AQ/Tan Ping Hao/10s403

I feel that both the first author's point of murder and violence being higher in nations with the largest income inequality and the second author's point of riots and crime occuring in destitute neighbourhoods are not very applicable to the Singaporean context in our present society.

In the first passage, the author states that "murder and violence are higher in nations with the largest income inequality." This may be because the large income gap in society creates pressure for the poor as they fight for survival. In some countries, the poor and rich live in seperate societies even though they come from the same country, and form a hierachy. People from the upper caste are able to receive education, unlike the lower caste who can't afford it. Thus, while the upper caste are educated on both academics and moral values, the lower caste are only educated on how to survive using their own abilities. Thus, when faced with pressure, these people may end up resorting to violence and even crime when faced with desperation for wealth and survival. An example of a country like this is South Africa, where the lower caste have to fight tooth and nail for survival. However, since there is very little or no income disparity in Singapore, this is not very applicable to the Singaporean context. Though it is true that the income levels across various occupations in Singapore differ, everyone is subjected to at least secondary school level education and are taught moral values from young. Everyone in Singapore thus has the ability to hold jobs that allow them to live adequately. Thus, income and economic disparity is eliminated. Therefore, it cannot be used as a reason for violence and murder cases occuring in Singapore, if any.

In the second passage, the author claims that "the riots are geographically and socially very circumscribed: all are occuring in about 100 suburbs, or more precisely, destitute neighbourhoods". This could be because the poor feel that it is unfair and they had received biased and ill treatment by the rich, for example, discrimmination, so they form riots as a form of resisting and to win back their rights. Again, I feel that this is inapplicable to the present Singapore society as "destitute neighbourhoods" are a minority, or rarity, in Singapore. Singapore, being a prosperous country, enjoys a high standard of living. The government also offers help to those Singaporeans who need financial aid. Thus, it is nearly impossible to have destitute neighbourhoods in our country. Furthermore, the Singapore government has also set strict rules and regulations regarding riots in Singapore, following the aftermath of disasterous riots like the Maria Hertough riot. Thus, rioting in Singapore is never seen in the present, so this author's point cannot be applied to the Singaporean context.