Americanists....worldwide!

From Lugano to La Jolla....what a remarkable amalgam of ideas, insights, and perspectives. Welcome to this site. Mr. Izsa (TASIS) and Mrs. Shaul (LJCDS) invite you to join us in our conversations about the history and the realities of America's history and culture--from a decidedly international perspective.

Each month a new series of questions will be posted here by Mr. Izsa and Mrs. Shaul. Please click on the blog posts and write in your comments for the questions below, per your teacher's instructions.

Please make certain that entries are thoughtfully written (check for typos and grammatical faux pas), as erudite as you can make them, and appropriately worded for a school-related activity (note: students from other parts of the world may not share your same philosophies or your same sense of humor, so please be mindful of our differences).

With every blog session assigned, one or two can be direct responses to the questions, but at least one MUST respond directly to the students who have already written posts, answering one thread per question (more is welcome, this is the minimum requirement).Be specific. Explain why you might agree or disagree with their (his/her) opinions. Feel free to "debate" or "discuss" with your international counterpart. Make sure we can identify you with your name so you can receive credit for your contributions.


Tuesday, November 19, 2013

November's Question #1: States Rights and Federal Expectations, now and then

The Federal government of the United States has taken a stand against illegal drugs, yet some states have passed laws allowing for the legalization of marijuana, in certain circumstances.  How does this  conflict compare to the debates regarding other state-fed scenarios (National Bank, interstate roads, the slavery debate)?

November's Question 2: States Rights and Federal Law, 2013


Should individual states be allowed to legalize "gay marriage" or does this violate the Constitution and/or the United States' Judeo-Christian mantra?  Should the Federal government create an amendment determining this one way or another—and if so, what would that amendment look like?