1. What responsibility do countries of the EU have toward screening immigration in each other’s countries? What role would you like to see the US take in this process?
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Thanksgiving Question 2
2. In an ideal situation, the UN would be able to assume the responsibility for easing the suffering of the Syrian refugees. What would you like to see the UN do? Can it? Why or why not?
Thanksgiving question 3
3. What is our responsibility to the Syrian refugees? (by “our” put your home country or adopted country into this slot) How does that responsibility function in concert or in contrast with our responsibility to our own nation's’ inhabitants? Defend your perspective.
Thanksgiving question 4
4. Western news coverage has been focus almost exclusively on the events from Friday, November 13 in Paris. There was also an attack in Lebanon. Why isn’t that covered? Should it get the same amount of time/attention in the Western press?
Thanksgiving question 5
5. Take some time to watch your local news (use several channels for comparison). Then, watch a national news program. And then, check key news websites. Draft a brief comparison of how the different news outlets share information about the Paris . Consider how much time is dedicated to the topic. Consider when in the news program the information is revealed. Is the information editorialized? Or is the opinion of the program more subtle (time given to the topic, placement in the broadcast, etc).
Sunday, March 8, 2015
March Question #3
3) Flags are symbolic representations of any country, whether displayed at the Olympic Games, raised during wars/battles, or in the case of the United States, even saluted ritualistically in a "Pledge of Allegiance." Please read the article below:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/
In your opinion, should the display of the American flag be banned at either LJCDS or TASIS, for all of its symbolism? Is it okay at American institutions for the flag to be flown each day, or, out of respect to others, should it be banned, as it was in this university's lobby?
March Question #2
2) ISIS (the Islamic State) is a fundamentalist Islamic organization that is making headlines for its "ruthless" treatment of those with alternative beliefs. In their minds however, they are following acceptable cultural/religious practices. Contrast this to the Ku Klux Klan of the late 19th century and early 20th century and its "ruthless" attacks on African-Americans. Should there be limits on "free speech" and "freedom of religion" when it leads to fatal consequences? To what point should such groups be allowed to hold and express their beliefs?
March Question #1
1) It was less than 100 years ago that women finally earned the right to vote in the United States. Even today, there are renewed calls for an Equal Rights Amendment to be passed that states, "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State on account of sex." In your opinion, what would the advantages of disadvantages be of passing such an amendment? Is this a necessary step to continually promote the equal treatment of women?
Sunday, January 11, 2015
January question #1: Reparations
1. The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the subsequent Civil Liberties Act Amendment of 1992 made it possible for the families of those Japanese Americans placed in Internment camps during World War II (per Roosevelt's order 9066) to receive reparations for their mistreatment at the hands of the American government. However, no such reparations have ever been offered by the US government for those families who are descendants of slaves, an insidious institution that lasted for centuries longer than the horrible four years of internment for West Coast Japanese Americans. Are reparations the answer for a government's fear-induced/unethical/racially motivated practices? Why was it possible, do you think, for the US government to provide reparations to (most) of the 10,000 Japanese Americans and/or their descendants yet no one has offered reparations to the descendants of slave families?
January question #2: Wealth and capitalism
2. The Industrial Revolution in America provided an opportunity for those with money to become far richer than the standards of the 19th century had ever allowed for before. It allowed a "middle management" to grow, in effect giving America it's first taste of an "Upper Middle Class" and perhaps a true "Middle Class " at all. At the same time, others were terribly exploited in the work force, and the sheer overwhelming nature of impoverished Americans is a huge part of what we study as we examine the "progress" that the Industrial Revolution wrought.
Consider the 21st century and the distribution of wealth in our own time. Are the wealthiest people of the world to be admired? Why or why not? Is our capitalist society "fair"--why or why not?
January question #3: Charlie Hebdo
3. On January 7, three masked men attacked the paper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, killing 12 (including two police officers) and wounding another 11. At the writing of this question, three terrorists have been killed and at least four hostages have died as well. There is still one alleged terrorist at large in the area outside of Paris. The magazine has been under fire in the past (literally and metaphorically) for its controversial depictions of Mohammad (the purported cause of Wednesday's attack). Should such free speech and freedom of the press (consider the US Constitution's 1st Amendment) always be protected? Are the depictions of Charlie Hebdo acceptable? Why or why not?
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