December 16 - 30
1) Sex is seen as very taboo in various parts of the world. Why do you think this is the case?
2) People all seem to think sex has a different function. Some say to procreate, some say to have fun, some say to connect with your partner. What do you think is the primary function of sex, and why?
3) In light of the rise in STDs in teenagers and the ineffectiveness of sex-only education, do you think schools should teach sex education. Why, and how?
4) In October, the House voted unanimously to recognize the importance of both Ramanda and Diwali. Just recently, they passed a resolution to recognize the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith. Much is being made about 9 members voting against the Christmas resolution but not the others. Do you think it's hypocritical that they voted yes in October but no to the December resolution? Why or why not?
5) Should Congress officially recognize the importance of holidays and religious groups or should they leave it alone? Does doing so allow for problems? And, should they have to recognize every religion?
6) Racism has long been a source for debate and controversy. Where and when did racism start? Has it always been around?
7) Several different policies and laws have been enacted to help combat Racism. Are these policies working? If not, how can they be improved?
8) Is racism truly just a natural human instinct, or is it learned behavior?
9) Endorsements play a huge role in a candidates campaign. Both front runners Sen. Clinton and Obama have a great number of endorsements. Oprah is making a huge scene while endorsing Sen. Barack Obama (IL). Do you think that endorsement will affect Barack Obama negatively, positively, or at all? What is your reasoning? Does it affect the way you feel about him? Why or Why not?
10) Oprah is officially on the campaign trail. Will her endorsement of Sen. Obama affect the other candidates why of campaigning? Do you think more celebrities will start supporting candidates? Do you think we will see a whole lot more of Bill and Chelsea? Do you think this matters at all?
11) Can Oprah do for Obama what she does for books?
12) How does ASEAN affect trade? Is it beneficial to all those involved?
13) The cultures throughout Southeast Asia vary from country to country and sometimes within the countries themselves. How does this affect the international and intranational affairs of these countries?
December 9 - 15
1) More and more, people are turning to alternative sources of medicine in order to cure their diseases. Do you think these alternatives work as effectively as medication? Why or why not?
2) Under the current FDA regulations, drugs must be tested in two animal species, in non-sick people, and in sick people, and be shown to be effective before they can be put on the market. Alternative medicine is often not subject to the same scrutiny. Does this need to be changed, and if so, how?
3) Over the summer Michael Vick was arrested and charged for his role in a dog fighting ring. He was recently sentenced to 23 months... is this sentence enough? Too much?
4) Did anything good come out of this and if so, where does it lead next? Do we strengthen animal cruelty laws across the board, leave them alone or something else altogether?
5) Many claimed that this was more a case of discrimination than it was anything else. Do you agree or disagree with this assessment? Why did race become such a big issue in the dialog surrounding this case and should it have mattered at all?
6) It's nearly impossible to think of a time in which the majority of the world's population did not live some sort of a religious lifestyle. In fact, many of these religious lifestyles are so ingrained, that they've actually shaped the society in which they can be found (rather than the society shaping the religious belief system). Which religious lifestyle has had the most influence in history? Was this influence a positive or a negative influence? How might the world be a different place if this religion had never been formed?
7) Melding religious lifestyles... Chances are, you've met someone who is of a different religion than yourself. Assuming that neither of you would want to convert religions, and both of you would want to try to work things out, how could you find a common ground and meld your religious lifestyles together? How would you raise your children within this newly formed religious compilation?
8) Cultural events... Many of history's religious traditions have worked their way into some of today's most popular cultural traditions. For example, an old Scottish custom, the color white for a wedding dress was introduced by Queen Victoria - prior to that any color was ok except green (which was associated with the fairies) and black (which was for mourning). The tradition of the bride wearing "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue" is still often followed. Traditionally, there were never any knots in ribbons or clothing but these were retied after the wedding - (tying the knot). Research a tradition you find today, such as the color of a wedding dress, Christmas Trees, Yule logs, or any other tradition you can think of. How did this tradition start? How did this tradition evolve over the years into what we see today? Is there a chance that this tradition may continue to evolve, and if so, what will it evolve into?
9) The teacher in the articles above has been arrested and fired from his job. Do you think that his actions deserved an arrest? Why or why not? Should he have been fired? Why or why not?
10) The first amendment grants us certain rights such as the freedom to speak freely. How far does that right go? Do you think that it should be extended to everyone at all times? Or Do you think certain restrictions should be placed on that right?
11) The American Civil Liberties Union is continuously fighting for our rights. Do you think they overstep their boundaries with cases like the one involving a teacher who posted a comment about Columbine? If so, how do you suggest we correct these problems?
12) There has been a genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan since 2003. The international community has fiercely debated what should be done about it. What can the international community do that won't turn Darfur into another Iraq or Somalia?
13) Sudan is currently under the rule of an Islamic theocracy. Is it Islam that is to blame or would these problems exist independent of religion?
14) What are your thoughts on tactlessly named teddy bears?
December 2 - 8
1) Excommunication from the church has been used frequently over the centuries. Why do you think churches routinely exile those that do not agree with them?
2) What are some of the most common causes of excommunication? Why these actions, instead of other, sometimes more serious actions?
3) Should government properties be allowed to display religious displays at this time of year? If so, which displays should be permitted? Which shouldn't? Does this violate separation of church and state?
4) Is there a happy medium in this particular controversy that allows everyone some measure of satisfaction or will this always be an all or nothing argument? What would the happy medium be?
5) Regardless of how well a person knows his or her history, that history undoubtedly has caused or influenced a major part of that person's life or upbringing. Search through and find a piece of history that you might not have been taught and relate it to your life now; is there a piece of forgotten history that has left its influence on your life?
6) Aside from merely forgetting about history, some people choose to deliberately ignore parts of history to suit their own needs/interests. Re-evaluate a piece of history that you may have previously ignored. Have your views changed since you first decided to ignore this piece of history?
7) The Presidential Primary's are getting closer and closer and the tension between the candidates is beginning to rise. With this election having so many minority candidates one question is always asked. Is it fair? Do you think the 2008 election will be fair? Do you think elections have ever been completely fair? Why or Why not?
8) Mitt Romney, a Republican Candidate, is of the Mormon Faith. Do you think this plays a bigger role in his campaign than it should? Do you think that his Faith should be something that keeps him from getting the job or something that shouldn't matter?
9) The Democratic Party has numerous candidates that are of minority groups. Do you think the fact that Barrack Obama is an African- American man or that Hillary Clinton is a woman will keep them from being elected? Do you think that these things should matter?
10) In the 2000 election many believed that Al Gore had actually won the election. Many people said that the voting was unfair. Do you think we could have the same problem in the 2008 election? Or Do you think that everyone will have a chance to vote without problems? Why or why not?
11) Recently, Israel has cut back fuel supplies to the Gaza strip. Is it within the rights of the Israeli government to do so?
12) On both sides of the conflict, people claim that either "Palestinians" or "Israelis" as a people do not exist. Do they?
13) Suicide bombing has been a problem in Israel since the early '80s. Often these people are indigent muslims looking for money for their family. Does that justify their actions?
November 25 - December 1
1) Men and women behave differently, whether in response to a certain stimulus or in their health. How do you think this affects relationships between the genders?
2) There are a number of health issues that only affect women. Do you think more research should be focused on treatment for these health problems, or should we focus more on those issues that affect both men and women?
3) Women are stereotyped as being loving caretakers, whether in the form of a loving housewife or mother. Do you think gender roles are natural progressions of our own bodies (women have more estrogen, while men have more testosterone... does this affect the natural roles these people assume), or do you think the roles are more society defined (through media and expected roles)?
4) Is it cruel and unusual punishment to send a minor to prison for consensual sex acts? If no, who should be sentenced and when?
5) Is there a certain age at which minors are able to responsibly consent to sex with other minors? What about with adults? Should a 16 year old be able to consent to having sexual relations with a 20 year old? A 30 year old? Should a line be drawn and where?
6) Should these laws be uniform across the nation or should they be left up to each individual state to decide?
7) What would consider to be the single most important piece of United States' political history?
8) How much has United States politics/political practices changed over the last 231 years?
9) Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many of the splinter states have become increasingly corrupt. Is this trend unique to these countries' socialist past?
10) In recent years, not only have we seen the overthrow of dictatorships like Kyrgyzstan, but also, the buddings of revolutions in democracies. What does this say about the nature of democracy?
11) The Soviet empire was a thickly woven tapestry of a multitude of cultures. During the cold war, these various cultures were rather suppressed. How has desovietization affected these cultural conflicts?
November 18 - 24
1) Our society is shaped by individual people that make a big impact. Can you think of a person that changed our world for the better? How did they make that big of an impact?
2) Sometimes, a person will have a large impact for the worse. Do they have any common features with the people that change the world for the better? Is there something you think makes a person 'good' or 'evil'?
3) What should be done about hate crimes? Do they deserve to be prosecuted differently than similar crimes with no biased undertones? Do we need federal hate crime legislation? If so, what should the legislation entail and what should be left out?
4) What does the rise hate crimes in 2006 say about society? Can we say from the results of the FBI report that we're becoming more intolerant or is that making too big a leap?
5) Is it better to educate against the mentality that makes hate crimes possible or to pass stricter laws regarding hate crimes?
6) Just recently, the NY state Senate passed legislation that made the depiction or display of nooses on public or private property a felony. Was this a good thing or was it a violation of free speech?
7) Think of some of today's biggest superstitions, such as "walking under a ladder," or "Friday the 13th." How did these superstitions start? And how did they grow to influence so many people world-wide?
8) Many of today's popular movies have basis or relation to past legends. For example, the legend of King Arthur can be seen in parts of "Harry Potter," and "Star Wars" contains several allusions to the Bible, the Odyssey, and other legendary tales. Think of a legend you've heard about and trace its importance in today's storytelling traditions.
9) Think of a tradition used in your family, such as cutting the end off a ham before cooking, or leaving left-overs out at room temperature before refrigerating. How did these myths come about, and are they still relevant today?
10) Myspace is one of the biggest blogs out there. Since its creation the media has been trying to tell parents it is unsafe. Do you think blogs such as Myspace and Facebook are unsafe? If so, What can we do to make them safer? If not, Why not?
11) Instant Messaging is a form of communication. Many teens have said they would rather talk through IM than in person or over the phone. Why do you think this is?
12) The Internet can be a dangerous place. What kind of Internet safety do you practice? If you don't, Do you think you should?
13) Recently, Pakistan's President, Pervez Musharraf, declared a state of emergency, freezing all forms of democracy, and arresting political opponents and journalists. Why did he do this, and is he justified?
14) The US is currently demanding that Musharraf end his emergency rule and step down. Is it in our country's own best interest to do so?
15) Pakistan is a country fraught with factions and border conflicts. How do these affect the international community?
November 11 - 17
1) Ethics is an area that most professions require some sort of training in. Are there certain professions that you think should provide more training than they currently do, and why?
2) Workers in the health care industry face some of the most complicated ethical dilemmas in their line of work, simply because they are dealing with people's lives. How do you think these people should make decisions when faced with various ethical dilemmas (end of life, beginning of life, refusing treatment, etc)? Should every case be treated the same way?
3) In an interview earlier this year, Damien Echols was quoted as saying that it's easier for people to believe Satanists are murdering children than it is for people to believe that parent's are murdering children. Is this true? What does that mean for society and say about society?
4) How big of a role did religion play in the West Memphis Three case? Was there more to the conviction than that?
5) Since the convictions of the WM3, people nationwide have been outraged. What went wrong in this case? Was it Satanic panic, shoddy police work, pressure for a conviction or something else altogether? What have we learned from this case and how should we use that knowledge?
6) Humanistic Traditions have long been a part of every growing society. Quite often we look to civilizations of the past to build a better future. What are some of the most prominent examples of this in the United States Today?
7) Which Ancient influences have helped to form the foundation of the United States and its political regime? Do you believe that these influences hold the same meaning as they did when they were first implemented?
8) Polygamy is a practice where a man is allowed to marry more than one wife. This illegal in the United States. Recently a leader of a polygamist sect, Warren Jeffs, was convited of two counts of rape as an accomplice. He is awaiting sentencing. How harsh do you think his punishment should be? Should he be given the death penalty?
9) "Stereotypes are generalizations about groups and individual members thereof, based primarily on membership in that group. They may be positive or negative, they may be accurate or inaccurate regarding average characteristics of a group, and may be used to justify certain discriminatory behaviors." The South has been known in the past to be very closed minded. Do you think this holds true today? If so, do you think that people such as Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have a chance of winning states in the south? Why or why not?
10) Recently Congress passed a federal ban on job discrimination of homosexual citizens which gives them equal protection in the workplace, also known as affirmative action. Affirmative Action ensures that citizens regardless of race, religion, or gender are granted an equal education and a job in the work place. Do you think this is outdated? Why? If not, Why do you think it is necessary?
11) What does the situation in Somalia show about the necessity for government?
12) Should the UN, AU, and Ethiopia be involved in putting into place a government for the Somali region?
November 4 - 10
1) Science and religion have been at odds for years. Do you think there is a reason for them being so against it?
2) Certain beliefs will require that a follower refuse a type of treatment, whether it be vaccines or blood transfusions. Doctors swear to not do harm. So by granting these wishes, doctors are doing harm. Is a doctor, then, ethically bound to perform these treatments, despite the religious beliefs of the individual?
3) Are there any religions that embrace science, rather than reject it?
4) A jury in a civil suit against Westboro Baptist Church (Fred Phelps) stemming from a 2006 funeral protest recently awarded the father of a soldier 10.9 million dollars in damages. Is this just?
5) Love them or hate them, the Westboro Baptist Church has seen their share of controversy since they began picketing at soldier's funerals. Several states and Congress have passed laws to curtail some of their activities to an extent... is this the right thing to do?
6) Is this freedom of speech? If yes, when does that freedom stop? Is the behavior acceptable (whether you agree or disagree with it)? What would you see done to Westboro and Phelps if anything?
7) Just as any other culturally defining component, religion has grown, developed, and undergone changes throughout history. What are some of the most important developmental changes you can think of within your religion?
8) How has religion affected history or the development of society?
9) Subsidies were first introduced in the in the 1930's to help small farmers grow their crops. Now the subsidies mainly help larger farms. The subsidy program gives farmers extra money for growing their crops and creates a price floor, the lowest price a crop would be sold for. Do you think that subsidies are a good as they are? Or Do you think they should be taken back to there original purpose, helping small farmers?
10) America has made statements against the violence and rape of women in Darfur. Do you think that our laws against these same type of actions are strong enough? Why or why not?
11) Ever since the event with the group known as Jena 6 occurred racial tensions have been high in certain areas of the country. Do you think that flying a confederate flag is a symbol of racism or is it as symbol of history?
12) Recently the debate for socialized health care has been increased, not only because of the upcoming Presidential election, but because of various health care bills that have come up to Congress. Do you think that Congress is doing its job done? Why or why not?
October 29 - November 3
1) For years the debate over the religious state of the nation has raged. Did the Founding Fathers ever intend for this to be a Christian nation or a nation of any one religion? What happens if we go that route? What changes? What stays the same? And what does it all mean?
2) The Pew Center Survey (link above) recently revealed that only 56% of the population believes the "freedom to worship as one chooses" applies to all groups, no matter how extreme the beliefs.... Is that an accurate reflection of what religious freedom means in the United States?
3) Many religions have some religious practices that seem unusual to outsiders. How do you think these practices developed?
4) Some religious practices can be violent in nature and cause harm to those that partake in them. Do you think we (as a society) should stop these practices at any cost, or should we recognize them as religious practices based on tradition? Where should we draw the line on what's 'wrong' in these practices?
5) In what ways does the war in Iraq differ from Vietnam (in other words, I'm sick of hearing the similarities)...
6) War has been around since before politics; so if politicians aren't a cause for war, what is?
7) Wars have also brought about new technologies, methodologies, equipment, medicines, professional fields. What are some things around today that would/might not be around had it not been for a war?
October 21 - 28
1) Is Turkey justified in its cross-border raids into Iraq to quell the PKK?
2) Does the PKK have the right to create a sovereign state?
3) How do these groups' actions affect the rest of the world?
4) General Wesley K. Clark and Kal Raustiala say courts "are increasingly wary" of classifying terrorists as "unlawful combatants." What does this shift in thought mean for the War on Terror and United States law? Does it change anything?
5) Should individuals residing in the United States that are not United States citizens be granted basic Constitutional rights, even if they are suspected terrorists? What do cases such as that of Ali Saleh Kahlah Al-Marri mean for American law?
6) Is the Christian Right correct in damning the book for its use of witchcraft? Do you think Harry Potter has any good 'lessons' to teach children? Do you think the books should be meant for children at all?
7) Do any religious people besides the Christian Right denounce Harry Potter? Do some praise him?
8) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has been one of the most anticipated books of our generation. Yet several newspapers published reviews that included spoilers of the plot and other aspects of the book before the release. How do you feel about this?
9) History has a way of always staying with us and affecting our lives even today. What major historical event do you think helped to contribute to the way the world is today?
10) As the saying goes, Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. Can you think of something today (besides a History class) that might be different if people knew their history better?
11) Love him or hate him, everyone feels strongly about President George W. Bush; How do you think he stacks up to our past Presidents? Would he make them proud, or make them turn in their graves?
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