Guilt by Association?

Recently, Presidential candidate Barack Obama has come under fire because of his friendship with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a former pastor at the church Obama has attended for twenty years. Wright has made some statements that some might consider to be inflammatory, and there are those who think that Obama should renounce the pastor because of his views.

Yesterday, Obama gave a speech in which he disavowed Rev. Wright's statements, but he refused to sever his friendship with Wright.

Read this article to find out just what has made people so mad, and read the text of Obama's speech here.

Now that you know more of the context, here are your questions:

Should Barack Obama cut ties with Rev. Jeremiah Wright? Does Wright hurt Obama's campaign? Are Wright's views reflected in Obama's beliefs?

Explain your answer.

Rewards

By now, you've probably heard of the Lester Street Murders.

During the week in which the police were searching for the murderer, the governor of Tennessee, the Memphis City Council, and many local businesses put up around $81,000 as a reward for information leading to the identification and capture of a suspect.

The killer was identified by one of the victims, a nine-year-old boy who was recovering in the hospital. It is through his information that the murderer was apprehended.

According to Larry Godwin, the Memphis police chief, the reward will not be given to this child because the information did not come through Crime Stoppers. The $81,000 will be returned to the agencies and businesses who offered it.

Question: Should the reward money go to the hospitalized victim? Why or why not?

Make sure you give evidence for your opinion.

Try This One

Since you guys convinced the governor of New York to resign, maybe you can help the city of Memphis make a tough decision.

For several years, the Pyramid has been empty. One day we hear that Bass Pro is going to buy it, and the next day an entertainment company is going to build a theme park inside it.

Of these two options, which would you choose, and why?

Make sure you take a look at these articles. The Pyramid won't JUST be a store or JUST be a theme park; they're planning some other stuff too.

Here's the proposal from Bass Pro.

Here's some information on the plan from Greg Ericson, the guy who wants to make the Pyramid and the surrounding area into a resort (including a theme park).




Personally, I feel the Pyramid should be made into a mummy museum. It's the perfect solution.

Current Affairs

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer was exposed this week as a regular customer of a prostitution ring. Some reports say he spent up to $80,000 over the last 4-6 years.

Question: Should Governor Spitzer resign? What's your reasoning?

Changing the School Week

Which would you rather have: a four-day school week with more hours per day, or a five-day school week with the hours you have now?

Persuade me that your choice is best.

YOU MUST TAKE A STAND!!!!
I do not want answers that say, "Well, I can see why X is good, but I can also see why Y is okay."
JUST PICK ONE AND DEFEND IT.

Influential People

Some people are linking the rising number of eating disorders among teenage girls to celebrities who have dieted themselves to a size 00.

Do you think Hollywood is to blame for this? Explain your answer.