TJC09_violence/ Chermaine/10S416

From passage 1, the author says that “Another observation is that murder and violence are higher in nations with the largest income inequality.” Due to the inequality in income, people who are generally poorer might resort to criminal violence in order to get what they want and to be able to be on par with those who are generally richer, leading to a economic issue. However, this is not very evident in Singapore. Under the good governance of Singapore government whom provide subsidies healthcare and education for those who are generally poorer, the income gap between the rich and the poor are being arrowed. Hence, income inequality is not very dominant in Singapore. There are many ways in which the poor can seek help to improve their lives other than resorting to criminal violence. Subsidies and help are given by the government to those with lower income. Healthcare subsidies are given to the unemployed as well as the aged to lighten the load of their living expenses. Therefore, Singaporeans do not have to resort to criminal violence to get what they want. Government provides help for the people, hence there is no need for criminal violence.

From passage 2, the author states that “Many see the violence as religiously motivated, the inevitable result of unchecked immigration from Muslim countries.” It highlights the social issue. That the difference in religion and race might lead to criminal violence. In order to stand up for their religion or race, people begin to resort to criminal violence. This might be evident in Singapore. As Singapore is a multi racial society, it is inevitable that people of different races might have difference in their idea and might result in conflicts. Hence, these conflicts might inevitably lead to a large scale of criminal violence. An example would be the racial riot. There was a racial riot that occurred in Singapore, between the Malays and the Chinese. This had occurred due to miscommunication and also when both the races fail to understand each other fully. Hence, living in a multi racial society, whereby everyone has their own beliefs, it can be common that people end up disputing over racial or religious differences. Hence, in order to protect the religion or race that one feels strongly for. One might unknowingly resort to criminal violence to protect one’s stand by harming the other party, like what happened during the racial riot. Whereby, the two races fight against each other and there were many casualties. Hence, the social issue of criminal violence that is motivated by religion is evident in Singapore.