Journal 11/30

What does it mean to be "broad-minded"?  

Provides some examples of how you see yourself as being a "broad-minded" individual in the way you live your life and based on your personal views of other people and the world.

Reaction #5 - 11/28 The 700-mile Fence #2

Reaction #5 - 11/28
Topic: Was the US Congress right to pass legislation to build 700 miles of fencing on its border with Mexico? - Will a Fence Benefit the U.S. Economy?

Using the same background information from the previous reaction, adjust your argument to the following topic: Will a Fence Benefit the U.S. Economy?

Please use the arguments FOR and AGAINST in the research that relate to this question. Go to the following LINK for more get the information.

Please submit your response to your blog. Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #4 - 11/26 The 700-mile Fence #1

Reaction #4 - 11/26

Topic: Was the US Congress right to pass legislation to build 700 miles of fencing on its border with Mexico? - Is it moral and democratic to build such a fence?

Background:
The debate over constructing fencing on the US-Mexico is not new. The Clinton administration, for example, passed legislation in the mid-90s that called for fencing around the major US metropolitan centers on the border. Yet, the extent of the inflow of illegal immigration (roughly 500,000 annually) as well as the growing Hispanic demographic in the United States has caused many people to view a more extensive fencing system as increasingly urgent.

The recent politics and legislation: The pressure to somehow resolve the illegal immigration problem caused the US House of Reps and the Senate to propose two immigration reform bills in late 2005 and early 2006. While both bills attempted to create a comprehensive approach that went far beyond border controls, they widely diverged on a philosophical level. Senate bill 2611 approached the the issue with a much more tolerant and inclusive approach. For example, it proposed an amnesty and a path to citizenship plan for illegal immigrants. The House bill 4437 in contrast adopted a much more strict approach, making the presence of illegal immigrants in the country an aggravated felony, which would invariably call for the detention and deportation of illegals. As a result of these major philosophical differences, compromise between the two bills became very unlikely. One of the major points of agreement between the legislation, however, was on building a border wall of some kind. The two chambers decided to adopt the plan to build a 700-mile wall, which was initially proposed in H.R. 4437. This passed through the House on Sept. 14th, 2006 in House Resolution 6061 (H.R. 6061) - "Secure Fence Act of 2006" - with a vote of 283 to 138. On September 29, 2006, the Senate confirmed H.R. 6061 by a vote of 80 to 19.[1] On October 26, 2006, President George W. Bush signed H.R. 6061, which was the voted upon and passed by the 109th US Congress.[2] The debate's key questions include the feasibility of constructing a fence of this length, the capacity of it and other measures to establish "operational control" over the borders and to deter illegal immigration, the extent to which illegal immigrants and "coyotes" (traffickers) will be able to adapt to the new security conditions and maintain a continuous stream of immigrants, the symbolism of this wall, the possible diplomatic costs, and the potential dollar costs.

PLEASE NOTE: The argument you are trying to make is to be focused on the morality of building of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border using the given information. Please try to keep your argument to this point.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO THE SECTION THAT READS, "Principles: Is it moral and democratic to build such a fence?" TO GAIN INFORMATION FOR YOUR ARGUMENT.


YOUR REACTION: Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST the Morality of Building a 700-mile fence on the U.S.-Mexican Border.

Please submit your response to your blog. Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #3 - 11/19 Teaching Creationism

Reaction #3 - 11/19

Topic: Should schools be allowed to teach creationism alongside evolution as part of their science curriculum?

Background: Many Christians believe that the earth and all living things on it were created by God in seven days. This is denied by the theory of evolution. Since the origins and development of life are an important part of the school science curriculum, the question of what schools should and should not be allowed to teach is an important one. There are differences between the debate in Britain and in the USA. In Britain, schools must teach evolution as part of the National Curriculum, but are not barred from teaching creationism as well, and some religious schools, such as Emmanuel College in Gateshead, have done so, presenting creationism as fact and evolution as a matter of faith. In the USA, pressure has been put on school boards to enforce the teaching of creationism and evolution as equally controversial scientific theories (as in Ohio), or to remove evolution from the list of examination topics and therefore make it less likely to be taught (as in Kansas).

Please note: This argument you are trying to make is whether Creationism can be taught alongside Evolution as a scientific theory. You are NOT arguing your personal views, specifically.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.

YOUR REACTION: Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST Teaching Creationism in Schools. Please submit your response to your blog.

Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #2 Genetic Screening - 11/15

Topic:  Genetic Screening - Should parents be allowed to perform "genetic screening", selecting healthier or more desirable embryos to give birth to?

Background:  What is "genetic screening"?  Using In Vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques, an embryo can be made by the fertilization of an egg with a sperm outside the female's body.  The resulting embryonic cells can be tested by removing one and screening the DNA complement to ascertain the presence of specific genes.  The procedure is already being employed in labs.  It can help to identify potentially debilitating illnesses or inherited disorders, and also for the determining the sex of a baby to allow parents carrying a sex-linked disorder gene to procreate without passing on genetic disorders to their children. This technology has brought a host of issues to the forefront of media and science.

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.

YOUR REACTION:

Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST Genetic Screening.  

Please submit your response to your blog.  Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Reaction #1 Corporal Punishment for Children - 11/13

Topic:  Corporal Punishment for Children - Is physical force a justifiable method of punishing children?

Background:  This debate shares something with Corporal Punishment (for Adults), namely whether the infliction of physical pain can ever be justifiable; but the issue of "paddling" or spanking for children is less about punishment in itself and more about punishment as a means of education.  How can young children learn the difference between right and wrong?  How can teachers establish order in the classroom and enable a better environment for learning?  

Directions - go to the following LINK and read over the arguments.  

YOUR REACTION:

Based on your research, develop an argument FOR or AGAINST Corporal Punishment for Children.

Please submit your response in your blog.  Be prepared to discuss your argument with the class.

Journal #14 - 11/9

Where is a place that you can go and just be yourself?  Describe this place and explain why it has this effect on you.

Journal #13 - 11/7

If you were to plan a road trip in the lower 48 states, where would you go and why?  What places would you stop along the way?

Journal #12 - 11/6

Where is the best place you have travelled to?  Why did you like this place so much?

Journal #11 - 11/5

If you could travel to only one place, anywhere on Planet Earth, where would you go and why?