11/19/13 Bellringer

The editorial board of a Pennsylvania newspaper has retracted its predecessor's famous panning of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address as "silly remarks.  Received by the newspaper in other areas of the Union.

11/18/13 Bellringer

The U.S. Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion while requiring the separation of church and state.  So I think it depends on the people and if everyone is comfortable in participating in praying before the public meetings.

Debate-- Euthanasia

Legalizing euthanasia would help alleviate suffering of terminally ill patients. It would be inhuman and unfair to make them endure the unbearable pain.  In case of individuals suffering from incurable diseases or in conditions where effective treatment wouldn’t affect their quality of life; they should be given the liberty to choose induced death.  Also, the motive of euthanasia is to "aid-in-dying" painlessly and thus should be considered and accepted by law.  Although killing in an attempt to defend oneself is far different from mercy killing, law does find it worth approving.

 

Mercy killing is morally incorrect and should be forbidden by law. It’s a homicide and murdering another human cannot be rationalized under any circumstances.  Human life deserves exceptional security and protection. Advanced medical technology has made it possible to enhance human life span and quality of life. Palliative care and rehabilitation centers are better alternatives to help disabled or patients approaching death live a pain-free and better life.  Family members influencing the patient’s decision into euthanasia for personal gains like wealth inheritance is another issue. There is no way you can be really sure if the decision towards assisted suicide is voluntary or forced by others.  Even doctors cannot predict firmly about period of death and whether there is a possibility of remission or recovery with other advanced treatments. So, implementing euthanasia would mean many unlawful deaths that could have well survived later. Legalizing euthanasia would be like empowering law abusers and increasing distrust of patients towards doctors.

 

 

11/13/13 Bellringer

1.  If people are in danger then they shouldn't have contact with these animals, but it is the persons decision if he/she wants to be around the animal.
2.  I think it is the right of the trainer to decide, but Sea World should have some safety precautions.

Debate Questions-- Euthanasia

Affirmative Question:

Is there a moral difference between passive euthanasia and active euthanasia?

Negative Question:

Would Legalizing Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide Save Money for the American Healthcare System?

11/12/13 Bellringer

If I was the hunter I wouldn't have done anything differently than he did, because of his injuries he wouldn't get to do anything with his life but live on a breathing machine and be paralyzed for the rest of his life.

Debate-- Mandatory Organ Donation

Advances in medical science mean that the number of people whose lives could be saved by a transplant is rising more rapidly than the number of willing donors.  The law as it stands condemns many, some of them children, to an unnecessary death, simply because of the shortage of willing donors while, as the BMA puts it, 'bodies are buried or cremated complete with organs that could have been used to save lives'.

Organ removal without the expressed wish of the deceased could be distressing for his or her family.  The proposed change in the law is open to abuse, with the possibility of death being hastened to secure an organ needed by some other patient.  The safeguard - that is, the right to refuse permission for your organs to be removed - is inadequate. A terminally ill patient or his/her relatives would be made to feel selfish if permission was withheld.

Debate-- Mandatory Organ Donation

Affirmative Question: 

Why should mandatory organ donation be allowed?.. Is it a violation of peoples rights?

Negative Question:  Why shouldn't we have mandatory organ donation?.. When it can be used to save lives?

11/06/13 Bellringer

I don't agree or disagree with Kmart's decision,  employees working at Kmart should get to spend Thanksgiving with their families, however if they work on this day they should get paid more or something etc.

US is more open to gay rights than other places, article talks about wearing rainbow colors and how it may not be aloud in Russia where the Olympics are being held.

11/4/13 Bellringer

1.  Less people will be voting due to new requirements.
2.  Yes could possibly violate the rights of these voters. 

Debate-- Lowering the Drinking Age

Turning 18 entails receiving the rights and responsibilities of adulthood to vote, serve on juries, get married, sign contracts, join the military - which includes taking on the responsibilities of life and death - and be prosecuted as adults. Adults from the age of 18 should therefore also be trusted to make decisions about alcohol consumption.  Setting the drinking age at 21 is unconstitutional because it is discrimination against the particular age group of 18- to 20-year-olds.

 

When teens drink alcohol, they are more likely to binge drink than people above the age of 21, thus demonstrating that teens are more prone to alcohol abuse than older demographics and should not be allowed to consume alcohol. Since teens who drink alcohol have a higher chance of academic failure, allowing teens to drink will negatively affect more students' academic performance.  Lower drinking ages to 16, 17, or 18 like the drinking age in some European countries is inappropriate for U.S. standards because American teens generally start driving at earlier ages and drive more often than their European counterparts. American teens are thus much more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol if the drinking age were lowered in the U.S. The earlier a person begins alcohol use, the greater the chances are of that person becoming an alcoholic later in life.

 

 

11/1/13 Bellringer

1.  No, it was not a justifiable shooting.
2.  That society isn't what it used to be.