Discussion Class

Discussion Class Topics

- Friday the 21st of November -

(12pm)

- Are all cultures equal? -

We are often told we should respect other cultures. That just because something is different, that doesn't mean it is bad or wrong. Different cultures developed out of the situations and conditions of the place they came from. But should we accept all cultures, and especially should we accept them as equal? Is it morally right to say one culture is better than another?

This conversation was sparked recently by a YouTube who went to an Indian village and filmed a cow dung festival, in which the local residents roll around and throw cow dung (poo), because their god was born in cow dung. Many western people are looking at this and saying "wait a minute, that is a backwards culture, and our culture is definitely better than theirs'" and more specifically "why are we accepting people into our country from places that have these backwards cultures?". Another example is the Bacha bazi, from Afghanistan, where adult men get young boys to dance for them, before they rape them. It's their culture, and has been practiced for possible a thousand years by some estimates. Is it right for us with different cultures to day that other cultures are good or bad, or right or wrong? What justification do we have? And if we have that authority, what is stopping other countries and cultures from saying that our cultures are bad and wrong? How would you feel if a foreign person said one of your cultural practices was strange or bad?

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Let's discuss this!

- Friday the 21st of November -

(8pm)

- New York's new Mayor -

New York has just elected its first muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani. A democrat in name but self described socialist, he has a history of immigrant advocacy and community organising. His campaign focused on perennial issues in New York such as affordable housing, public transport, and other more typically left leaning issues such as climate action, reducing economic inequality, and mental health support for criminals.

Critics argue his plans are completely unfunded and unworkable, and in Trumps words "these communist plans have never worked and will never work". Some warn that raising taxes will push people out of the city, and introducing state run grocery stores will push markets out as well (as well as people losing their jobs).

So can Mamdani deliver on any of his promises? They are promises we've all heard before, especially from socialist politicians...and they usually always fail.

How can New York deal with its high housing prices, terrible infrastructure, and high crime rate?

And does Mamdani's win signify a wind change in American politics away from Trump and right wing politics towards a more left wing and/or socialist style politics?

Let's discuss this!

- Sunday the 18th of November -

(11am)

- What will be the energy source of the future? -

During the 19th century, coal was the primary source of energy for human civilization. This is because when coal is burned, the heat can be used to boil water which would turn machinery. However, in the 20th century, the world transitioned to oil. While oil has been very beneficial to society there is concern over the long term effects of pumping tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which is a byproduct of burning oil.

So, throughout the second half of the 20th century and continuing into the 21st century there has been much deliberation on what fuel humanity should use to power its future. What do you think? Should we continue using oil or transition to an alternative form of energy? Among the current available options which do you think would be the best option? How long do you think this transition would take?

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Let's discuss this!