Role-Play Debate for course EngC 1015

This would make for an excellent debate topic because not only is it relevent to the current state of the world, it is a globalization issue, an issue of the U.S.'s responcibilities/powers, it's an educational issue, and it's not a clear answer. By having this as our topic, we'd be forced to keep up with what's going on in the world today and make an informed judgement on a very hard to choose topic. Kids today shrink away from those kind of hard decisions, and I think it adds another benefit to having this as a topic in that it tackles a tough, uncomfortable issue. If we resorted to debating something about the U of M or something we didn't really care much about one way or another, what benefit to better ourselves would it have besides a grade? College is about internalizing learning instead of just vomiting memorized facts onto a paper like Highschool was. It's about confronting these greater world issues and I think this is a perfect topic to bring these issues to the table and expand our rather sheltered worldview.

I agree with John that this should be one of the topics because of its relation to globalization. I would personally much rather discuss a global issue than issues such as lowering the drinking age. I do find all of these issues to be important in our lives but for this debate my personal preference leans towards a topic that I don't know enough about. So, even though I don't know that much about the US involvement in North Korea it has been one of those issues I have been itching to learn more about. I would love to learn more about it through a "cyber debate" in this class.

As with the two people above me I too agree that this topic should be debated. Involvement in North Korea is an international problem, and our actions could have repercussions that effect the entire world, much like Iraq has. Compared to some of the other topics for example should Tim Pawlenty's free tuition plan be implemented, should the UofMN have foreign TAs and Professors, and Target vs. Wal-Mart: Which is more evil which only affect a small percentage of people. The North Korea situation has the potential to effect a larger percentage, especially if a draft were implemented to combat N. Korea. Also I think people have lots to say about this topic and a debate on it will allow us to hear various viewpoints that we might not other wise hear.

No reason to restate everything said above, I believe this is a good topic for debate.

This would be an excellent topic for discussion not only for the reasons outlined above (regarding globalization, internationalism, etc.), but also because there are a variety of possible "things" to do or not to do. Exploring these possiblities can be very interesting, and digging deep, through past views, straight into the big picture will allow people to find out a little more about the situation. There is also a wide variety of implications, some positive and some very negative, regarding actions that could or could not be taken. It's more than a can of worms...it's a JAR...

I think this would be an excellent topic for debate because it is linked with globalization and it would force everyone to stay up on current events as the people before me said. But also it would force us to view the world not only from the view of an American citizen but also view it from the point of view of North Korea and how the people there are surviving and why Kim Il-Jung believes these kinds of actions should be taken.

The topic of the U.S. getting involved in North Korea would be an excellent issue to debate. As others have mentioned, there are a number of different viewpoints and ideas about the actions the U.S. should take. We could look at the topic in all different ways and better understand the whole situation. Also, by examining the different courses of action, we can determine the effects of them even before any mistakes or regretful situations arise. It is important that we know about this subject in the future because it will be a pressing issue for many years to come. I think that it is important to talk about something global and big picture like and not just an idea of how the drinking age should be lowered.