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Youth boredom

Definition of boredom

"Boring sia.." This term seems to be very popular among youths nowadays. It may sound harmless, but have you ever wondered what it can lead us to? Well, there are things that might sound impossible.

When they lack momentum or leisure skills, the youths tend to get bored, as it is common for everybody to get bored when they suffer from lack of interesting things to do, hear or see.

The common boring times to youths are during the evenings of weekdays, when they would be sitting down, doing nothing or watching television. Sundays are also considered as boring times, because there is nothing to do, no where to go and no friends around.

Consequences of youth boredom

These youths are not just any ordinary bored people. They seem to turn to detrimental behaviours to overcome their boredom; pre-marital sex, running away from home, truancies, drugs or alcohol usage, under age smoking, self-abuse, piercing, tattoos, delinquencies and etceteras... This can lead to social isolation, domestic violence or even sexual abuse.

Why are they bored?

Some parents restrict leisure opportunities because they want to protect their youths from from negative influences of the outside world, without realizing that it is causing rebellious attitude to develop in them. It is also said that the communities offer limited recreational activities. This leaves the youths to not have enough social and recreational activities.

There are more reasons why youths get bored. No privacy may also be one of it. Youths want privacy because they feel as if they are growing older where they want to be independent and they just cannot stand parents intruding in their each and every activity. They have no where else to escape from the intrusions of parents and certain people who they feel uncomfortable with. Therefore they decide to turn to the detrimental behaviours stated above.

Family breakdown may be one of the reasons too. There would be discordance present where they might just get sick and tired of disagreement. When a home becomes a place where they no longer feel at home, they tend to go out to find things to do or maybe to see their friends. Here is when negative peer pressure plays a part in influencing them to the detrimental behaviours.

Solutions to youth boredom

To prevent all these, Singapore has set up organizations to deal with these bored youths. There are societies like YMCA, YWMA and etceteras. In the government schools, students who always create trouble are sent for counselling sessions to correct their behaviour. The government has also come up with new rules that youths are restricted to stay out after 11 pm. The government claims that this restriction would prevent youths from delinquencies.

There is an organization named Youthopia, which organizes activities such as; Anti drugs sports carnival, performances by youths or even local bands and many more. It also provides a Youth Centre where magazines, books, resource and research materials, informational brochures and event flyers to keep them updated, conductive meeting rooms and internet stations are available. They have also set up a youth park where the youths can just settle there whenever they feel bored; they do not have to turn to the delinquencies to overcome their boredom.

From our point of view

As youths, we strongly encourage the youths out there to do community service; cleaning up the old folks' homes, talkingto the elderly about their pasts, sing and dance along with them happily. In this way, they can have peaceful and harmless pastimes. They should have a clear mindset, reminding themselves of the phrase, " Choices have consequences".

Lastly, we would like to advise all the youths out there to have principles to follow in life. This would prevent them from going astray whenever they feel bored. Reading anger management or teenage problems books would help them to understad their problems better, as well as improve their English. Finally, we would like to say, "Youths, think before you act!"

August 29 9:07:14 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it

Hero-worshipping

Hero-worshipping is to love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess or venerate someone as an idol (to idolize). People tend to get interested in celebrities at times when they are looking for direction in life, as in their teenage years. A third of people reportedly suffer from a Celebrity Worship Syndrome, a fascination in the lives of the rich and famous that can become a dangerous addiction.

This trend is worrying to me because celebrity worshippers are likelier to suffer from anxiety, depression and social dysfunction than those who are not. They tend to be extroverts. Like, socially, lively, active and adventurous (in a negative way). The next stage, which affects about 10%, is when they develop an "intense-personal" attitude towards an idol. Such as they believe that they have a special bond with the star. These addicts are often neurotic, tense, emotional and moody.

These include celebrity stalkers and people who are willing to hurt themselves or others in the name of their idol. They collerate with symptoms of psychosis, such as impulsive, antisocial and egocentric behaviour. Like the case of the high school bombing in Saint John, New Brunswick. Some students made a plan to kill other teens and teachers at their school. Luckily some students over heard the plot and told their principal, and the school called the police. The police searched the lockers and homes of the students in question, and uncovered a scary plot.

They found a list of names, a pipe bomb and gunpowder. They also found a date for the attack - April 20th, Adolf Hitler's birthday and the anniversary of the Columbine massacre. (On April 20, 1999, two students went on a killing spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. They killed 12 students, 1 teacher and then themselves.)

The students are now charged with possessing an explosive device. Some details about their extra-curricular activities are also causing some concern. They are air cadets, and two of the teens are now also under military investigation for a separate incident that happened just three days before their alleged bomb plot was revealed.

Does Adolf Hitler deserve the idol title? Maybe to certain people yes. But the disadvantages he created are more than the advantages. He used charismatic oratory and propaganda, appealing to economic need, nationalism and anti-Semitism to establish an authoritarian regime.

At the time of Hitler's death most of Germany's infrastructure and major cities were in ruins and he had left explicit orders to complete the destruction. Millions of Germans were dead with millions more wounded or homeless. In his will he dismissed other Nazi leaders and appointed Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz as Reichspräsident (President of Germany) and Goebbels as Reichskanzler (Chancellor of Germany).

Since the defeat of Germany in World War II, Hitler, the Nazi Party and the results of Nazism have been regarded in most of the world as synonymous with evil. Historical and cultural portrayals of Hitler in the west are almost uniformly negative, often neglecting to mention the adulation the German people bestowed on Hitler during his lifetime, though the vast majority of present-day Germans share a negative view of Hitler.

Eminem is considered as an idol to certain people. He has not done a contribution that made him deserve to be venerated as an idol. He just wrote songs that some parents think as bad influence to their children. In spite of this, there still are people who are so fond of him. I understand, Eminem has an amazing love towards his daughter. Which I myself admire. But the critics in his lyrics are unacceptable to certain individuals. Do you think he deserved the uncountable awards he achieved? Maybe he does, he wrote music with quality. He expresses his feelings in his songs, the negative part of it is the bad influence he causes. Like he mentioned in his song he wants to kill his wife, insulted his own parents with abusive language.

How about Mother Teresa? She sure deserves the heroine title. At the age of 38, she realized her life's mission was to minister to the poor. She began the Sisters of Charity in Calcutta. Under her direction, the Sisters of charity ministered to the sick and the hungry of Calcutta. Showers love and food to anyone who came to the mission's doorstep. She began giving speeches worldwide, helping to bring attention to the plight of the poor everywhere. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and her position as the world's greatest champion of the downtrodden was firmly established. Towards the end of her life, Mother Teresa was a friend of kings and presidents worldwide. But it was with the poor that she chose to spend most of her time, traveling to war-torn areas.

Elizabeth Cady, a freedom hero. She fought for women's rights. Part of Elizabeth’s inspiration came from the death of her brother, the only male sibling. Elizabeth went to her pastor the day after her brother’s death and told him that she needed to become well educated in math and higher language classes, this was her desire at age 11.She won the Greek competition, even though she was the only girl in these higher level classes at Johnstown Academy where she attended school.

At thirty-three years of age, Elizabeth began to voice her opinion on women’s rights. She later developed a group of men and women who formed the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York.

Elizabeth was voted the president of the Woman’s Suffrage Organization in America. This organization changed the lives of women by reassuring their determination to make sure women had the right to vote. The Woman’s Suffrage Organization also fought so that women could have the same equal opportunities, as well as educational and employment opportunities, that men had. Through this organization, Elizabeth Cady Stanton met Susan B. Anthony, another Woman’s Rights Activist, and they became close friends and worked as a team, to change the world for women. In 1848, with the help of Stanton and Anthony, the Married Woman’s Property Act of New York was passed. This act allowed women to be able to have custody of their children, hold property, make contracts, keep their own earnings and inheritance, and sue in court.

Without Elizabeth Cady Stanton, women would not have the same equal rights as men, today. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was so brave for standing up and fighting for her rights as a woman, especially during a time when women were looked down upon and laughed at for wanting the same rights as men. I am truly inspired by Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s bravery, courage, and determination. Without a doubt, Elizabeth Cady Stanton is my hero.

A hero is someone who has an unbelievable amount of courage and bravery, someone who is not afraid to say what they feel, someone who doesn’t pretend to be something they aren’t, someone who is independent, and does things for the well being of others, but most importantly, my hero must be determined, and dedicated to their goal. My advice to all, hero-worshipping is not entirely wrong. It is alright to adore someone, as long as it is controllable everything will be just fine. We have to consider the real heroes out there that really deserve the title. To venerate one as an idol, we should always think whether they have done anything worth admiring for. Just look at the politicians who obscure self-serving motives behind dazzling smiles and expensive haircuts, super models that hide anorexic bodies behind layers of makeup. Hollywood makes heroes out of decidedly un-heroic narcissists. Do you think they deserved it? I want everybody to think maturely before venerating one as an idol.

August 10 5:23:26 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it

The ugly Face of RACISM

As I walk along a particular tranquil lane on the seventy-seventh street, I will always come across a beautiful graffiti on the wall. It looks impressive at the first sight, not many would have noticed it is just another obvious expression on racism. Intimidation, physical violence, also racial ethnic slurs are just another examples of obvious racial discrimination.

I just do not understand why these people would rather squander their time in expressing gruesome remarks on racism whereas other beneficial things can be done with the time spent. There are also more subtle examples on expressing racism, such as discrimination in hiring, apartment rentals and admission to certain areas.

Still wondering what discrimination means? Discrimination is the denial of equality based on personal characteristics, (what i am referring to is races and colours) which is usually based on prejudice and stereotype. No law can prevent prejudiced attitudes. However, the law can prohibit discriminatory practices and behaviour.

Unfortunately, these expressions are often ignored as people do not know how to deal with them. However, each individual has the right and responsibility to speak out against racism. Otherwise, their tongue-tie may be interpreted as tacit approval of discrimination.

It is not as if we cannot combat racism. Object to racist jokes and insults, organise poster or essay contests, intercultural activities and develop a policy statement against all forms of racial discrimination. These are just some ways to combat racism, there are other ways that can be done.

Racism poisons the atmosphere of trust we need in order to live in peace and harmony. It just creates more havocs and chaos in this world. There will never be peace when we keep ourselves busy differentiating with others. Are we really that different? Even if we are, is it wrong to be different? Why don't we just appreciate each other's diferences and accept the fact that our blood are red and our bones are white. We are all humans. Even animals do not make their differences as big issues.

July 23 9:51:41 PM | Add a comment | Read comments (5) | Permalink | Blog it