Issue26 [shining sep作文组] 8.17

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TOPIC: ISSUE26 - "Most people would agree that buildings represent a valuable record of any society's past, but controversy arises when old buildings stand on ground that modern planners feel could be better used for modern purposes. In such situations, modern development should be given precedence over the preservation of historic buildings so that contemporary needs can be served."

WORDS: 482          TIME: 1:01:59          DATE: 2006-8-17

Buildings represent a valuable record of any society's history. They are symbols of a national culture. The speaker asserts that modern development should be given precedence over the preservation of historic buildings to serve the contemporary needs. It seems reasonable on the surface, but weighing in the mina, hardly could I agree on this point totally. In my view, historic buildings should be protected selectively, and destroying all old buildings for modern purposes is not a appropriate decision.

First of all, many old buildings are invaluable relics. It is unwise choice to destroy the irreplaceable old buildings which have high historical significance and art value. For example, the Imperial Palace in Beijing is a famous historic building, which has existed more than five hundred years until now. The Imperial Palace receives thousands of visitors per day. It could show the Chinese traditional culture to the foreign tourists, and exhibit the living place of emperors of China in the past. Although it is located in the best place of Beijing, the government would not destroy it for modern purposes. Because no matter what would rebuild on the Imperial Palace, it can not bring people the same value as the Imperial Palace.

Moreover, old buildings can teach people to remember history. Many famous building, especially constructed in the war time, have their unique meaning, which can encourage people, such as Great Wall. Great Wall which was built nearly two thousand years ago was used to defense foreign enemies. In the history, The old Chinese people defeated invasion of other countries many times. As the symbol of diligence and fortitude, Great Wall inspirited the Chinese people to fight against with Japanese invaders until victory. So when seeing Great Wall, Chinese people would remember the history of being aggress by others, and shake themselves together.

Finally, it is improper to preserve all old buildings unselectively. In the big cities which have a long history, there must be a lot of old buildings, but some of them are worthless, such as old residential areas. When they impede progress of cities seriously, government should consider to remove them for modern purposes. If the profit that new building brings to people are much more than the value of historical buildings, the  government even could give precedence to modern development over the preservation of historic buildings. For instance, building the Three Gorges Project would raise the water level of Yangtze River, which would flood and destroy some relics and old buildings. Comparing the hugh benefit with the value of old buildings, the government decided to achieve the Three Gorges Project.

To conclusion, old building is an important part of human's history and it can represent a culture of a nation. To measure the positive and the negative effects of old buildings carefully is the precondition of destroying old buildings for modern purposes. To protect old buildings is to protect history.