Singapore has inspired us to hope
for nore. We hope tormorcfieedom, fora Sreatcrplace oD the globnlstagc Wchope fornorebal:nccnr and the energy
our lives, for a nore gracious societ! a.ho is iaivnrg and connnuDitt cen l.ed Wc hope fo. r solid identiry, to get startcd.
for rootedDess, for oneness. Are $'e foolish to hope so? Is tlie sokl bed.ock ofcx|cience we no$ sland
upon nrdccd eDoush c,f a louDdatioD fron wlich to launc| rcDc$'ed dreams'/

It is our hoperhai cftends credit lor a s'orld thathas rlready ilone jrto olerdraft We are both dcbrors rnd
crcditors. Creditorsbccause it is our hopewc crtcnd to others. Deblors bccause it is our lblt) lhat r.qtrires
others to erlend us hopc.ID eveD, Dreisure. as$';. are verycleiru discovcring inthese rnodern tirDcs, $'e
arc all in this togelier. This tine is ditrerent. For bchitld the hope thal we noi{ mutuaLll ettend rn nn'
another, there js new lnowlcdge, urtokl erpe.ienc., bcttcr techDology and tight.r connnunit) . l he r. is
charactcr to seetlings tlrough tothe eDd.

since we havc cxplored every- tangiblc alcDue tu llnding ans\rers for ou Problents and cxfcDded our
fitrite capilal iI doing so, surely it is tinre to lookto the iDtangible thc cnnioDrl capjtalLtlFn t'hi.h rll
great achielenents have been built on. Hopc is the only capital we ha\c that does nol .eed to rnD out
unless we cho.,se it to bc so. fftt

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE o9
F
I
-

the NOVF.I'IBER 2oo|: 1'Il]j WORLII-S PRESS TRIPPED OVUR l HEIISELVES IN -^NTICIPAtION OF
Stop, in ^S
the age olObaDra, GcorgeW. Dush doi{ned a pisco sonriD Lima, Peru. fhiswas no ordinan'dir* notso

name of love. much becausc thc cocktaii is ar unusuall! delectablc combiration ofbiLlellr, ess $hitc and hre juice b!t
because it {as the d nk ihai put Bush o{liciallr back in thc i{orld of the intenpe ral e.
BYSHIAO-YINKUIK
At least that was the ofnrion of thc of-ed pundjts gel(ing in ihcir lastjounulistic jabs .l thc ortgo'
ing prcsideDt. They recalled hori 23 v.ars ago, on Jul) 6th 1986, thc flitLre President accede.l i. li<
$'iles plcas aDd voNed rever to drink agrin aftcr a particula.ly wjld 4olh birthday alcohol bnrge at lhc
tsrcad'noor Hotcl ir Colorado Springs. llis legcndart cpjsode $.as pa.l ol t|c siorl of hoi! a fonner al
coholic slirt chas.r sailed oDthe wings ol rcligious fcNo r ard Irublic sobrict] right irto tlie [Jhite
Ilouse, briniaingold fashioned abstnieDce back into fashion. Despite tsusbs fresidcniial shortcon
ings rvith regards to thc cconoml and Imq, most ofhis fans remember hnn ior his nnabashcd Pusli
for nDrrl tenp€rarce especially in the realn of serual abstincncc under his ad.li.ishatioD.statc
tirndins for such pros.immes srei{ and a $15 billion anti All)S lrosrarnnc ilrs launcled in Africa
UnsDl'l)risnrgly, this di.l Dot malte him many fricnds among cerlain cn clcs. Gcnerulh, Pushi !, te.r
lerance docs not exn you great press. The labcls i{e srddle on the puritrnical arc mostl) unilalte.i.g:
!rudes. Victorian, Pharisees. mirce roolhed, tight']aced, wetblinkels, tartl loopcrs, rD.L tlie lilie.

BROADERPERSPECIIVES thesevenvirtues ssLre

When Hollvood released ihe film "The 4() Year OldVirsin", fei' peoplc needed to be told ihat it sas Dot
goingtobc a noving drama about beatific abstinencebuta! all-oul comedyhish or niockerr"
Temperance
We adore those who live the suNrlative life bis, bisser, is moderation in
biggesU rich, ncher, richesti fast, fastcr, fastest. 'Ihrough the hrllucinogenic 196os, freeloving 197os,
the things that
the sreed ftretled 198os ard rave parqnns 199os, mant enrbraccd a hedonistic veNion ofthe carpe diem
impemtive: seize tle day by feasting, shoppins, bed-hopping and cocanre-sDorting like thcE is no tomor
are good and
rowl Bettcr to live fast, die youns aDd leave the bestlookins corpse than die slorvly ofvirtuous bo.edom total abstilencc
from the things
Brtwehavcwitnessedthe decimationMeckedbyAIDS on seialbed hoppe$ and their innocenr ]Ertne$, that arc foul.
theplagueofmo$idobesity, onetoomanybeatrtifulyouDgstars d)'ing from substance abuse and toolong a
trail ofruined families broken on the altar of addiction. l-or a littlc while, we envied thc cxcessive lives ofDom
Pcrignon quaflingbankers buting lluropean castles, crates offoie gras and an a.my ofmistrcsses Btrtthereis
nothins quite like a devastatins worldwide economic nieltdown to hclp us all see lhatbehind manv an
Emperor's expensive New Clothes is a shan. The naked trtrtli stands beforeus: we are in tedble sliape
and lrhat we ihought was €vert thing was actually nothing. 4r.939 i8981

DFMANDABROADERPERSPECT]VE ]I
So while ovcrindulgcnce, oveNpendnig and overdosing continue to mark ihe new nrillcnnium, thcre has
beenan inte resting ba.klash cmcryiDgfromthe mess ofourpaste\cesses. Ihe posl nrillen nium ycars arc
seeingaslowbu!sieadyrcsurscnccofintcrcstiDasimplelifeofrbstnlerce.eliBiouslyli'elledorotber\Tc.
An excessive 1o,"'r

The former make rs

\ P,-it R"\olurr^, . 8 i, ng B-iL|J rn 1..',;-1.'rl qm r:.
'l
gtanorous Puitv balls, fathers dance \riih dauithterls after promising to protect then from a pinp cul and judgmental e p
ture ihat prcssurises louDg \eomen to become sexually active, teenagers don chastity rings and chastit)
coulurc emblazoncd i{ith slosaDs like "l'n a Lady in Waiting'or "Virginivl.ane: Exit Whcn }Iarried",
and high schools hcld pcp mllics where teens '
'::
would signvi.siniry pl.dscs. I'IcanNhile, in the i l
non-relisious households ofAme.ica and Eurorc, i

a knld of sreen hspi.ed ascel ism was lindins sup

t^r ,'i r'ts r''/ \, ll r. , lr L lr LF. r'r", u l nF

edse to swis organic jlices aDd mountrin spring
$ater rat|er than cockiails. Carlo PetiDa s popu-
lar Slo$ Food ltoverncnt urgcd all hunaD benigs
., .a.' r' L l p l-up p,rcu-."r . .\1 . ."\n' r, d i
nl srnall sips o{ good wine and sloi{ bitcs oflocal
produce as opposed to vulgar boozing and gorg
ing. Dccrcasing one's carbon footprint becime a
hshionablc catch fhmse: maDy gave up their
Slrys, cncrs]-coDsumiDg household
gas gLrzzling
equiunenl. meatv dicts, plasiic bags, imported
foods md shoppins sfluscs for sirnrlcr, eveD mo-

All thc abolc drolld not be nl\ed up e,ith lhe lu

naric fingc ofthc abstiDence movement thrt call
lor membos to rcnouncc a rpisiDg array of
rnJ|d , ' plp .r".ll' Jf'r,,.s'.!i ,b.r'. 1-i-
co!IeC ro^4. l- , ' rrdic" r. c"'-
ics dmw their inspiraLion iorn extrcmists of yor
likc Silester crahan whose diatrjbes asahst
wlitc br.ad, neat, spices, butter and milk i{ere
so nrflammaton'that $'hen he atternpted to spenk
,,. Ho,ror r', 8.i/, I'r.,, r' .'1.1 b.'I " lr Jr
ened to .iot. Grahan prcroscd a sparse lifesble
offr€quent shos'ers and bland, unscasoned !e-
gan meals because he belieled anrrhins.lsc noE
cxcjiiDg{oukl stiniulate one to go down a slippery
slopc of inpurc thorghts, f.equent Dasturbalion
and of cou$c, insa 1J anci blinciDess.

The spiril of tbc ncw abstirence movenents woukl be besl embodi.d in thc Alcoliol-
IMAGECREDIT
ics Anon)mous (AA) tNclvc stcf prosranne besun in 1934 b) tsill Wilson (a $'omJi,-
ins, rcid{.opping, chain snoker who ruincd a promisins Wall street caree. because of his
alcoholism] th{t has since elohed into a 2 nillion mernbcr stroDs, slobal netwo.k ofsupport g.oops as
sisting DcoDle in thejr fight against all sorts ol substance abusc fiorn narcotics to food.

BROADERPERSPECTIVES thesevenvlt!es ss!e

,ire of pleasure is just as destructive as an excessive denial of pleasure.
i:syou into a wanton wastrel; the latter turns you into the most unpleasant
f,goist whose m otto is"Every martyrfor himself and may the best martyr rtin" .

A-A Members are not expected to live as saintly ascetics for key to A,{ s philosophy also is the mutral ad-
mission of powerlessness in the face of temptation and the humility to ask for help from God aDd {o r sxp-
port to go on from fellow travellers on the road to temperancc. -dA. also acknowledges that not all drinkers
are alcoholics and only those who are should apply total abstinence into their lives.

The battle to save the world does not hinse on a black and white choice between hedonism orasceticisn. And also that
An excessive love ofpleasure is just as desinctive as an excessive denial ofpleasure. The fotmer nakes
you into a Nanton wastrelj the latter turns you into the nost unpleasant andjudgmental egoisi Nhose
every man should
motio is 'Every martlr for himself and may the b€st maltr win". eat and drink, and
enjoy the good of
True temperance is about moderation rather than a Sylvester all his labour, it is
cnhamlike extrenisn. True iemperance is done out oflove foryourconmunityardforyoursurround
the gift of God.
ings. Ii is not done out ofan inflated sense of oDe's holiness. If you abstain l'rorn drink to ihe point that
you scorn anyone who iouches a drop or if you flat out refiise sex io your poor depdved spouse, you are
probably just as s ilv of spreading evil and unhappiness in tlie world as the worst hedonist. Alcohol is
not in itself evil, quaffins it lil(e water and without care about how it changes you into an abusive mon-
ster is. Sex is noi in itself evil either btrt inflicting your ragins hotnones outside the conlines ofmarriase
on prostitutes, innoceni chitdren or somebody else s wife is.

Thinss fal1 apart in our world when we nake pleasure the be all and end all of our livcs and niss
the hisher point of why we were nade to be creatures who can understand and appreciate
pleasure. considerthis:we couldverywell have beenbom as anoebas without pleas
ure receptors ortastebuds or sensitive skin. Consider alsothis curious fact that
out ofall creatur€s in the animal kingdom, only human beinss wct€ created
to have sex {or more than just procreation purposes but for pleasurc as
wel]. Apparently, w€ human beings arc created to sit a little lower than
ilre ansels and yet much higher than ihe beasts. our lives were nev€r . ,-
meant to be lived as an orgy of self graiification. That we possess the
mental, physical and emotionaldepth thatenables usto dperience such
an o,lraordinary diversity of pleasures is a sign that we are feaffuly and
wonderfully made for noble pulposes.

So yes, feel free to eat up ljfe in aI its delicious slorf. And yes, live abun
dantly and happily as if each day is your last. But while you do, remember
thai to ihose who hale been given nuch, much is dpected of them.

Livenotjustto mdimise your own pleasure,live to nake other people's

livesjust as pleasurable as well. This is a truth that Ceorge w' Bush
himself might gladly dnnk a pisco sorr to. Iltt

or"o*oor*ooor*rr^rruaa,ua,,
fiF!!
 There are many modern ways of doing tradilional
Modern philanthropy: tliings,and charilyisnoexccption.Inrecenttears,
.h- ' un'mon pra' ricp ol .h" lbJul ohil 'lrhru,'\
Agold rush of giving
- .rp!uri nt hJrirdbl.o-_or I'r"li or".'rrs".i 'n.
BYCHARISIAONG with one-off donations while not actrally gettiDg
directly involved in the work of the orsaDisatioD
has evolved into a new kiDd ofphilanthropy thai
is saining momenhm and recognitioD- Today's philanthrc,py is d ven
morebypersonalengrgementandpaficipationonthepartofthedonor
or philanthropist, and can nianiLst itself in a smorsasborct of u qre
approaches. One palpable chanderistic of this new naDrer of philan
thropy is how notable namcs and celebrities 1.om certain nrdustries are
ihc ones at the head of the trend and interestingl) enough, s|akins rp
t}e climatc of plilanthropy in a good way.

Asa matteroffact, mode.n philanthrcpy is not entirely a new tbrm asfccts ofit have always been
around. Foundation philanthropy has been larsely defined by three bis names - Rockefeller, Carn
egie and Ford - for the greater part olthe last ccntury. While both philantbropic structures focus
oD and tackle specific problens, foundation philanihropy maniy consisted oilarsc orsanisations
with bis buck to thron around. Modern philanthropyh for anyone t{lio $'ants to do theif pat for
ihc world. Philanthropy is no lonserjust a cortributior to a dcscNins charitable
orgaDisation for tr\exemption purposes; ithas become a toolthat an]'man can
use to chaDge the world.

The Bill and MelindaGates FotrDdation (B&MGF) is undoubtedly one ol

theleadersin nodern philanthropy. with their mammoth endoment
and bis name endorsements, BjI and Melinda Gates arc makjDs
$ aves as ihey travel liom Ali ica io Asia, doiDg everv'lhing fi orn t4'ing
to eradicate malalia to educatins sex lvorkeN. B&MGIs effods arc
to peryetuate the belief that all lives have equal value'. ts&MCF is
interested in slobal health and education issues aDd tlie eliminalion
of poverty, and has sileD out many grants and donations directed at
nipp g these problerns in the butt.

M ake Porcrht Histo.a sktn

.IFMANDA BROADER PERSPECT]VE

F$
'D:stF
\!' 'rO$b
(t%'z
 .sPe.nrl ..lirr'on Ben & Jd"Js lauov nl suPPatt aJ
the Make Paurt! Hi.tor! nlauetrentb lNr"catrP.ivn

This passion for charse that burns jn BiI and Melinda Gates is the result of talkins to Bono, U2
rccker and haldcore aciivist for Africa, forjust three ninutes. These three good Samaritans, who
were nameil TIMES Persons ofthe Year in 2oo5, have received immense nedia attention and
many awards for their philanthropic works. PhilanthroPy suddenly has become a lot morc attractive
and meaninsful, and nore andDorepeople arenoticins and buyjns into their philosophics.

Modern philanthropy is exactly this: investing time and c{fort in a cause that onefeels stronglv abo t
and channelling help and expertise h those directions. The most imporiant effcct of this revolution
in fhilarthropy is howit soes beyond instances ofimpulsive givins, and encourases sustain€d givinB
over timc. Instead ol obligation, the <lonor personally believes jn thc cause that he is donatirg to and
sincerely wants to do as much as he can till he wiinesses the ftuition of lis siving As OpEh winfrev
says, I don't think you ever siop givins. I reatly don'i. I think it s an on-going Process Andit'snotjust
about being able to wite a check. It's beins able to touch somebody s lif€."

A whole newindustry centred on giving philanthropy wotkshoPs, coaches and the like has
suddenlycome into existcDce to cater to this new gold rush ofgivirs This indushfisfocused
on helpins potential philanihropists narrow in oD what they genuinely care aboui, suidins
them as io how best they can channeltheir nnances and time towards contribotiDgto char-
i1t'. Phitanthropic coaches go even turtherr they $cate philanthropic mission statemenis for
clients based on the kind ofchaDsc they are passionate about seeins in the leorld, and help
them to plan tbeir sivins, both in node and nagnitude

As a rcsult, more and morepeople are Settnrg themselves involvcd in direct seMce with their
selected chaitable causes.In a recently conducted suNey ofanon)mous wealthv individu-
als in Ameica, nearly all the rcspotrdents sajd that they had volunieered their own Pe$onal
time and effort. As donors become nore concerned about the kind of lesacv thev are leavins
belind, the impact oftheir philanthropy is evolving into something more significant Sitting
likc a fis rehead on the board of some charitable organisation because thev were one of the
biggest donors does not constitlte proper and meaningful Philanthropy an]morei getting
their hands dirtv makes all the difference.

On top of ihe conventionai nethods of philanihropy,

there are others who have decided to tread doM paths less travelled Google lnc. has set
up coosle.org, thc company s charitable wing. Tbeir cause? Climat€ chanse, poverry and
discase. The differenccintheirmethod ofphilanihlopy is that Googie orgis a for-profit com
pany. This status, according to Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, will ailolv them
IN4AGECREDIT to explore nore varied options with regards to the kind of projccts the companv can enbark
on. tseins rcsults oriented, as any self respeciins profit seekins conpanyshould be, will also
Scenes Iroin the Liuc I
cance't hekl b!]
the Make Pouarit History comPoignars mean better results for the ploblems they s'ant to fl\' For now, thev have plans to create a
wonker, nk.o-h*o,-.-r hybrid car enginc that is super tuel efficient andjDst a$'esome, the Goosle wav.

As fast as the idea olnodern philanthropyis catching on, many new p.ivate clEnties are springins up all over the slobe in a bid io
.io their part for a suffedns world. The conmon thread runnins througl each of thcse charities is how they are all suided by a pas
sion insiite their hearts lor othcrs who are less fortunate, or less capable. Because of these changing notivations and lhe consequent
impacttheyhave, modern philanthropy is bringing theworldtoSetherfor a common purpose positive change. Imagine if there was
a phitanthropic orsa sation for evcry problem in rhc world, no matter how big or snall - the world would becone a happier
place

while this current econonic doMturn will pose cliallenges to sivins, with wealihy conpanies and individuais hit hard, philanthropy
is somerhing tliat the world neeils and cannoi cut back on.Its prcsence tuels hopc, and hope is whai keeps the poor, thc sick, and the
lost livins an.l breathinq, clnrsiDs oDto lile, knowins that the future is bight and tutl of amazing possibilities lftt

DEMAND ABROADER PERSPECTIVE

The powerof THERE IS ACTUALLY\'ERY LITTLE NEED FOR FORTITUDE THESE DAYS- THAT IS, IF YOU CHOOSE
to deline livins the same way nost people do- The\?ical hedonist today rarely aspi.es to an]1hing larger
perseverance or higher than settling for what feeis good". It sounds terdble when we phrase it that way but if we take
a good look ar the self serving motivations o{many careerists today, the expedient solutions corporations

BYTONGYEE and governments find, and the convenient breakdown of mariages, families, schools and religion alike
ree will know it is Dot far from the tmth. Possessing fortitude neans that we exercise the courage to press
oD for a purpose that se es the comnoD good, despite the pain or adlersity that we expeience in dnving
this goal to coDfletion. But why sutrer when we don'i need to?

Modern societies have come to accepl expediency, relativity and cynicism as necessary ways o{ life.
We €xcuse each other when our friends exclain that 'they cannot take it anymore', even though we
know they can and that it is probably worth it if they do. Yet, our aversion to pain and incon\rnicnc
do not permit us to practise age-old traditions of fortitrde to atry perceivable effect. UndeNtaDdabiy,
the rctums otr such a pEcticc arc noi apparent enough for us to recognise as not enough people per
scvcre in our collcctive consciousness. What kind oflife, or beliei then requnes us to bave fortitude?

] ,*ooor* or*rora-,ura rhesevenvirrues ssue

When creenpeace besan its lirst few envircnnental lobbies in the 197os, a tjne wav before the current
global warning debate emergeal, most pcople brushed then aside as mere leftist idealists who were rrit-
ing an dl.-m rhar had r o reJl "onsPquPr ce lor thr
human race. A few controversial stunts later, in an
attempt to draw media attenhon to themselves,
Possessing lortitude means that we exercise the
Greenpeace earned thenselves the notonety ofbe courage to press on for a purpose that serves
ins rcnegades, anti-establishneni and law-break
that Greenpeace
the commongood, despite the pain or adversity
ers. Today, no one doubts the fact
wa. Indepd / pioneFr il .nda) s ldr more sophrsri- that we experience in driving this goal to com-
cated environmental lobbyi a very similar story to
pletion. But why suffer when we don't need to?
what Amnesty International has done for human
rishts. Th€seNGoswere driven bypeople who en-
visjoned a greater sood and despite the edly persecution they faced, thev persevered and successtullv
iniiiated positive change for the environment and human ghts, two areas that are ofvital importance to
rhe continued survival of civilisation today-

DEMANO ABROADER PERSPECTIVE

i : itl l'-
fi- ll i:
-:l -'t i:l
F.; '

l--'r I EE qfi
n n !'t ll1
il rlLl L:] ld

N4AGECREDIT

adrrrud., r,r. ln,r. sn,

!Ld,l i. i\r.!r |rr/r rrilh jtl
"_

r 1r!. nr rhL/rd.lqmrnd
lrada. r, rrr.,!.,ri.!.!rru.
The thing ihat separates pure emotion from virtue is the notive for the choices we make. Perseverance
alone does not quali& as pnctisins foftitude s perseverance can be as self seNins as atry other emo-
tion or act o{ wi]l Meaningtul hunan life is about a quest for the supreme good. For it to be recosnised
as a virtue, the enactment of fortitude should be for ihe puryose of showing love for our fellow nan, the
stenstlenins of our communities or as Greenpeace has defined it, the prot€ction of our planei so our de-
scendants can live a better life. Fortitude deser.r'es admiration as it means acting in courage for the benefit
of others. Consideins the thanldess and often times dangerous work NGOS do to advdce agendas for
the common good, they would epitonise nodem fortitude at work this is very much an example we all

wlat then of the freedom fighter or even tenorisi? CD we indeed under these contexts describe Al Qaeda
as displayins fortitude? If we listened to Bin Laden's propasanda we wodd know that he himseu de
scribes their orsanisatiorl as possessing great fortitude, never crumblins u er the attack of enemy fire
and lighting to release themselves from the oppression under westem resnnes. Do these organisations
indeed strive for the conmon sood? This consideration brings a fascinating slantto our unde6tandins of
fortitude and ihe purposes ihai dnve it. Surely, slobalisation has done more than just intesrated markets.
It has i eed integrated interests as well and therefore the "common good" needs to be redefined, ertend-
insto a far broade. and n1ore inclusive understand'
ins than perhaps the pre cold-war or nationalist era.
We are still walkins the fine line between universal
ideas ofbrotherhood, equativ and shared resources Correcting the lifestyles
versus the need for sovereisnty or parochialism.
Therefore fre€don fighters, although once justifred and mechanics of how we
in fishting for the common localised good, can no
lonser ciaim to do so as local interests invariably
have been living over the
integralewlh irlp_nalional nler.Js. IhFlFhasin past centuries will hurt and
deed emerged a slobal consensus that today's level
of integration unifies ihe soals we strive for for cost us. Fortitude means
rich or for poor. for better or for worse.
that we have the courage
@@q@*"
neaninstul practice of fortitude today therefore re-
bywhichtobearthispain,
quires us to firsi accept the emerging definition of
to moderate the fear and
the "common good". Detractors might still call for aversion we have ofchange,
protectionism and even isoiationism, but despite
nunerous global food scares, cross-border terorist and to brave the adversi-
attacks, global financial contagions and increased
nobility of intemational uiminal networks. we are
ty that is to come. This is
still movins closer tosether as a global conmunity. worth it for the global good.
Recognising ihai means our purpose for persever
ing should be for the "slobal sood", not just those
of peopl€ closest to us. Nert, we need to ledn that
fortitude as a virtue will define our way of life for at least the next century. Correcting tLe lifesttles and
mechanics ofhow we have been livins over the psi centunes will hurt and cist us. Fon:itude means that
we have the courag€ by which to bear this pain. to moderate ihe fear and aversion we have of chanse, and
to brave the adversity that is to come. This is worth it for the slobal sood.

On a personal level, fortitude also means that riters like myself should continue to Mite these words,
to remind people that iakins ihe road less travelled is possible and indeed wodh it. Not so much for
ourselves, but reciprocatly for the communities that will b€nefit from our desire to do sood for all. Adnit-
tedlx these personal opinions wi iDvite accusations of idealism, or foolishness, of empty rheiodc and
hoary ideals; accusations that are by no means easy io swallow You see, contrary to what th€ hedonist
of today wants io believe, life is not about feeling good, nor is ii about doing good. In truth, there will be
times vhen each person, incl dhg mysell will not feel like doins eiiher. But virtues like fortitude remain
retevant today b€cause they help us look to things larger and higher than ourselves- And that is what every
human being today needs. l(l!

DFMAND A BROADER PERSPECTIVE 1,,

 :l
I

I
1

I
i€!-:1- .t

;"ffi
tirl
-f'- !'-,fi

BROADER PERSPECT VES the seven v rtues issue

 JUS
When the quality of justice ONE FT\CT ABOUI' THE WORI,D THAT IS
unilersally agreed upon is that crime is prcsent
is not strained but falleth as in cvcry continent, couDtry and city. Crime
il, ca. omu drlafhre. It maI be rlaiting in the
the gentle rain of heaven. shado$,s of a dark alcy or come fron the peF
;l1l s.rn standing behird you in a baDk- Even Ari-
BYXUYUQIN arctica has reqLrired police marshals sincc
1989- Despite haNher punishments and deter
rents, and better and nrorc sophisticated polichg nrethods, crime contin
ues to be a real scourge that destrols conmunities, fanilies and people.

Why is c ne still ranpant around tl e i'orld? Thc justice slstem needs a se.i-
ous rc-examiniDs. lt seems a black and white approach ofjusi lockins cfini-
nals Dp and buildnrs nore and mo.e pdsons js not a long term soluiion for
society. Siudies have shoM that a larye percentage of criminals are rcpeat
offende$.'L!o separate U.S. studics which spanned a decade shorved similar
trends: alnost 50% ofinmates released frcn prison werc .e-convicted within
threerars.Thisbelies the sorryfactthai mostc minalsfallbackintothesame
circumstances the]'wcrc iD before incarceration and tend to commit crimes again. Ex'otrenders fiDd huge
barjers when altenrpting to iniegratc back iDto socieiy. A lack of opportunity, gu idance and concent makcs
for desperate circumstances. Hence, these indn'iduals often return to a life ofcrilne to surrive. Our legal
system that is meant to senejustice is also ironically a part of the licious clcle trapping people in crime.

DEMANDA BROADER PERSPECTIVE 23

 eove rmeDts and societics realise
r"J piffi-l;LL'"n l' -""-\ - d' r rured'carr 'rin r'/l' Pc urr'lF
"'i in
Statue of Justice that oflen apPears on couft bdldings: slie wiclds a sword
one hanil. rcady to Dunish thc wicked, ]€t, the pair olscales in herotherhard
s'gDifies thatfindingabalance is equallvimporiant Pain and rehibution does
not always puifu thc soul" and balancc caD be found throush nrercv Lesal
instilutioN are bc-
refomled to rclLect this idea, an.i carnpaigns as well as communill' sLrppoft are energing to
ing
providc rchabilitation for offenders These programmes prolide suppoft rnd sufeNision after in
crrceration, giving otrendcN achance atn newlife. Justice is a \irtue that is oftenmisunde$tood
with too man) peoplefoctrsing only on People Setting 'what thevdeservc"- Beyondthe sword
of
judsment descendinsuPon thc suilty,justice is also about mercv- As more sovernments and so-
cieties realisethis, a mo.e enlishtened form ofjustice navjust be the kev to salins
the wo d

As part of tlis molenent of reforn, Prisons are statting to Plav an eapandcd mie
as
pro
they stalt io focus on rehabilitating otrenders Educational opfortunitics and work
granmes arc now beconing part ofprison lile along with counsclling and ensurins that
p.isone," t'aue in terns offamilv or a iob The govemment also plavs a
" "oppon "ystem goaernment
pan ir providing oppoftunilies for oFende* aftcr ircarccmtion The Sjngapo'ean
and campaiSn for the commu-
larnched the Ycllow Ribbon Projeci in 2oo4 to raise awareness
nity to accept ex-offendcrs- lls motto, to "unlock ihe secoDd prison", identifies ho$'offenders
find themselves locked out of socictv when thev arc released Furthcnnore' sove'nmcrts open
policy naking aveDues for organisations that represent offenders OAR'S or Offendcr's Aid
.n{l Rehabilitation Sen'ices, an orsanisation based in South Australia, is reprcsented in gov
ernnental committees anil has a govcrnor of state as its pahoD With tlis
position to influ_
ence ilecision-naking, oARS tackles issues such as housing and enplo)ment for
convicts af-
tclincarccration.Tlrisshowshowgovernnentsarercalisingiheneedtostopperceivingp.isoncrs
as dcad weights on society and instead focus on how besi to rehabilitate then so that lhev can con-
There is a higher rribnte. Thus. a balance is struck: justice is iempercd with mercv,iudgment balanced bv rehabilit'tion
court than coults
ofjustice and Beyonitthe laslnal<ers andpdson nanagement, societv also Plavs

that is thc court uuET,s",o"."".r''"*,ingj"..i."'Whiltthercares!il]peoplewhotargetexoffenders,haraSSin8then

a prolitemtion oflolunteeratrd
and drivingthem out oftheir neishbourhoods orjobs, thcre has also been
ofconscience. fron overseas
non-prolit orsanisations foundcdto provide suppoft for offenders These offer everl'tling
to pre emptive drug detoxilication, often working in partnership with ptisons ln London'
rehabilitaton
,.PrisoneNAbroad',servesBritonswho'!ercincarceratedovcrseaswhileotheroqanisationssuc]r,slhe
It supercedes
Second Chance programme pursue a pre empiive strateg,' of weanjng iDmatcs
of drug dePend'n'* in
all other courts. inmates
prisons wiih reduced recidivism mtes, from 70% to 10% Manv volunte€rs have sought to engage
attempi to teach lalues or methodolo&v to nanage life
with inspnaiional guides and programmes which
AmultitrLdeofprosranmesfronCriminonwhichisinfhencedbvRoDL Hubba ,thefounderofscientolosv'

J ,*o oor* ,.rror.-,u * thesevenvirtuesissue

 to Ch siian pstahothe.apy have been practised ni helpinB innraics make a clean break with thc last PORTLA
Iven Transccndcntal MeditatiorrtTNl), a rcliSion that the Beatles practiccd, t{as .esearched lo lind out if And earthly
it could inspire irnnates. Despite dillerirg rneihods, tliese methodologies had a sinilar aim, to inculcaic power doth thcn
lahes opposing crim€ and to oeate a basis lbr ex offcnde$ to re_enter sociew Many in society under
show likest God's
staDi! that ilithout mercy, cnmc $'ill perPetuate andiustice is not seNed. Thus troeiusticc cannot e\clude
a hclpiDshand extended to thosc who have fallen by thewaysidc. When mercy
seasons justice.
Of course not all is rosyandthere arese ous clulenges to achieving a siaie
where jusiice teDpered with mercy reigns supreme. People
Datmlb, fear and are prejudiced towards those sho commit
oime- -^s aresult, their aciions may range from a lacl oftrust
io cxcessive violence to'far ds thcsc nldividtrals. Remember the
consiant nagsing from parents to bc 1vary of spiciousslran
gers, or ofihe "crooks and crimnrals lutkins" in the streets?
lnnate suspicion is palt ofthe homan conditioD and while it
nat, help personal safety, it als.r hinders empathy wiih e\-of
fcndeN, causing us to only sce the cdme and not the pcNon.
In ccftain parts ofthe wor'ld, thc culhre ofrevenge continucs
tohold swar underthe guise ofrelisious larv. An eye 1br an eye
is t|e rulc of the day and it is often hcjshtened by violence to
deter and cducate the public. r'he penalty for thieves in lran is
still the amputation oflimbs and stoning, behcading, lashing,
hansing and being shoi arc still consideredjust punishnents
insome countries, often carricd out publicly. No one issparcd
and cveD children as youns as fourleen are execLrted for of
Iences. In the spirii ofjuslice as they interyret it, relatives of
victins are given the "p.iviLege ' of carrying ort tlie punishments so that the cycle ofreverge h complete
Ablinkered inieryreiation ofadicles offaiih thus disresards nercy, choosins abloodprice instead. Thcse Thoughjustice
attitules permeaie cultures andcause transgressors and eventhen lamilies tobc naryinalized, li\ing lifc
be thy plea,
onthefinges ofsociety. -ds such,justice cannot provide the mercy it espouses ifpeoplc do not understand
and overcone thei. baser emotions to$'ards offenders or if ihey continue to practice ihcir religions in
considcr this,
ways that seNe revenge mtherthan mercy. That, in thc
course ofjustice,
'Ihere seem to be insurm.runtable odds $'hen oretries to tackle c me. A\iciotrs cycle ol oife.ders retun'
none ofus
ins t.r crime becausc they e\pe.ience the same Metched circumstances in thcir lives goes a lons sJ\ ir1
Should see
na}jng cdme pervasivc. However, governments and comntrnities alilie are iaking neasures lhal mav
chanse tlis. As embodiedbyihe Statue ofJustice, a balancc Deeds to be struckforjusiiceto Prevail. lhe salvation.
solution to crime lies nol in damningou.fellowman, but in opcning the x ay to lile lived \iihout crime We
can all be herces anct save the world by takins the firsl slep in believins iD the virrue called justice altt
Act l sccne 1
'"Ite,[a€,.hnnt o/ir.ni.e"
t/iilndn Sftdlespeo re,
En9l6i d.dfralrst&!oer
(is61-16t6)

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECT VE 2\
IMAGECREDITS (OVERLEAF)

rle/il F.ee lillrs h ?bkvo, Kalandm}as

*Darinka'
icentr.J r?e(tiho the h,neless in Mont?al
(risho Srrcct si9n, Iohlo, Kalanilrakas

BROADERPERSPECTIVES the seven vr tuesrss!e

KINDNESS OI' AI,I, THE VIRTUES- {NDNTSS JS PROBABLY THE
A revolution forthe ulr rhJl n'or' \, n.- r-^n . puur p rbl:. rFl l ' r^ car,al 8 ,.
,Iust before being led o1T to the mertal iDslilutior, Blanche
people, bythe people
dnnois rhe hroken Southcrn belle lieroiDe ot lennessee
BYSHIAO-YIN KUIK Williams' stage-and screer classic A,SheercarNontd,i:si"
utters, l hale always depended on ihekiDdness ofstrangers.'
ln the battle bct$ccD old civilitl and new worldbrutish-
'!a.kl
ncss fairted b)' the play, the rrorld of Blanche .tuBois lost.

Kirdness souDds wimp)' and soli, lile a that is not impossible to

attajn. a mundane quality that eleryone some$'hat ctPable ol e\
is
hibiting il lher wantcd io. ,\t face value, Kindncss sinply does not
resonate with power like Justicc Dor possess the holy s€ightincss of that clas
siciheolosical trio, riaith. Hope and Lovc. Ut ike Ioditude and TernfcraDce,
you don't feel like you have lo clnnb somc iNu.mountable moral mouniain
to achievc kindress. As the old S\redish sa,\'ins soes rather Ltnknrdl! ai
that -'Yes, he's kind, bur so are cows hthc field." E €n Lady Macbetb nruscdtatllv about he. husband s
ability to achieve his prophesied lot in life, Yct do I fear thy nature. [t is too tuil ofihe milk ofhuman
kindness."

Burkindn€ss is mismderstood. ure tend to dcccivc ou6elves rbout ho$'kind wc arc

and rcftrse to admit that Iindness is b"icaly tlie liNt and most conlcnicnt casralq during our d.ilystir-
mishes wiih life. it is east to act as a kind Frson wlieD evetvrhing is all roscs aDdsunshine but $e allknow
hownuch harderit is to summon up civilit! onccwailingbabies, queueiurnpos, iailsaters aDd n e wail
ers disruptyour lifc. Given even these lfivial sourccs of conflict, most olus strugglc wiih exhibiting lhis
so-called wLissy traii. Thcre is trtre innate ldndness that draNs f.on a.leep we]i ofgracc aDd then tliere
is kindness that only exists whcn circunstances are conve.ient and pleasant.l\is is a crtrcial diffcrence
to undeNiatrd because so olien thc lvorld is uDpleasant and doing good for othe.s is olten inconvcnicnt.

DEIVANDABROADERPERSPECT VE ?7
 the
of gmce uniler fire It is the verv trait that separates
In essence. true kindness is a sort ot mercv, a manifestaiion without pause
pharisees in our societies - the ability to show generositv to the most undeseNing
samaritans from the ofeNY - atrait
catechisn' kindness is in fact seen as the poiar opposite
or expectation ofrewa Accoralingto Catholic
thatunfortunate]ydefinesmostotoulcurrenteconomiesandsocielies'En\ymakesalofusoperateftomaparadigm
the h8es and ihe have-nots On the other
of one-upmanship, suchthat lde celebrate and perDeruate the gap betlveen
equalitv beb{een alt' erlending
il, *;;om;- " *"tetv constructed arounithe rdea of kindness $orksnotto$deserve
drds
it
"'
ii" i""-"*, *.-"ration and equal rishts' speciallv to those who do
"o
but a
out of simplistic idealisation of the "goodness of mankind"
truly kind society works towarils closing ihe gaP noi
a
A
i.,.lr".""ri',,i...r'""l"'foIihegraceofGod,theregoI..'Youer1endkind.*:-!-_
t-** *" *"t the onlv reason whv vou can' must and should
"""t "*ar€ many unsung
isthat you are"^
only where vou are due to the kindness of manv'
life and breath'
l"r*"i t- lr" includins the invjsible God who save vou

So now, there is a new awakening to the fact that

ffi;ffi;:iblp -olur:on,o rhc $or'ds problem' - rr needs

heart' at ihe grassroots
to come straight from th€ grounil, straight from the
levet o{ schools' kitchens and omce desks
There is a growing understanding that as
long as ordinary people retuse to exhbit
ihe
senuire kjndness in iheir dailv walk,
change we hope to see in this world wil
never happen in anv sustainable manner'

Early adopters of the kindness revolution

know ihai susiainable change is not about
waitins {or sovernmetrts to be kind bv na-
ture. states are ponderous machjnes chained
by bnreauciacy and are stol'r to reaci Nor wil
chanse come from waitins for
A truly kind societYworks tords
r" h..n lo bP kindFr - Lne) arc qlicl"r' wealtl'rer' ard nore
""--.tlon" rno- o-e.ni.ed thd dnl othPr socru instilurion dround bul alF a simplistic idealisation of tti'go
*",,ir. ana
i.una ty d'"i. o""rpo*".lng want to maxrmise prolit The answer is simplv
wherever thev de at' humble realisation that "but 1 thr
in indiviiuals, radicallv choosins to nudure kirdness
whatever the cost may be: personal, economic or
c"i'l
unplanned new movement hale€mersed Around them
Some inspirins and enraordinary flas-beders of this diverse'
kindness'
.rff, **-t .f foltowers who thirst for oppoftunities to live a life oriented around
" "p."*it"t
and
seminary graduate tumed prominent etivisr for non-violence
There is Shde Claiborne, a quirtf' twentv someihing haqi families
poor' From dressirig the wounds of tepers with Mother Teresa to visitins
redistnbution of resources to the
redistribute wealtb' claiborne now leads a srowins New
O.-O-* . Uunping $ro,ooo on walliueet to
"O"i "iot
MonasticismmovemenithrcughhisPotterstreetconmunitygroupwherememberschoosetoahandontheircomfort
i""" _.-n . ,,rng and sharins their resources amons the poor that they wish to seFe.
"ti" ".a
who were not c!n-
Then there are the enterpdsing do gooders lik€
Mait and Jessj@ Flannerv' co founders of Kiva ors
people thev
it logisticallv easier for tens of thousands to be kind to
tent to just extend kinilness thev watrted to male resedcher' thev
have never net before. Even while Matt was
still a co,"iutu. prosrarn-er .",i .lessi€a a microliMm€
individuals to lend diectlv to enter-
i"r"t"o"J"" *"nua o*, person-to person microlending website that empowers
ill;"rri"lr",.'",*+@l^pin8$orldrhrouahKivarhekrndne*or'rrang'rshaslir"rdlrvhad'$odwideimna't' chdnel
larsFsl and mo'r re\pFcrcd mrcronnrr'p tacihlarors
Lrownq'r,m a snarlbedtoom p.oi."r to on" or rie "orld '
lrom ll'P pockFr: ol lie ha\es ro the hdvP-nolc in
too8
i"*, """',So*:.;rf
'-

I RRoanFRPERSPECTIvES thes€venvntuesrssue
 Then there are th€ iiny revol tions that do noi re.lly have a particular figlre head but are doing their utmost to promote
worldwide kindness. Th€re is the Gift Revolutjon, a movement lirst organised by a clurch in Florida that has grown to
a volunteer network over 47 couDtries. Througl random, even mundane acts of sivins like cheeing up a stranser with
a free lati:e or helping to pay an overdue bill or two, the Gift Revolutionaries hope to remind people of a hisher wav and
inspire a slow-building tsunami of sreater kindness. And therc is the famous Jubilee 2ooo Movement that pressured
the G 8 to comnit $769 nillion to bilateml and multilateral debt reliei Jubilee sprang from vouth groups who were
inspired by the biblical idea of the year of Jubilee, where at the end of soen cycles of Sabbaiical vears, all who were
enslaved by debts were {reed and had their lands restored.

There are also mdical entrepren€urs who start companies ihat rewite the
mles of business. The nse of social entepreneurs and socially o ented busi-
nesses was born liom a backlash to the 199os culture of cowboy cpitalism
which rewa rded the most rapacious corporate executives with tens of millions
of dollars in stock options. The disillusioned besan lookins for alternative par-
adigms of nnning iheir businesses instead. Early leaders of this movement in
clude high-profile usual suspects like the late Anita Roddick of the Body Shop
fame and ice crcan hippie moguls Ben cohen andJerry Greenfield

You might think kind conpanies would ne€d

to have a left- ing, hippie activist vibe about
itand that banl(s, constm.tion conpanies
and r€siaurant empires cannot operate as
such. But there are many other ordinary
companies that have flown under the radar
but made a name in their imnediate com-
munities for choosins to be kind, life ser
ins, Dd accountable to connunity needs

.f ili"]llll,J,l"l1l,"":|i]i;:'-::'H.j,",*,
frds closing the gap not out and social Esponsibi,ity a

{"good.,.r, of mankind" b"t u ",ifill,t",i""j,l,* i}?",il1fil:i^::i:H"::J"::i:TffiT:::::;

'gthegraceofGod,theregol".::il;X',"i[lJ"H,|].j'":l1t-ripri*ithrairdears'ando'nun'-
I

I eo s"rlingham s book "Snall ci onts: Companies which Chose to Be Great Instea.l of Big" details out many of these
quiet corporate revolurionaries. REELL Pr€cision Manufacturing oriented their entire business around their three
founde$' vision of a company that promoted harmony between their work lives and family lives and ended up creat
ing one ofthemost denocraiically un companies in the world. Animation studio Rb'thm & Hues created alesendary
workplace with some of the best healih care beneflts for tull tiners as well as paft timers as a personal solution to the
woetul siate of American pubtic healthcat. For many of the CEOS of the conpanies Butlinsham cited, choosins to be
kind not only created for them the kind of company that they could fall in love with, kindness also brought them suc'
cess. As restaurateur Danny Meyer ofNew York's famous Union Square Hospitality Group put it, "I've made much more
moneybychoosingth€ rightihings to say noto than by choosing things to say yes to l measure jt bvthe monev I havent
lost and the quality I haven't saqificed."

The interesting thing about ihe kinilness revolution is that not many people know
about it because senuine kindness is quiei, self-etracing and thus, easily overlooked But the powerful ihing about kind-
ness is that once you have dperienced it, you never forget it. Day to day, the brazen, the bold and the beauii{ul mav often
leave the strongest impressions on us and ocr:upy our.heams the most. But cunously, at the end ofda)s, it is always tbe
peopte who have been kindest to us that we will be draM to sive the highest accolades and the deepest respect. lltt

DEMANDA BROADER PERSPECTIVE l^

Broader Perspectives is
published by School ofThought
4ZONorthBrldgeRoad#06 32,NorthBrldgeCentre,
Sinsapore 1 88727, ww.schoolof thouqht.com.sq
tel+65 63348773.fax+65 63372434

Subscription rates for 2008

$45 (1 O issues, JanuarytoOctober)
Forsubscription enquiries and back issues, email:
broaderperspectives@school-of -thought-com

the Broader Perspectives team

EDITORIN-CHIEF Elizab€th Kon

liz@school oethought.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Shiao-Y n Kuik

yin@school-of thought.com
SALES MANAGER Yee Tong
yee@school-of -tho!ght.com

CONTRIBUT]NGWRITERS

i4elissaEu, JoselinBa!,XuYuqin, JoashSzeEnLoh,

Amel aRazak,Charis a Ong

INTERNS

Sonia Kwek, KerinaLeonq

PR NTER

SOLEDISTRIBUTOR

R g ht€ous lnternationa Subscription Services,

7l UbiCrescent#05-09S ngapore40857l
tel:+546323 1833fax:+65 6323 I838
emai rmchael chung@righteous.com.sq
PRIDE

ENVY

GLLJTTONY

GREED

WRATH

LUST

SLOTH
.: .l
'v
 HERE IS A QUICK POP QUIZ: $ltlAT DO ICARUS,
It comes before a Fall. Frankenstein, Doctor Faustus and sood ole Lucif€r al1 have
in common? Every one of them notoriously crnmitted what
BYELIZABETH KON
is considered the dcadliest of all sins. the sin from which all
other sins arisc - Pride. At first glance, why does pride get the
bad press that it does? After a]l, what exactly is wons about
feelins sood about oneseuand one's acconplishmeds? This world is already
filled Nith people all too ready to bdng one another dom, nired in self dotrbt
and in desperateneed ofrole modeis- Shouldwe not do more than to pronote
and highlight more fomN of pndc?

Minority and disadvantaged groups have benelitred fron tle push io promote
a group pridc. Blacl< Pride was a novenent in the United States that was
formed to elevate the standing of a black connnunity narginaljsed by a histor)
of slavery and discrinination. Throush the celebration o{ a black heritase aDd
racial identib,, the fight for self respeci and better treaimcnt vas brought to the fore, and the besr n n I nss
of the Ci;l Rights movement built. But for every positive Black Pnde movernent, ihere is the flip sidc of a
whiie Pride that endorses white srprenacy, racisn and the KKK.

So while pride can mean a hish scnse of onet selfrvorth, unfortunately it can also spill too easily into a
damagins over-estimation of one's self lrorth. Wlile pnde n1 oDc's intellect and pride of learning ard
achievement can r€ap benefits, pride tal<en to t]le ertremes can manifest as hubris, arosance, lishrnind
ed presumpiion and vainglory. Pride was the fiNt sin ihai destroyed the calm of cod's pamdise and we
are seeing all too clearly how inflated pride is playins out similarly on today's world stase. Too hish an
opinion of the rightness and pre-eDincnc€ ofone's nation, tribe ard etluici\' is r€sponsible for many of
the blockages in global cooperation and tbr the materialisation of trouble spots h modem times. when
nations and peoples believe wholly only in the veracity aDd superionty oftheir worth, they tend to remove
tlienselves liom any form ofgoverning authority and dcspise opinions counter to their oM. Worse, thcsc
nations and peoples are also expressins such nationalistic and ethnic pride in ways that are e\cessively
belligerent and intransigent, coriributinS to political tension and contentioNness.

DEMANDABROADER PERSPECTIVE l*
 Il jliHq&gllulJ4trqEq of coolse, one shoutd not knock narional p{de. waves of patrior-
ism can in its best moments unire the country in ihe face o{ adversity, and strensthen and bring together
peopte of difierent races and creeds. But ov€Neenins nationalistic pride, as a scan of mod€m
hist.rrt, wjll
confim, is also responsible for the worst atrociries ihe world has ever seen. Dante described pride as ..to.\,e
of self peweired to hatred and contempt for one,s neighbour,' and we see how coultries cnn etro$tessly
turn nationrl pride into a tool of enmiv against rheir neishbours. The pide o{ coutry and race perpetu_
ated by the Nazi regine enabled even ordiiary citizens to condone and turn a blind eye to the Holocausr.
Nationalistic pride is used too often as an dcuse to tum on minoritjes and to justi{f, purgings, pogroms
and genoeide: Chinese militant nationalism rarionalises the iti treatment of its minodties and .rib€i, a
Japanese obsessioD with ethnic purity renders its minorities invisible, inflated ethnic aDd retigious pride
continues the curse in strife-torn regions like the Batkans, and propagates the continneil eiectio! io
ofice
of ultra nationalist, anti-immigratio! and erdrem€ right potiticat pnrties a over the wo d.

Overt ertensions of nationalism also create more conplications in a world aheady plagued with troubtes.
Russian rulers have manipulated pride in ihc Drorherland {or their own ends fo. cenrrries, anal putin is no
exceptionr giling Stalin a run for his money. Backed bl, oit noneyand post-inperial nosialsia, Russia
has
exerted its power in belliserent and thusgish !,ays. Not onty do s€ see a dsing renopttobia in the corrniry,
nationalist ideologues haie been mobilising against the tvesi, rrying to establish a Russian donirance tn
world affai$. Recent conli ontations include arbitrarily ctrttirg gas supplies offto entirecountries, pictriDg
fights rith forner saielliie nations that hare the temeriry to cosy rp ro ihe Wesi, unilaternlty recognEing
other breakaway siates, opposins jntemational sanctioDs ofrrnfriendtynations,
s€nerallvrzjsins tensrons
in tl1e Caucasus and other dubious behaviour.

B t "sLh. c.i"hFBo...nrid",-ath doFs.umeLetolFJ tJrt.Tt FLnit,dSlare-

is the best *ample ofa naiion that is rowslowiy and pail1irtly jearnins humility. The past fe{.i.ears \!ir-
nessed an Anerica ihat p ded itseuon its e\ceptionatism. bythe Srcarness ofirs morrt coDvicrions. re
superiodty ofits int.lligence and the faulttessness ofits acriors, unlarerat or nor. Engagements in Iraq
and AJshanistan ha\r brousht America iDro unconfoftabte realisations ofhowfarits pridc has caused
it
ro squander global goodwill and cooperaiion an.t made ji a.tefauti ounber oDe enemv of mosi nations.
Pr. rd.nrOo nacac.an to,hahot ..cat i-.FFing \,npri{!d,..nlir. .t.,ll,r.r, -.r,,epyltu is,nor.
ensaging and involvins, and most imporranrly, nore humbte_

I-jkewise, the moDey men of erstlvhiie banling ard finarciat tiraDs have ako raken an equaly
nishr)-
tumble. Hubrjs is at the root ofthe cuEenr globat do$Drurn, teading bankers to malie bad bers based on
the empty pronise of easy iches, believing that i:trey we.e uiouchabte finarlci.ll whizzcs. Bnt rhe xro.e
importanL lessoD for us is ho$'pride is exceediDslydifficult to roor out as displays ofremorse orconh.ition
are siill iate in comhg. Aftcrdisastrous losses, Meuin Llnch's formerboss, JohD T.hain, used federat and
iaxpayers'money from the bailont to push ihrough generous and uDdcsenins bonuses for his bankers.
Millions ofdollars were still spent alier the firancial faltoui on office renovations.
pdvate jets and corporate getaways at l xurious hotcls. tt is padicularll, relting
that lralf ot wall She€r workerc reported in a poll rhat iher.werc dissarisiied wirh
the amornt oftheir 2oog bonuses while the rcsr of the wortd had to deat with re
trcnchments and mountins bills that co ld not be paid ofi pride can carse such a
deep-rooted sense ofentitlenentrhatitsunires even after $,itnessilli the inancial
carnage spread rhroushouL the \orld.

Suelyit is the ultirnaLe undeNtaiement to d€clare that ihe \rortd needs a fi\ ofhu-
militv rnor€ than ever, that it is rinre to move away from .me, mysell an.t I',. In rhe
Eible, it w.is thc sin ofp dethat causedrle pha*e.s to rejecr,tesus. pri{tc causecl
Babion and DreD io spurD s,arnnlgs and adnonirnrns and ro rejecr coit,s
the fatl of
servants. Pride is the thin red linc berween shreousness and setf-ighteousress,
and skei{s our perceprion ofreality. pride leads p€ortes a|d nations ro acts ofincredible btindness and
seuishness. We musL move away lrom ovcr.btc,wD opnrions ofselfso rhat $,c caD stad to see ou.setves and
the truth ofthe rvor.ld clea y. The hrth is oflen vcry humbhig and niay b. the only factor rhat helps
us
stay on the side ofangels.

DEN']ANDABROADERPERSPECTVE JO5
 4ffitu

I BRoADER PERSPECT vES thesevendeadlysins

 OSTENIATIOUS DISPL{YS OF WE{T-TH ARE
Whykeeping upwith the no longer l.oqher given lhF .urrcnr F.onomn
climate. Eefore wall Streeth greatest went belly up,
Chans, the Kumars and
the media had a field day repofting on the
the Smirnovs will ruin us all. meteoic growth of the new rich. Stories about
Londor, hcdse tund nanrgetr rhrowing thFir
BYSHIAO-YIN KUIK Cristal drenched wild parties and Manhattanites
stockinS up on Lamborghinis have becone all
too commonplace. what was different in the lltst
decade was tlat a new ethos of ertravagance also
emerged in developins econonies, where those sharp (and lucM enoush to
taD into ihe slobalisation of capital and opDo(unity have gone f.om rass to
riches in lessthan a decade.

Whil€ it has become trendy in the west to piay down your nillions thanks
tokhaki-cladbohemianslike Jeff BezosorMarkZ kerberg,being abletoflaunt
you wealth hs always been the mison d'atre ofmost ofthe world's noveau iche.
Forset Man's ideals of Communist equality or Gandhi's siubborn brand
ofsocialism, India's notable narvabs, Russia s ostentatious olisarchs and Chi
na's capitalist communistswanttheir right to ritz. Chinese businessmen tried to top each other to see who
could build the most outlandishly decadent ofhomes one built a US $ro million replica ofthe white
House, complete with a mini Mount Rushmore in the backyard. Russian billionaires becane our favounte
rulgariv and we tut-tutted over how they used floo notes to light cigars, snacked
icons of noveau riche
on flooo tins ofAlnas caviar md colected Bitish foothall clubs, Gulfstream jets, European castles, ho-
phy wives and dianond-€ncrusted nistresses like therc was notomorrow.

But despite our expressed disgust about the wretched excesses of

the rich, de€p down we secretly fnd the exploits of the superlatively
wealthy exciting and dveting- The same eNf that dnves the noveau
riche to spend as if they were making up for lost time is the same eNT
thai drives us to religiously study those showoff plutocrats both

\'l
real and imagined on Gossr? Girl, Dirtgl sej\" Monea, Forbes'Most
Expensiue Celebtiry \ateddings and n4?Y Cribs. j:l:.
we don't really resent the rich. we dll just wdt to join their raDks.

DEMANDA BROADERPERSPECT]VE JN'

 ago, the J€wish prophet Moses $. ote thh waming
in the Book of Exodus (2o;r7l that we shalt not
covet thy neighbour's hoose; neither shalt thou
desire his ilife, Dorhis seNant, nor his haDdnuid,
nor his ox, nor his ass, nor aDl'thing thar is his."
Covetousness is considered so serio s a sin that
cod Hins€lf narncd ii as one of thc classic tel
commandments that deseNed to be emblazoned
upon tablets ofstone. Call it envy orjealousy ifyoLr
like, covetousness by any other name woukl smell
as sick. lt all amounts to that same sad seDsation
of wantirg what you cannot have and wantins it to
ihc point of grcai bittcNcss and fiustratioD. ED\y
iswhat tu.ns us into selfloathing green eyed moD
slers rrilling lo ships'reck everlthiDs right in our
life and in our conmunityjust to gain status and
power above soneone else.

You could be contmriaD aDd argue thai is it not our juraie dissatisfactioD with our lot in life the key diving force that pushes our
cconomics slna'ards? Is not ambiiion bom of en\l uhimatelydre only reason whyhumanity has prosrcsscd?

WhaL is so $rong lher {ith a littLe co\elnria?

sure. it besins innocently enoush ilith the seed ofLow self-esteeni ill'nou.ished
bl co$t{Dt conprdsor. SoneoDe else has something that you consider inpor-
tant io harc and should that pc$on bc similarto you,lhc aroused cnlT bccones
l)arlicLrlarlr.' irtense because your entirc existence centres around an olerrlhelm
ing sense oi entillenent: Ir SHOULI) be inine.

LD\_a does notjust stop at niaking you deeply unhappl with you.self and cause
vou to chaDDel all your $'aking energies towa.ds orercoming that perceived in-
cqualitv. TakcD to its nrevitable end, enly rlill ori]' eDd !p ruining the noblest
a ccis oftour soul. You cornmjt schadcnfrcude, givinguphumilill'and content- i,:ilil:rL l,l: l:'l!i T r; :
ment lo become a pet!!"ffeature thal derives cruel satisfaction from lhe misery of i ,t l-- E' fl.l',Y ..'lll-L L"
Lhe loof and ungmcioLrs pleasure in the ruin ofthe rich. We peg our own stand
urd of h.,w well otr we are not to the jnt.jnsic worth of our ox n rvell being but to
!i_t!l ':l ,,i, l-)- i-l\Ll \t
ho$. it compa.es to the JoDes nert door. No nonder that philosopher Bertrand !-rFFt ..rt ..1\ it.l.i
Russell declared that eDw $'rs one of the most potent causes of unliappiness
alF i lill'.iri l li::l-l r'lll I I r
- pc$onal aDd soci.tal.
i-artrarLtf"'l F Pt:t -'i.r\ilt-r ai
Ostentatious consumerism that is fuelled by enq usually comes withoutgenuine
appreciition, an) sense ol connoisseorship or consumer responsibility. Enly
driven consumption is e'hat chaDged the lurury goods world of old-time artisans honing their c.aft for a discerning clientele to
an industry of${ertshops, cost-cuttiDg aDd profiteenng from mediocre merchandise. Nanes like Dior, Gucci and Chanel that a.e
highly coveted today were once strictly the province of European a stocracy and only those with expendable income could atrord
exquisiie clothing and perfume and even thcn, only in small quantities- But as Slobalisation elevated the global middle class nrto
theglobalnoveau riche, lLrxurr- goods in thehands ofmultinational groups have now become mass produccd (lui siill way over-
p.iced) connnodities. Luxury has become quotidian in many senses wjth lashion houses churning out new pefumes, new It bags

BROADERPERSPECTVES thesevendeadlysins ssue

!-
anil It wallets every quafterto feed rhe novcall riches'(and then waDDabes ) hungerto impress. Many ofihc noveau ricle canDot tell
andcan not care less \'|eihcr their brg was rnadc by an underpaid, ovcn'o.ked Ch inesc factory- lhe {orkcr or an old llalian a'tisaD
as lorg as ii is conspicuoosly sho$] enough lo inprcssthe socialite nerl door'

is ihis eD\l dri\ en consnmption as opposcd to Deeds based consumPtioD thal le.ds to tremendous
It
wdte. It is an embarmssnient how rnuch resource! and opDorlunities lhat could have been investcd iti genuine necds have been
squaDdered in the quesr to iDlpress. ModcrD-dry "charirablc" balls a.e kno$'n nrorc br the quanlit ofnoney spenl on showins off
and one upping each orhcr through haure couture gowr$ ard ostcntatious jewellery thaD tlie quantily of moncy actualLy c|anncllcd
lo the charitv cause icell

The opporuDity cost is obscenc: consider the amorDt ofdisaste. reliel microerte.prises, \cll drilling projects and soup kitchers
that have been foNaken in the namc of Louis VuirLon doggie cotlars, $6()0 pcdicures, Botor injcctioDs and gokl platcdtaps. WhiLe
the levet of povefy in tD.iia rnd China alike has fallen since thc openirg ol their ccononies in the 199os, the social dividc has onlr
bccoDie more Blaring in the lisht ol oleau che extrrvagance. No banquet thrown bya Chtuese businessmaD is consjdered a sllcccss
unless atult tabte ol lood is left ovedlowirit ifplates are enDtied, tbchost has t ordcrcdenorghto satehis glests. Yet il is not
considercd culturally shametul to tun awiy lron local street beggars bcssiDs for a crun$

wo.se ofall, such conspicuous coDsumption hlrs nol brought arl form ollrsting
happiness to the sfcDders just a nrorncntary trste ofeu!horia- -4.n epidenic ol di
lorce is spreadnrg in Chira, Russia, lndia aDd Brazil together $ith Dd{found ivealth
because husbands work away from hotrle, affan s have mush.oomed and Dcw acqri
sitioDs arc seen as solu tions to assuage Prin atd guili. In thc'suburbs of Guangzhou
and Shanghai, 'conobine villascs" have rnushroomcd, $tll-stocked sith ocry
form olenterlainmert and grooming seFice, to ensLt|e all those bored Inishesscs
ther€ are kept busy and pretty. in pursunrg an eDriable lifestrlc, mrny ofthe no\€au
riche have lbund thcmselves looltins outsidc their silded cascs, cDlirg instead
ihc life ofthe sj pl€ andwonderiDg what \cnt Mong.

It is not so nuc| aD abseDce o{ elegancc that Old money, at its best,

is repulsile about watching a ShcnzheD millio ai.e chasc do$'n the nosl priccy
is truly aristocratic
Chateau Margau with r Sprile or a SiDgaporean Lai tai swan sxatlied in loud
Dronograms ffom head to to€. lt is ihcir absence ol understaDding {bouL $'|at for it understands quality
bcing part of the privilcged class h society mcans {nd ivhal posscssior of such
wealth aDd po1rcr thus must eDsender them to do. - ofthings, oflife, of sociery
Old money, atits best, js r
aristocratjc for ir undersraDds quaLity olthjngs, of life, olsociety. They are sel|assurcd and loised
rlr.'
in their use of$,calth. Thet gile millions to charity but cn$rc thei. Lali.esse is done with quiet digniti. \\heD they acqnjrc beatrti
tuI, tuxurious thiDgs, they do so partly to cnnobl€ rheir surmundfigs or dignit thcir mkers. lt. nov.au riche, al l|eir$oNt, are
conpletely plebia., betievins n! rhe sheo quantiq ot rhinss, of osteDtation, o l losos. They are sellcoDscious rnd nrin ic nr thcir use
ofwealth to prove somcihing to themselves andthe world, driven by ctr,r and the emftv dcsireto nNpire eNl frcn otheff.

We must manage enry ratler than be beguiLed or aronsed by it. ln view of their h.gesse and sclf-dep.ecaLing rttitudes to their
w€alth, me. like J P Morgan and waren Buflet L posscss riches bel'o d our imagination bu l Lh'v do not att'ncL l he kiDd ofjealousv
or rancour ttrat sorneone tike, sal', ScaD Diddy'CombsorPa s HiltoD nigh l get. Wher rich people $'ho har€ every reason to bc laiD
and aroganl choosctolive Dlodesrlyand nobly, rve do not seckioemulate lheirlifcstlles as much asrhcirchaucter and substaDce.

Why kccp up lrith rhe ever acqrnnig, endlessly coveting Jones n'|€n \c could lool lo$'ards keephg up rith thc Buf{etts and l}e
Gates instcad, out.loing each other in the ltind ol cnaitable legac)' { e n'ant to leave behind? tl!!

DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE O9
BROADERPERSPECT VES theseven.lead ysrns ssue
 s
signals the aciion of sulpins som€thing
tea iiwdy to disaster. scribes th€ sin of e{essive consumpiion of food and
&ink to the poini of haJming p€rsonal health. The
Gulp. Apostle Paul describes tlis in his letters to the Philip-
pians as people "whose god is in their belb." Contrary
BYJOASH SZE EN LOH io porJ!]ar belief, gluttony is not a sin just for ihe mor
bidly obesej mankind is suilty of this too on a global
s.ale. The plrnet Earth is not only ou home, but also our oniy food basket.
Livins otr the land is a[ weli and sood; however, we do need to keep in mind
that the Eath is a delicately balanced ecosysiem, not a giant "all you-can-eat"
buffet- lt takes years to replace what ne can tak€ out in da)'s and the rate at
$'hich we are dinrjn'shins the eadh's resolLrces to feed ouFelves ab.rve ard
beyond what is actual\,Decded is alanning. We do not know horv long exactly
it Nill be till the ecosrstem collaDses, btrt it noukl be a saf€ bet that if orr glut-
toDous appetites do not change, dcstmction $'ill be inxrinent.

Intoday's rost-iDdust.ial workl, developmcnts on xll frotit! oisocieryhavc allowed for a massil'e popula-
tion boom. Our world is current\gro{ing at a rat. of 1.3% anntrally. At this ratc, the poPulation ol lhe
$orld looks sel to doublc cvery 54 years, .ouiahly once nr cach lifetime r}le increas€d demaDd for food
liDks set to put increasing prcssurc on food supplies, as thcr€ will be many, many more mouths to feed.
This, at fiNt slance, doesn ! seem to pose a rcal problem. Ailer all, lve siitl grow enough food to t!o!e tlan
adcquately feed ever) singl€ person on the plaDet and food science admnces have given rise to better and
nore nutdtious crop ields. These advances also ailow for a tougher plant, able to rcsist everlthing from
pesis, diseases, herbicides ard bad wealher. The real problen truly comes when our food dernards are
driven not by the need for sustenance, but by grced.

DEMANDABROADERPIRSPECTIVE'I'I
rE- tI--:-:-:---;
*L
lI*F-' --' =
":s--f *-:-:--------:--.
5--:----------
*,;lD
rEstE U-------------
*r-----------i
|rEFl.-. --:-:-:-_::
..ET--\-.dt? ==
Ery
+-L .J- tlftl
.L-EL.if-'- *iEGl -' ------.
;i-=-=

t---*.=n
'.-rD
il-,t
D
aD al rl rD rD rl rt rt i, aD rD .D .D t- a
De (D il rl r- al rD (l rD (D aD .D.l rD
ia
ID (D ID- i' iD.D'- - - ID- rD r-- rl.D.D I
ID TD ID- TD (D ID I'
----r---.).'rDiDiDf-.'
 This slobal bnise of ou. fo.d chah is tnking a huge toll on oLr en\ircnnrent
and diviDs ou seas to ecolosical impLosjon. Accord ing toa report (SOFIA) on
tbc statc of thc world's fishe.ies and aquaculhre, 25% of lish stocks are over
exploited or depleted $'hile 52% arc flrlly exploited. This nieans that alniost
8(]% ofour fish stoclis are on t|e verse ofcollapsc. This has tenible implica-
tions not only 1br our wildlite in lerms ofspecies dilcrsiil, but also for tuturc
generations who rvill sufferthe consequences ofour actions. CuncDily. fishcr
men arould the xorlct, both larse and small scale, a.e repo.tjrg a dwindlilg
of i'iclds and an ol€rall decrease iD lish size. GlirbaLly, alnost 9l]% ol la.ge
fredatory fish stocks arc al.cad,v detleted. It sliould be noted that DrropeaD
Union tEU) counlries overthe pasi 1.) yca$ halc exc..dcd hnits proposedb)
scienlists br4s% lbrcod, r4o% for hake, 93.6% for rrarms and t4% forflaicc.
With the ecosysteDl th.owJr.,ut otbalance, our seas are on theif way to bcconr
irg aD iDhospitable cesspool of plankton andJelynsh.

It seens that in the quest to iDcrease the size of

our food baskct, \c halc tut both the futue of
rhe planet, and oursclvcs at stakc. Evcn dcvclop-
menis Lo increase the snppl,'-' of food are fro\ing ro
be signilicantly less than the magic bullet to abate
our eler-increasnig hurger. Ceneticallt modi
5-d n d rl . hJ\- b, -r, . bl ru pruJ, . r bi.Er
and bcttcr viclds, but har€ less than satisfactory
implications for thc tuturc. Thc fcsticidc rcsist-
ance of the planls, through the sprcad of Nllen to

IMAGECREDIT other pLants, can kill of unintended insecLs, risk

jrs extirlction aDd tlie possible imbalance ot the
ecoslstem. Herbicide rcsistance .jslis the gro$th
of "sufcr rrccds", i\'hich $'ill tlireaten our tuture
food sto.fts. And .s $€ takc morc a.d morc from
onr riveN, seas and eve' ourljelds, $e also poison lhem rith pollution. This

ffi
i-=-i-=-=!-== seNesto turther taiDt our lons term supply and will possibl) drile us headlons
into a slobal food crisis.

!1-:-:-=
EtriiEEIilEItrIEI on a morc pcrsonar lcver, the detimentar er-
lects ol our gluLtony can l)e palpably seen today i.crcascd slobal obesitv.
ii-i-i-i-=
1-:---------i
obesityhas beeD steadily risnrg a.ound the world, noliLNt anrons adults. but
also in children. A 2oo5 BBc suney reported that r.6 billion adulls and 4oo

"ffi
li.-:-i-i-i-l
i:-:-:-:----:
-L:-:-:-:-:-:-:
li-:-:-:-::-:
r:-_-_---:'!j
i:::-:-:-:-::
nillior childreD ivere ovenveiglit. ln LDgland aLone, the percenLage ol oler
\tcighi childrcD has riseD from roughly 15% to about 37% fron 1970 to:roo5.
SDch a trcnd can oDlybc cxpccted however, giveD the circumstarces descibed
above. and we can now only bracc oursclvcs for an incr.asc n1 the illDesses,
such as hypertensjon and hea{ diseases,lhat corne $it| the upsard iEnd on

-.-.-.-..--...
'._-----. In all, wc may hale cone verl'far iD terns ofmans economic, technological
|------- and social dcvclotmcnt but this has only nude us gree.ly alil uNestranied n1
i------ our appelites. The signs alc all too clcarthat our ghttoDyis NiDing our planet
---r-.--
rr-t-,-.-rD. and killing our health. ln the words of Father.loscph Rickabl,v (Pmfcssor of
r--r-.DrD- nthics at St Mary\ Ilall) on the sin ofgluttony, ealinil sithoLrt linrits is too
-rD.-r-rD.a
Dra'-rD.lrDr soon, too expeDsively, too nNcli, too eagerly...'. Utile iv€ mal ot feel the
----,r-a
aia(-i-rt,- true impact of tlis problen, the nen getremtion rvill certainly live to see the
(trD-rDrl
r(trDrDrDra'
aDrD(Dr-iDl
la(DrDiDtiDtDr TDIDI
.D rD rl
.slzmitons for..,sts of.nr f,,rnre.on,F hle lltt
D!'(D(D'DID
)-(D(D-
ra.l'.D(Dar-rD--
rr-(-.D(DQ,
?-t:;Y
D i- rD il--
DEMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE ]3
Things fall apart, the LEHX{,A.N. MINIBOND. MORTCAGE SECURITIES. CREDIT
crunch. These are all the words you need to get an investor's
central bankwill not hold. heart raciDg. By theniselves, even as recently as one year ago, these
word,s would not have elicited such a response. However as of Sep-
BYATIELLIA RAZAK tember 2oo8, the ever decFnins financial crisis dealt a huse blow
to a world that hasbeen €ncouraging profligate slending, making a
quick proiit, and even more nasrant spendins. With no end in sisbt
to the economic doMturD, it looks like we are all beingtaught a severelesson in greed.

What exactly does grccd havc to do Nith the economic doMtum? Plen\', it seems. Not
only has Man's bunger for wealth and beticr returns on his investments shoM his un-
healthy obsession with money, but the cumulative effect of many people's srced as seen
in the less-than-transparent institutions, a covetous and yet gollible consumerist socie
ty, anda severe lack of financial reguiation has left the world reelinglromfinancial rujn.

Perhaps a good piacc to start damiDing greed is in the finaDcial institutions that found
a new way to make noney. albeit an uDsafc onc, and took it all too far. The fall of Bear
Stearns along with l€hman Brothers was tbe unforeseen resuli ofthc moncy-makiDs
scheme initiated by investment banks. Credit quality requirements lbr U.S. homes were
oMerslip policy created by the government to help people
lowered followins n home
oM their oM hones. suddenly many U.S. citizens were eligible for nortgage loans
and banks rcadily gave then out. Encouraged partially by high cr€dit ratings, iDvest-
nent banl<s sold the elp€ct€d nofigagc palmcnts as secuities to investors in oder to
nake nore money. Thus when the property bubble bursi and peo e besan defaultins
on mortgage paloents, investment banks could not meer pa]'ment obligations on the
nortsases and were in the rcd. creed, or the oveFreaching d€sire for more, led to nany
nrwis. dc.isions and the.re,tinn of a svstem th,t (nrld nor besnst.ined indefinftelv.

oaro"oouaoooa*rarrraa-,ua l'',
 Diggins turther, it would seen likc thc fault
also laid inthe sovernneDt which made it possible for thcsebanks io dowhat
they did. The loose monetary policy the Federal Resere put into place since
2ool meart that credit was more readily available thuscausinga rise in con
suDption, rcsultins in lesser salings. At 1irst, this led to an economic boom due
to more rnoneybeing spent byAmedcans, but nuch ofthis spending was based
on €asy credit and at some point, people x€re saddled with debts larger than
they could deal with. Tlie govemment chose not to tightcn ocdit when it was
necessary to do so, in part because ail ofthis $'as wo)king out quite well for the
U.S. s other couDirics werc also buying U.S. securities because il seened lik€
the U.S. narkct was safc and prospernrg.It seenred like the anount ofnoney
bcingmade andgenerated blinded theauthorities to what was wroDg and kept
tbern in a state of complacency.

]'hen again, it could be said that the blame shouid also fall on the ordinary citi
zens x.ho took on those rnodgages wiihout being able to pay them offbecause
they waDicd to oM that uliinrate drean house, or who booght the securities
wiih thcir savinss without beiDg lully intbrmed ofthe risks in the desire to in-
oease their weallh. Even in Singapore, there have been huDdreds of cases of
people who bought the Minibonds ihat were repackased and sold throush iocal
bank,losirg thonsands ofdollars ovemisht aDd showins how sreed is perhaps
iDrate aDd unilersai. Of coursc some of these people were ill advised by finan
cial consuiianis and salesrnen pushnrg financial products, particularly elderly
pcoflcrlho would notbavebeen able lo understand how these produds work.
In these cases, while they were th€ victins ofsomeone else's ctesirc to nuke an
easycommission, they stiil hadto nake thefirai decision atrd sigD thc pafcrs,
which shows their complicity in waDting to profit off ihc supfosedly guaran
teed hish perccntascs that ihey rlere shoMr.

And this leads us back to the investment baDks

and commercial banlc that rvere i[esponsible in dealiDs with their clients. lr!
vestment banks hunger for easy money through the sale of the said securitics
meant they were not as caretul as they should have been in informing th€ir
clients of all the risks aDd fnvcntinsthem frcm mal<ing uninformed decisions
especially when it involved th€ir savings. Commercial banks went on a reckless
mortsase lendiDs spree despite being onable to hold up the mortgages aDd be-
ing a\rare oftbe tact thal low mortgage rates rlould inflate over tine.,^l in r11,
tbe greed tbr easy money led to victimisation in mary cases and eventualiy ihe
past sins ofth€ bank came back to luunt them.

The sreed thai has causcd the world to spin out of control is like a Medusa. lts
hcads, monstrous grosths froln lhe nend itself, groiv at rapid speed, tauntins
and challenging us to behead then. while it is easy to apportion blame to the
apparent greed that consrm€d both the lay investor and prcfessiomls, doing
so will do no one anygood.Itwill Dot revene this spirallins crisis or undo any
of the trgly truths that Anericans Dow have to facc about themselves, or t|eir
bark, or their govcrDmcnt. Grccd is a boti:omless pit. a I'Iedusa, a monster
thai multiplies with one person's greed feedjng ofanothels and institutions
fre)ing oD the very things they are supposed to protect. Today, the problen of
sreed lies exposed and the world is going to have to face and slay it. agt

DET4ANDABROADERPERSPECTVE ]7
 'fhe major re
Scriptural rcfereDces may at llrst seen Lo rnake n casc for wrathflrl relribution or action
lisids reveal a srmut of Gocl backed or God-directed snitings, floods and cataslrophes to punish evil'
anrl prcphets calling dorin plague and lire fron the leavcns to castisate theuDfaithful
\!len Ad'm 'nd
Evc coDfessed that theyha.t transgressed God's conmand' lte cursed the i+ourd
they lived o and promiscd a lifetinc of toil aDd tributatior' lf such acts ol d re
retribution abound fo. people ofthe faith, what more can herctjcs and otrtsiders

Ttre exlendcd liistorl of religious persecution through the ages oDly proves the
poirlt thal rcligious inspired M aih is inhactable, pen'asive and hard to rooi out
The InquisitioD, anti Sernitism, thc Crusadcs, denoninations of the same faith
going ai ea(h other, bloodybattles over holv sites all ihese instaDces 'rl srath
uDforlunately stillhave resonarce andrelevancc in ourmoderD times The belief
inthe (ruth ofone's rcligion and the belicfthat Cod isp.olidiDg direci rclelation
canl€ad tobrutal actiotrs couPlcd ivith mthless irt'ni

Relisious anscr easily arises $hcD people beiieve thcl alone hale the complete
truth. Tlis ten.lsto exiccrbate an usversosthem nrindset Xloreihanever, rcli-
$-hich bliDd hatred and mis-
sion has becorre little morcthan a shan veil under
onrseh€s
IMAGECREDIT dirccted viol.rce is legitinised. Rcligious rflath becomes problenatic when ive start to insert
into the spacc that Coil occupies, iaking on the mantlc ofiusticc and rctribution whollv on ourseh'es
as

the dcfenders of absolutc tNth.

BPO^D-PDLc(P ' -^t\ I p\-."_dp.d\<_\ \'F

 what is hurtins mankind is how easjly the principles ollove and tolcrance that ali major religiorrs Preach are
conveniently lefi by the waysidc at the very iines when they are nrosi nccdcd. After all, there is an equalll
old scriptural p.ecedenl lraming againstaDger and violence, proposjng instead to turnthe other cheek. and
cautioDing against embittering the heaft aDd ihus poisoDiDg one s spiritual health. So whjle there are stories
ofthc $raihtul $alities ofGod, the more powerfil and most often cited passages nr scriftutts have to do
with eschewins $rath and the rennrciation ofviole.ce.

cod, His prophets and followers have by hrns, even $hen wieldins insunnountrble power, rejected riolence
of al fo.ms. When asked to help dcstrly his enemies, J esus rebuked his apostlcs by sa)ins that 'the Son ol
MaD came not to destroy lir€s but to savc them-" Real Chistjanity comes shen wc seek to absolve rrther
thaD to annihilate those who xould ham us. Buddhisn and Flinduism bothbelielethai anscr is an eafthly
attachmentthat prcvents any attainment olenlightenment. Astory ofaw.athful nu lronr the Mahabharata
stales that anger is ihc slayer of men and the .oot of adversi\ , aDd u ess X{aD forsalcs it, the world s dc
slruction will come about. Whilethe Qur'an $'arns
beiievers about thc wath of Allah, P.ophet xlu
hamDrad taLrght that Allah\ mercy surynsses anl
tch rvmth. the'Iorah tells belicvers thai it is bet-
icr to be sloi! to anger than mighty. Similarlv, the
Tahnud states that ange. deprives wise men and
propbets ofwisdon an.t vision.

Granled, anger can havc its flrnctional effects. Col

lective anger dirccted agaiNi uiust institutions
and systenN has been a pow€rfil trigger for cn-
cial socictal chrnse. I1istorf has shoMr how ans$
expresscd by misfits, outcasts ard ntinorilies have
resulted in thc isc of the civil and €qunl .ights
movemenl, the suffragc moleDent, and laws that
protect minors and minorities. All tliese b.eak
throushs have resulted frorn a rightcous anser.li-
rected ai injlstice in the world.

Religious wrath becomes problematic when we start Hos€ver, mrch ofthe religious fury that is stirred
up today is like nhat Dante descdbes as a "lo!e
to insert ourselyes into the space that God occupies, ofjustice peNelted to rcvense and spite". Philip
taking on the mantle ofjustice and retribution whol- Jenkins, a noted scholar ofrclisioD, claims that $e
wil cone to see.eliSion in this modcrn em as "the
lv on ourselves as the defenders of absolute truth. prime animatirg and destructi\€ force in human
affairs, suidiDs attitudes to political liberty and ob

IMAGECREDIT ligation, concepts of naiionhood and, of course, conflicts and rrars-" wrath carses a loss ofselt awareness
and dininishes the capacityto rnonjtor aDd govem oneseLf. Most importantly, arath kills rny form o{obiec
tivib. Medielal theological, Thomas -A.quinas, siates that anger is evil if it scts thc order of reasot aside '
$'hile it may have some functional value in brhsnrs about corrective
actioD, we are seeing only too clearly how it negativcly impacts the
well beins ofhumaD affaiN.

We have tobring objectfity and conteit back into the equalion. Scrip
tural exho.tations have to be seen iD coniet and practising ofone s
faith should not compete tbr dominancc over others. We have to nake
a firr stand and demonstrate that life can bc livcd $nth rctision and
tolerancc, and nustbebalanced ivithintegrity ard cornpassion. Any-
thing without empathy or love or compassion turns hard, b ttlc and
only begets more hatrcd and violence. Ilow will God look upon us
then? Iatt

DEMANDA BROADER PERSPECIIVE

i

i
I

l
I
I
I
ti
I
1

l
BBOdD Fp.R. f. t .L, -h".e.erd""d, i,d
I
 Inlagesjntu Kate GrecnarDalt s
h..k"Ihtlpr thp win.l. ) .ir.i iaao

AT FIRST GLANCE, A CONI,'ERSATION TA]<ING PLACE IN

Suffer the a disiant comer of cybeNpace might seem ordina{,, a little
boing even. With surnmer fast apprcaching, an online chat
little children.
sroup was exchanging news about their summe. jobs only
their focal point r\as not about the e\tra income they could
BYMELISSAEU
earn. 'Hope you see naked boys in yotr cabin,' a man callins
hinself PPC cliimed. "By the way, does anyone kDow of sirls'
camps that will accept adult nales as counsellors?"

This online phenonenon has Doved fiom people usins the

Internet as merely a means of swapping child pornography to becone a cy
berspac€ tsunamj of paedophllia that uses the virtual world to advance its
interests in the reai one. What is even more troubling is that this wave has
increased in volume and intensity - the amount of matedal seized fron com-
puters seemstobe doubljDs each year - the Naiional Centre for Missing and
Exploiied Children in the United Siates confiscated more than eight million
images of explicit child pornographyin the last five years.

With the government crackdown on child pornography itr the r97os harsh measures rvere taken to close
off the traditional outlets for prodtrcing aDd qchanging illicit inages - paedophilia was under Sreater
control. But the advent of the InterDet soon prcsented an alternative for paedophilia to re-emerge with
a venseance, alloaitrs paedophiles easy access to illesal inases, and providins a platlorm fron which to
swap tips and information, and most fiishknnrs\,jusiit each other's behaviou.-

DETlANDABROADERPERSPECTVE 23

IMAGECREDIT
,lnri€rdaDL; rrtoD'ous
tt.l lig ht distri.t t uth
/ls/t r.,*"untdous rldr
dlou cuslo,Lrs l. ui.u
thc saadl belbrc nlaking
(t,1,lsd.1ron'
Afo.ero
BROADER PERSPECT VES
The prolifemtion ofihe Internel in the 2rst century has prcved io bc a
double edged srvord; wlile aliowins iDcrcascd intercorneclivily betiveen peopie of ctiverse backsrounds.
lhis has also been harnessed b,v crimnrals of all sorts as a means to prcpagxte their bclicfs and achiele
"neutralisatioD" a psychological ratioDalisation used by groups tirat dcviatc liorn societal norms.
The adlcnt ofdre Internet has thtrs aided atrd.ibetted thc modcm day spectr'e oflibt on several levels.
Firstly it tror-ides a plallbrrn for discussjor! outreach and cmN$'ernent. Paedophiles see themseh€s as
part of a social novemeDt to grir acceptance ofthcir rthactioDs and lhe lnte.net as r medium of exprcs
sion. Whai is alarning is that paedophiles halc come to view lhemselves as the vanguard of a nascent
movement seeking the lesislation of child pohography ard the loosenins of {se-of-conscnt laws. They
portralthemselves as charnfions battling for childreD s rights to engage in sea aith adulis, a light they lik
en to the cilil rights nrovemen l. l he lnte.net has allowed them to connnunicate, comfort and congratulate
one anothcr's r'iumphs. Paedophjles arouDdtheworld cclcbratcd s'|en a snrall iaroup in the Nethertands
fonncd a paedophile political parr*, aDd $'hooped again whcn a DDtch cou'r uph€ld their riglit to exjst.
What is equallrtr.rubhs is liow deviaDt scxual beliefs are renrforced beliefs, thrt rvlien actcd upon, are
criminal. Chatroons andfirtnal snpportgroups allow paedophiles to accept tlreir attractions.nd even al
lo$ them to harc scx $ith a child without guilt. One chiefexample is an onlinc printable booklet that can
be distribuied to children extolling the b€refits of htNing ser with adulis. Its rationalisation that alloas
theD to avoid admitting that thei. desires are hannflrl aDd illcgai," said Bill lvalsh. lb.mer comnan.ter of
Crimes Against Children lbr the Dallas Poljce Depaftmcni. 'That can allolv Lhem to take that final step and
cross over from fantasy into real $'orld offenccs."
thesevendeadlysinsissue
In essence, the group deems potentially injurious acts as harmless and even helptul. "M).
daughter and I have a healthy, close rclaiionshD," a person named Sonali posted. "we
have been in a consensual sexual relationship for about two months now-" Such pr.clama
tions in print or other fornN of Old Media lrould have been condemned and easily censored.

Mosi frightening of all is how paedophiles have also lsed thc Iniemet io continually extend thcir
reach and prey mo.e easily upon potential victims, using instant messaging services, chat rooms and
falseinternet sites t.r interact and comnunicatc with then and lure them in. The ilorld was shocked
when John M. Kar, who was arcstcd as a suspect in the murder ofJonBenet Ramsey, apparently
used Internet discussion siics io gain the trust and atrection ofhis victims "SomctiDes little girls
are closerto ne than with their parents or any other persoD in tlieirlives...I can only saythat I relate
1€ry well to children and the rray they think or feel."

Without a doubi, newiechnologies have aided and abetted the

proliferationofchildpornosraphy.Fnrdinssofafournonthlonge brtby?heNeuIo?*?i?nesiDvesii-
gatingthelnternetactivityofpaedophil€srevealedthattheconmrnity'sonhien iashrcturelvas sur
prisinglyelaborate. Paedophilesgo online to seek tips for getting near clildrcn, atcanps, communiqr
eventsandeventhroughfostercare.'themembersoftliisillicitcommunityswapdailyanecdotesabout
iheir sexual encounters with minors. There are mdio shows run for and by paedophiles, and even an on-
linejewellerystorethatmakespendantsproclaimingthcwearersisbeingsexoallyattractedtochildretr.

The cornplexity and m tifarious nature of such a $€b based community makes it difficult to apprc
hend sexurl predatoN- Due io the difficulb, in policing such a struchre, maDy are ablc to fromote
theirbelicfs openly and r{ithout fear ofpunitive actionj or even condennation. They hale
also become experts at avoidins detectioD- The conveNations examined online illus,
trated technical acumen, with ftequent discussions as how to continue swapping
illegal inages and a\oid detcction. These techno sawl paedophiles know how to
encrpt images and ensurc online anonlmity.

The ubiquitous nature ofbroadband technology, disital imasery and instant messag
ins has certainly presented new and more complex rjsks to children. These are made
cven nore dangerous as the Internet is both consiaDtly cvolving and poody understood by watch-
dogs sLrch asparents and authorities alike.

Thus, it remaiDs to be seen if more puitive measures can be enforced on something thai sccms to
be garnering more aDd norc devotees daily. While it nay seem easyto isolate trends, the moti\?tion
and the ability to act against them are still lackins aDd look sunnountable at tines. Humankind
sccms unabieto deal with this rrankenstenl. aftt

Innges.fta Kote Greenaao! s

book Under the windou ..it.a taa.

DEI.lANDABROADERPERSPECTVE 25
IROADERPERSPECTIVES rh€sevendeadysinsissue
 WF, I,IVE IN AN INTENSE. CONSTANT BUZZ - A
We areworking harder and
s4-7life souped up on caiTeine and round thc clock
eDtertainment, buoyed by shiny toys that leep us
faster than ever. Sowhy
consta ly phrgged into a neler ending stream of
Twittered information. We jam the Door Close
aren'twe getting anywhere?
bution impatiertly in lifts, pop pills to caln1 our
hyperteDsion, sobbic nrstant noodles at our ofiice
BYSHIAO YIN KUIK
desks and steal precious nanoscconds iD traffic to
dab quick covcr coDcealer to hide ou. ever growingeye bags.

'lhe inescapable reality ofslobaliscd narkets looms over the post millennium
e.a. Dven Duropehasbeen forc€d to givc up her long-treasured siestas and 35
hour worldng weeks to stay competitile with Asians who shrug otra 6oliour
workiDs s€ek as palt oflife. South Korea and Japan arc thc only countries in
the world where death by oveMork ("lGroshi" in Japanese) is a recosniscd
phenoneDon. Constant work is paft and parcel of nodern working lile and
leisure seens to be a luxurT thc masses cannot afford. certainly, whiLe we may
en!t, holv the lKung Bushmen ofthe Kalahai Desert work a nere two and a
halfdays pe. week, few ofus rlaDt tolive ai ihcir lcvel ofsubsistence or partake
iD their htrDter-,lathe.er lifesttle.

No doubt, Sloth seems to be theverylasi sin our hperacti\€ civilisation needs to worr] nbout. Ho\t could
slotli possibly be a probLem when it seems to be the oDe thing we could lse nore of today?

Hisiory's anii-work propagandists would c.Jncur. Aristotle and Cicerc madc it clcar that a life of eDdless
work is isnoblc aDd repose is an essential condition ofhappnress. Tbe Rornaniics and thcir elite fan-base
lwirled theirbrandy snifters, wandered in the r{oods and quoted choice nuggets from Ftench socialist La-
fargue's treatise flre Rigft! to bc Laz.u like, '$'ork is ihe cause of aI nltellectual degeneracy, of all o rsa n ic
defomiib'." Inrecentyears, there havebeen a series of publicatioDs, like Carl Honor6 s 1n -Prurse o/ Slou
ness, Pat Kane's ?ie Pldv ttnicr and rbn Hodgl<inson s Hou to Be ldle, that ggest we coukl do with a
new resine of hstitutionalised indolence.

DFMANDABROADERPERSPECTIVE 27
 But Sloth at Least in the most old-fashjoned sense olthe word, accor.tiDg to Catholic
catechisnN and medieval theolc,gians like Thomas AquiDas is not to be confused Nith mere laziness. And it should definitely not be
confusedlviih a God-siven opportu nity to kick back $'ith an ice cold Coke in a wann deck-chair.

considerwhat$€ arcto make ofthese stories ripped thc hcadlines in 2oo8.

In the UK, DBC News rel)orted on the staggering phenomenon of contract cheating websites plaguing otrr nodern uni!€rsities.
Chcating and plagiarism hive evollcd past beingjust about stLrdents cutiing and pasting paraBraphs fron Wikipedia: it is now a
globalised trade with students outsourcnrgthcirfinal )€ar assignnents, MSc prcjcct work and even PhD researchaorkto the highest
online biddcrs. Snlilar to eBar, sellers are mtcd and reviewed by users lbr their conscieDtiousness, punctuality, dcpeDdabilit) and
abilitv to escaDc the detection ofuniversity plagiarisn sotulare.

Neani{hile. Briiish culinary enhnt lenibles Jamie oliler and Cordon Ran-
say are on their o$r iDdependent crusades to gct British families cookjng
asani. A perlecl stomr of office-bound lifestyles and fatty snack loaded with
chemicals is turning Britain into oDe of the fatlesl countrics in the world af
tcr Arnerica. A cultLi.e of mic.owavable convenience foods, primetime tel-
evisioD and fast food joints has ro$cd Britain of old fashion€d coDventions
like sii doar fanily meals and honc cooked meals. lhe averase British
working wornan has lost all ability, capacit] and desire to cooli a simple fam
ily meal, hosl a dinncr parb and balte a welcome sift for the ne\e neighbc,urs.

ID the UsA, the nighLnare of parallel parking cones to an cnd as Ford launches
its Dew self-parking car wherc ultrasonic sensors conbnre $'ith electric pow'
er stccing to angle and guide lour vchicle into a snug parling spacc, without
you necdiDg to touch the steering wheel. Foldk gane plan is lo nt nea y 9.)%
of its cars wilh such steering by 2or2. Ceneral Moiors and Toyota already have
thei. ve$ions of self drinns vehicles, using a system of caneus, lasers lrnd
computers io track obstaclcs and roa.t signs. Suddeniy a WALL-Esque uiopia
IMAGECREDII
whe.e "drive.s" devolve into imnobile btobs rvho watc| TV and diDk Slurpees
as conpute.ised vehicles guide thc way does not look too far fetched after all.

MeanwhiLe, h the onlincwor'ld, nen andwomen with h\rst or iniinucy issues are fleeinsthe dai\'srnid of.eaL world relationshifs
and fleeins int.r the pixellated embracc of anateur porn stars trith webcanN atrd isqu6 blogs. $ty
tuss abolt witli real people who olTcr oDl,v spoudic gratiljcnlion, see saNing emotions and threats
to your cso? EveD more disturbins arc thc aficioDados ofthe infanous deluxc love dols kno{n as
Real Dolls $ho swap trles online about how much satisfacti.rn they derive fiorn ihejr relationships
ilith theil sofhisticated synthetic lole dolls. Afparc.tly, a Real DolLs tec|nologically advanced,
rubberised skin evcn fccls dish.bingly close to hunuD skin after it is warmed under an elect.ic
blanket. Also,lbr US !i6,499, you can choose among ninebodytypes, fo!.teen faces, five sl<h toncs,
six c)'e colours, a palette of makeup colours and ten wigs to crcate thc Noman oflour very ques
tionable dreams and hnve her delivcrcd dircctly to your doorstep in a DoDdescript packing carton.

Modem technology is a wonderlul serlant brt it maste$ us most monstrously whcn we becomeso
enanoured and dcpeDdent on it that we end up abdicatins ou. nostcrucial responsibilities and ef-
fo.ts t.r ourselves, our lovcd oDes and our conmunities. And iroDy ofironies, many ofourtuDrnak-
ins, productivity drivnrs, convcnierce-making technolosies havc caused us to expend our hnitcd
cDcrsies anct m.rnies worlnrg and plaliDg at all things except the very things that matter most

I
lecOap.pq ttt,, t\f\ r-F\F\6-oFro'\. ^s s-p
 IMAGECREDITS
aright) r{zy boy, ollie cra$.ford

(bottonl) ALice and the Red Queen

John Tenniel, 1865

slothisasluggishnessofthemindandheart.sloth !
paralyses our capacity for doing eveq'thing except
{h.l i. .rd.) ,lsFrll. Sloth i. )our ur' tunrlmin.l
desire to feed your oM confort above elerything
and everyotre - evetr the very things and people
that you iDtellectually perccilc as mattering most
toyou. Sloth is your unwillingness to expend even
the smallest amount of energy and e$ort to do
what it takes to change things, to fix the broken-
nr.s arc rnd )oJ. lu Llo sumplh:nE rhrr brints J"r
to someone other than yotr.

and rightprogress requires realworkin the right

Be it struggliDg through a PhD, Degotiating a tight

parhns space, loviDs one's difficult relations, keep-
ing a family together ai ihe dinner table night aftcr
night, all ihings worth fighting for come at a cost
which we used to pay willingly with hard work, corn
nitment and perseverance. People, places, things,
skills andevenideals needmaintenance, refi nenent
atrd support if we szrt them to continue to exist.

Aslongas Slotb compels us to neglect what is most

:mpoflJnr dnd sFrrle tor qhJr is mosr \ on\ "nienr in
all lhFlirllF affi.r. utuurprirJlFlirps. is il nor obvi-
ous why larger atrai$ on the world stage continue
to remain unsolved despite yeaN of irter and in-
tra{ational coilaborations and taxpayers' dollars?

Yes, on the surface we seem to be all working hard but mostly for what
benefits us md us alone. We are most
slothtul when it comes to meeting other
people\ Deeds and hence despite the
passins of t$o millennja worth of ad
vancenent and slosging, we are no$nere
closer to creating a Heaven on Earth.
Lewis Caroll's Red Queen informed A1-
ice that in the topsy-tuny Looking Glass
world, it takes all the running ]'ou can do
to kecp in thc same placc- That pi€ce of
fictjtious nonsense maybe closer to our
own reality ol nisplaced efiorts than w€
think. Iltt
As long as Sloth compels us
to neglect what is most im-
portant and settle for what is
most convenient in all the
1itt1e affairs of our private
1ives, is it not obvious why
larger affairs on the world
stage continue to remain un-
solved despite years of inter
and intra-national collabora-
tions and ta-r payers' dollars?

DEMAND ABROADER PERSPECTiVE 2q

 The Suffering of Others

Before even considering prospects for our own not too distant future, the status of animals must be
addressed. ln truth, most of the world's most heinous suifering is undergone not by members of our
own species but rather others. A convergence of evidence suggests that the nature and relative ex-
tent of organic life's capacity to suffer is largely managed by purely biological functions in our bodies.
An inability to speak does however render this capacity to manage suffering moot and elevates their
suffering further. For without the unique human ability or, in some cases, right to generate language
it becomes challenging to even recognise the suffering of others and therefore it invariably becomes
easier to ignore it. The silent suffering of lesser species therein becomes analogous to much of the
suffering of our own kind.

We presently keep hundreds of millions of other sentient beings in unimaginably frightful conditions- 10
We do so for no better reason than to satisfy our culinary tastes. And, sadly we do not refrain for no
better reason than the fact that animals cannot speak their own pain. lt has aptly been remarked that
if animals could indeed verbalise their conception of the Devil, he would surely have human form-
Alas this is no mere rhetorical conceit. contemporary humans deliberately incarcerate and butcher
our fellow creatures in a vast, state-sanctioned apparatus ofconcentration and extermination camps. 15
They are run with mechanised horror for commercial profit with conditions inside the camps and fac-
tories veiled from memberc of the public so as to shield us from the atrocities that go on inside them.
ln retrospect, our descendants may view them as a cruel defining feature of our age in a way akin
to our own conception of the Third Reich- Analogously, the sheer viciousness and even existence of
these camps are usually camouflaged behind bland euphemism. Fortunately for our peace of mind,
we find it hard to conceive of what we're being spared, the serenity no doubt aided by our victim's
silence.

For the most part, in our everyday treatment of pain and suffering, we are willing accomplices in our
own ignorance. By our purchases we pay others to commit acts of extreme violence which might
otherwise upset our squeamish sensibilities. This is true notjust of animals but also sadly, ourforeign
labour, the distant coffee farmer and even our so-called harmless pornography. lronically, anybody
who practises, or connives in, the maltreatment of a helpless and undeveloped infant is likely to be
demonised and reviled. Ordinary decent people will find it "inconceivable" how such an "inhuman"
monster could cause such suffering to the young, innocent and helpless. lronically, any such monster
would be summarily prosecuted and locked up. 30

ln traditional eco-systems that we choose to retain, millions of non-human animals will continue peri
odically to starve, die horribly of thirst and disease, or even get eaten alive. This is commonly viewed
as "natural" and hence basically accepted. ln all truth, it would indeed be easier to think that in some
sense this ongoing animal holocaust and the exploitation of millions of our own kind is equally natural.
It becomes easier to believe this as we find it convenient to act as though the capacity to suffer were
somehow inseparably bound up with the ability to express oneself. That as long as we do not hear
about suffering, then "in truth" no one is suffering. Yet there is absolutely no evidence that this is the
case, and a great deal of evidence that it isn't-

] r^ooor* r..rrra-'u* rheseven issue

 Yel' caring about the pright ofthe suffering victims ofour actions is not simpry a case
of sentimentarity.
Nor is it a matter of caring more about animals than humans; nor even, as ;s sometimes
suggested
with all appearance of seriousness, outright impracticarity. we try to find the most convenient soru-
tions. To alleviate our own guilt we simply abstain from eating meat, or use one less plastic
bag, or
sign yet another petition, or ... those who suffer still remain silent.

What then are the prospects for our future? Are we indeed unable to rise above our senseless game
of see no evil, hear no evil, despite the stark prevalence of evil that invades our senses daily? Will
those who suffer always remain silent? At reast for the animar kingdom, there seems to be
an emerg-
ing reprieve. Within the next hundred years or so, and possibly sooner, biotechnology will
enable the
human species cost-effectivery to mass-produce edible ceIurar protein of a flavour and
texture indis-
tinguishable from' or tastier than, animar products we now eat. As our parates become satisfied
by
other means, the moral arguments for animal rights will start to seem overwhelmingly compelling.
The 50
planetary elite will finally start to award the sentient fellow creatures we torture
and ki a moral status
akin to human infants and toddrers. Thanks to genetic engineering, the huge reduction in gratuitous
suflering forecast here is rikery to take prace. rt seems that the pioneers of bioengineering speak for
our animal kin, against their pain and suffering_

The unfortunate rearity however, is that our anima|s pright is due to their sheer biorogicar lack,
but our
fellow humans are often gagged as their voice of dissent and expression of suffering will ultimately
bring inconvenience to the comfortable lives of the very same planetary elite. Once agajn, technol_
ogy has given voice to our once silent exploited. Through forums, blogs, satellite transmissions
and a
whole myriad of other technological means we hear the once silent cries of our most
disenfranchised
kin' dismantling the barriers that used to inhibit their voice. simpry being able to hear however does
not necessaily mean that their horizons are miraculously brightened. civing voice requires
us to el_
evate the dignity ofwhat they say, earning credibility with the weight of educatjon and maturity
behind
them Beyond the technorogicar toors that ret us hear we need to equip our kin with the articuration
that will help us listen. And see them as one of our own. And hopefully for all living things, have
them
suifer no more.
65

Adapted from
The Hedonistic lmpeGtive: The Taste of Depravity
. by David pearce
 SIMILAR TO

Comprehension Questions QUESTION

2005
According to paragraph 1, how is the sufiering of animals made worse?
Use your own words as far as possible. (3) Question 1

Whal does the statement, 'Aias this is no mere rhetorical conceit'(line 14) suggest about our 2007
usual attitude to animals' suffering? (2) Question 7

From your reading of lines 16-19, what does the author suggest are the similarities between 2004
lhe deception of our'conceniration and extermination camps' (line 15) and the deception of OLeslion 6
the Third Reich's camps? Use your own words as far as possible. (2)

2002
4 Explain in your own words as far as possible the irony in lines 28_30. (2)
Ouestion 2

5 What does the author intend you to understand by the three dots (...) in line 43. (1) 2004
Quest on 2

Using material from paragraphs 3 to 5 of the passage (lines 23 43), summarise how we 2007
-
bring suffering to others, why we continue to do so and how our attitudes toward suffering are Question 10
unhelpful in alleviating its effects. Write your summary in no more than 120 words. Use your
own words as far as possible. (8)

BROADERPERSPECTIVES th€seven iss!e

 SIMILAR TO
Comprehension Questions
QUESTION

What does lhe author mean by the .game ofsee no

evil, hear no evil,(lines 44-45)? 2008
ln what way is this game .senseless ? Use your own
words as far as possible. (2) Question 2

According to paragraph 6, why wourd the morar argument

for animar rights ,seem overwherm- 2003
ingly compelling' (line SO)? Use your own words as far
as possibte. (3f Ouestion 8

I Give the meanjng of the following words as they are used

in the passage.
Write your answer in one word or a short phrase. (S)
refrain (line 1't )
defining (line 18)
stark (line 45)
reprieve (line 47)
compelling (tine 50)

10 David Pearce believes that the suffering of animals gives

us insjght into the suffering of hu_
mans. To what extent do you agree or djsagree with
his views?

Support your answerwith examples drawn from yoursociety,s

experience in trying to manage
suffering. (7)
 SII$ILAR TO

Comprehension Answers OUESTION

2005
According to paragraph 1, how is the suffering of animals made worse?
Ouesiion 1
Use your own words as far as possible (3)

Lifted:An animars inabitity (1/2) to speak (1/2) makes it chaltenging (1/2) to recognize (1/2)
that they are in pain and therefare makes it easier (1/2) for us to ignore (1/2) it
(1/2)
Paraphrased: An animal's powerlessness (1/2) ta nake itseff heard (1/2) makes it difficult
to even be aware (1/2) that they are in pain and thercfore makes it convenient (1/2) for us to
neglect (1/2) ils existence.

2007
what.loes the statement. 'Alas this is no mere rhetor cal conceit (ine14)suggestaboutour
Quesiion 7
usual aititude to anirnais suffering? (2)

Ihe slatemeDl suggesis that it is unfoftunale (1/2) lhal his clains aboul animal suffering are
sinply (1/2) ignored as overtly obvious (1/2) and high'handed (1/2) statemenls'

2004
From your reading of llnes 16_19, what does the author suggest are the similarties behteen
ouestion 6
the deception of our 'conceniratjon and exterminat on camps (line 15) and the deceplion of
ihe Third Reich s camps? Use your own words as far as possible (2)

Lifted: The viciausness and even existence ol these camps are usually camauflaged (1/2)
behind bland euphemisn (1/2). 1 mare nark fat the compaison
Paraphrased: Cansumers loday are nol aware af the atroclties that happen in our slaughtet
hauses as we only see the veneer (1/2) of effective atlveftising (1/2) af meat and meat prod-
ucls. This is similar to haw the cruel intent of concentration camps werc hidden (1/2) hehind
idealistic propaganda ( 1 /2).

2002
Explain in your own words as far as possible the irony in lines 28-30 (2)
Quesiion 2
ln the same way that we harshly punish a ciminalthat exacts cruelly upon children' we are
supposed lo a/so cors/stently punish the peaple who exact cruelty upan animals or even
peo-
ple we da not care about (1) Yet, in actuality, we ignore lheir crimes as it would nat be in our
interest to punish them (1).

( 2004
What does the author ntend you to understand by the three dots ) in ine 43 (1)
(1/2) by which lo su' Question 2
He is trying to suggest that we continue ta use all sons of ather means
perticially make oursetves feel better. fhis attitude is futile (1/2)

2047
Using materlal from paragraphs 3 to 5 of the passage ilines 23 43) summarise how we
Queston l0
bring suffering to others, why we continue to do so and how our attitudes loward suffering are
unhelpful in alleviating iis effects. Write your summary in nomorethan 120words Useyour
own words as far as possible. (8)

Frcm paragraph 3: how we bring suffering (4)

(line 23-34) We arc complicjt in the suffeing of others as $/e choose to beleve it does nat exisl
(line 24-25) We peqetuate sutrenng by financiatty supporting the economic activities thal create it
(ine 25-26) (infered) We indirectly support inhumane labaur canditians and unethical or immoral

(line 28-30) (infefte.0 We clo nol punish those who peryeluate this suffeing

BROADERPERSPECTIVES thesevEN SS!E

 I

;l

Comprehension Answers
I

From pangraph 4: why we continue ta do sa (4)

(line 33) lt is viewed as a fact of \fe
(line 33) And thereforc through cansensus we tve with it.
(line 35 36) Thase that suffer cannot or do not make known thejr
suffering.
(line 36-37) We conveniently assume no one is suffering as we
do not hear ofthet ptight.

From paragtaph 5: how our attitudes arc unhetpfut (S)

(line 39) Ou emotionat response does not result in action.
(line 40) We get caught up in unnecessary debate.
(hne 40-41) We believe that caing too much is simpty futile
and jdeatistjc.
(line 41-42) We are expedient in searching for solutions fot suffeing.
(line 41-42) We use meaningtess and short term sotutians.

' Any l0 points vhlt be awatdpd fttt! maAs

What does the author mean by the ,game of see no evil, hear no evil, (lines
44,45)? 2008
ln what way is this game 'senseless ? Use your own words as far as possible. (2)
Ouestion 2

The author means that we puryasely detract (1/2) from suffering we face
by pretending (1/2)
that if does not exist.
Lifted:... despite the statk prevatence of evit (1/2) that invades our senses daily?
Paraphrcsed: Ibis game ls serse/ess as it is neaningtess (1/2) to avaid the probtem
espe_
cially since it is obvious that jt exists even/where (1/2) as we get reminded
of it everyday by
the media at environment.

According to paragraph 6, why would the moral argument for animal rights .seem
overwhelm, 2003
ingly compelling' (line 5O)? use your own words as far as possible_ (3)
Ouestion

Lifted: Biotechnology will enable the human species cost_effectjvety (1/2) to mass,praduce
edible cellularprotein (1/2) of aflavour (1/2) and texturc indistinguishabte
frcm, ortastierthan,
animal prcducts we now eat (1/2).
Pataphrased:Technology witl soon be able ta develop an affordabte (1/2) substitute (1/2)
fot
food that wi be equat in taste (1/2) and nutrjtion (1/2) to aninat products. Thjs
thercfore
temoves the main reasons why we shoutd kill animals and therefore no tonger justjfies
out
actions. (1)

Give the meaning of the following words as they are used in the passage.
Write your answer in one word or a short phrase. (5)
refrain (line 1 1 ) absfan / hold back / stop oursetves
defining {line 1B) characfeising / distinguishing
slatk (line 45j evident / obvious / striking
reprieve (ljne 47) pardo n / way out of the predjcament
compelling (line 50) coDvincing / persuasive
 Comprehension Answers
10 David Pearce believes lhat the suffering of animals gives us insight lnto ihe suffering of hu-
mans.

To whal exlent do you agree or disagree with his views?

Support your answerwilh examples drawn flom your society s experience in trying to manage
sufferlng. (7)

It wauld be gaod to nate thal although apt anatagy has been drawn belween the suffering of
animals and of humans, the passage is not in fact, atguing for animal rights With aninals'
incapacily to speak comes a moral imperative for usto speak on theh behalf' especially when
technology removes the reason for us to slaughtet animals fat food Sinilarly, it becomes im'
potTant for us Io find avenues far disenfranchised minarity groups or povefty stricken peaple
to speak up and be heard. Pearce thraws many accusations as he develops his argument
Students should pick up an this and argue whether these accusations arc indeed valid

Key arguments that students can consider are:

Whetherthe plight of animals can even be comparcd to the plight of humans in the
first place?

Whether our'butchering and incarceration' of animals is an ovetwrought argument?

Or whethet his aryuments are indeed'merely rhetorical conceit'?

Are we indeed accomptices in bringing suffering ta others through consumerism?

Ot have we exercised initiative in bringing pasilive change to others thraugh
cansumer awareness and sovereignty?

Have we truly remained cleaf to the plight of animals and ather humans because of
aur own canvenience? Are other reasons fot our inaction possible?

Has all that we have done sa far in atleviating suffering truly been ineffectual?

ls the change that technology brings so poweiul as to compel us to stop animal

Are Pearce's suggestians far too idealistic?

BROADERPERSPECTTvES theseven iss!e