AmericanLit Summative Blog

Recently, in this modern world, there are more and more cases related to violent video games which effect children of all ages. Studies have provided a statistical comparisons between large groups of children who do and don't play violent video games. And it turned out to be the groups of children participate in violent video games have a higher violent thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

      

I know that nobody really actually know what was up with Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold and the reasons why did they cause the Columbine massacre. I know that it is not right to blame a single thing. But the two of the things that I think that affect and cause such violent thoughts and behaviors of them are violent video games and the US Gun Law. I think the society and the authority should do something to prevent such painful death and lost. I think the gun law in US as well as every where in the world should be stricter and tighter.Also, I think parents should really care about what games their children play. Is it violent? Is it appropriate?

There was several articles about kids kill people after playing Grand Theft Auto (GTA). Basically, Grand Theft Auto is a video game encouraging violence and awards points to players for killing people. It allows the player to make a crime, to go crazy and to simply shoot up anything in vicinity, to steal a car you like, to stomp a person you don't like, to blow away a cop in your way. 

In 2005, an eight-teen year-old boy Devin Moore lived in Alabama was convicted for the 2003 shooting at a police station. He had played Grand Theft Auto day and night for months. It had been told by a police man, Devin Moore shoot two police officers and a dispatcher as he was being detained for allegedly stealing a car. He grabbed one officer's .45 pistol and killed all three before fleeing the station in a police cruiser he stole from the station. After arrested, Moore is reported to have told the police: "Life is like a video game. Everybody's got to die sometime." The game industrial gave him a menu that pop up in his head, which offer him the decision to kill the officers, shoot them in the head and then flee in a police car, just as the game trained him to do. 

Recently, in another similar case, where an eight year-old boy intentionally shot and killed his grandmother after playing video game with a gun. The police believed that he had been playing Grand Theft Auto IV just minutes before the homicide occurred. This shows children does affect by violent video games. But another aspect of this ... where did the gun purchased? Why did they even have it?  How did he get it? Where was it placed? In the US, any eighteen and above can purchase and freely use guns. Such as in the state of Florida, you don't even need to register to purchase a gun or even a license. I am agree that during the time of war, the gun law wasn't that strict and it was stated in the American constitution that every man had a right to defend themselves. But looking at a situation, where an eighteen year-old girl could just walk in a gun show and purchase a weapon with no questions asked. Isn't it about time that the gun law in American be revised?

     

Multiply 25 Rule and 4% Rule

I learned something new in my Personal Finance class last week. I found it really cool and interesting. I would like to ask you a question. Do you know how an estimate of much money you will need in the future for your retirement? Well, when my teacher ask my class at first, I have no idea how much will i need. I was wondering is it even possible to know it. And then Mr.Hallam introduced us to this multiply 25 and 4% Rule. So basically, these 2 rules will help to guide how much you will need for your retirement and how much should you withdrawn each year so you don't go broke or bankrupt. 

So to estimate how much money you will need for your retirement, just simply multiply your desired annual income by 25. And to guide how much you should withdraw once you're retired 

• For example: 
• Multiply by 25
• I want to live on $40,000 per year in retirement; I will need to have $1 million dollars in my retirement portfolio. ($40,000 x 25 equals $1 million)
• 4% Rule
• When I retire with $1,000,000 in my portfolio. In your first year of retirement, I will withdraw $28,000. ($1,000,000 x 0.04 equals $40,000.
• The following year I withdraw the same amount, adjusted for inflation. Assuming 3 percent inflation, so I will withdraw $41,200. ($40,000 x 1.03 equals $41,200.) 

And you might ask, what if the money is running out. Well, I would say, If you have you current in an investment account, you should not worry to much. Because, eventually the money left after each month you withdrawn will continue to growth over time. 

Reflect: I was taking with my dad about one of the thing i was really considered about was the Central Provident Fund. It was really confusing, hard to understand. My dad also reminded me of this one story. One time, my family was going home on a taxi which the driver was a Singaporean, he was really open, he shared with us his story, he was complaining about the CPF. And one thing, he is really old, he should have been on his retirement. He was saying that when he was young, the government was saying all kind of thing to encourage the citizen to put their money into the CPF and promised them that will give them back their money with interest. Now, he is old, he needed that money to take care of his family and his old life. But the amount that they give out is not enough. So he still have to drive taxi everyday until now. At the time, I did not know what he was talking about, because I did not know about the CPF. I made me refuse to put a lot of my money in there because of his story. I don not is it true or not but I will have to make a lot more research about this. 

A Short Story

        A widow had to work hard to bring up her son.  This was after her husband left her when their little son had turned two. Being a widow, having no permanent job and supporting her son, she is not well-off. Mary and her son, Max lived in a small rental house nearby the country side.

        The silence of the night was broken by the sound of typing keyboard. It was already twelve, but Mary was still trying to type as many documents as she can. It was one of her extra job which she hoped to find some extra money. There were so many times that Max had persuaded her to quit that extra job, because he was worried about her health condition. Nevertheless, she just brushed aside.

         As she tirelessly typed those countless documents, Max took a peek at her as he was lying on bed. She looked haggard recently and even her eye bags were getting darker. Max couldn’t stand to look at her any longer. He shut his eyes and silently cried through the night.

      Mary didn’t want Max to have the same life as she did. She wanted him to concentrate on his studies and get good results. As time flew by, Max finally graduated his high school with honor and received scholarship from a university in USA. Mary was really happy yet sad and went round telling her neighbors. She couldn’t wait till the day he would be successful and the day she will move to live with her beloved son in the crowded modern country. But on the other hand, Max was really happy to live far away from his mom who he thought an old unfashionable ugly woman.

      Time passed by, Max had his own family; he married to a lovely girl and had two adorable daughters. He would never tell them anything about his single mother. Six years away from home, yet he had never visit his mother. The only thing he did was sending a plenty of money for his mother each month. He thought that it was enough to pay back her for raised him up.

     One day, Max’s wife opened the main door and there was an old ugly woman. Max was in shock when he recognized that it was his mother.

         “My little son, my son, I miss you so much.” Mary cried out.

         “Who is your son, granny? I don’t know you!” Max busted out.

         “What are you talking about? I am your mother, Max. I miss you” she said.
        “Go away. I said I don’t know you. Otherwise, I am going to report to the police!” Max screamed.

       “Oh, I am sorry, I got the wrong person. Wish you and your family healthy.” she said in a deep voice. She walked away in tears. Max was too crying pain inside.

        Two years later, Max went back to his country side. He went back to the small rental house where he spent a quarter of his life. He knocked on the rusty metallic door and hoped to find his mother running out and hug him. As he was knocking, a neighbor came and asked him “Are you Mary’s son? Where have you been for the last seven years? Your mom passed away one year ago. I am sorry to say that but she left you this letter.” My finger could hardly open the letter; they were frozen after I heard that news. The letter was stained with his mother’s tears. Max couldn’t stand it and his tears started dropping down.

        “My dear little son, I know that one day you will receive this letter. I know that it is too late for me and you to meet again. But son, don’t be sad. Just read what I am going to write and you’ll know that I am always with you. The money that you sent to me, I didn’t use anything because I know that it is going to be useful for you, not me. Remember the time I ran for jobs, I save every single cent to send you to school and provide you everything. With this money, you will have to use it wisely, okay! And there’s another thing that I never did tell that you injured your right eye when you were three. Doctors were hopeless and there were no other ways to save it. So I gave my eye to you. My wish came true, I will always be with you, I can see what you are seeing, I can feel what you are feeling, and I will cry and laugh with you, my dear. Lastly, I wish you and your family happy. And I do really miss you my little son. Good bye. Just remember that I will always be with you no matter what.”

      “I will always be with you no matter what” Max regretted for neglected his mom. He finally realized what Mary did for him and all the love she gave to him. “Mom, I was wrong, please come back with me, I deserved to die, not you. OH… what did I do? Mommy…!” Max screamed and shouted and felt more regret than ever. He collapsed on the floor and tears ran down his eyes. Memories flashback in his eyes and he would never forgive himself for what he had done.