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GLOBAL
SENSE:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
PART
III:
THOUGHTS
ON THE STATE OF WORLD
AFFAIRS
- .
11.
From Argument to
Arms
- .
12.
Sacrifices to
Superstition
- .
13.
The Seat of
Wretchedness
- .
14.
Conquering the
World
- .
15.
The Tyrants' Last
Stand
- .
16.
Hints for Global
Democracy
- .
17.
A Government of Our
Own
- .
-
-
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My
first wish is to see this
plague of
mankind, war, banished from
the earth.
- George
Washington
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Chapter
11. From Argument to Arms
- Is the war on
terrorism worth losing our civil
liberties? Why or why
not?
.
- The author asks,
"Why refuse to give peace a chance when
peace is the only chance we've got?"
What does this mean to
you?
.
- Compare and
contrast the 1775 "massacre" at
Lexington with the 2001 terrorist
attacks on New York and Washington, DC.
How has each event changed the
world?
.
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Those
who can make you believe
absurdities
can make you commit
atrocities.
- Voltaire
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Chapter
12. Sacrifices to
Superstition
- Paine and the
author present an array of
rationalizations used by authoritarian
rules to stay in power. What's your
response?
.
- What do you
think about leaders using emotionally
loaded terms like homeland,
fatherland or motherland to
unite their
followers?
.
- How does the
Internet help or hurt our sense of
community?
.
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The
people never give up their
liberties
but under some delusion.
- Edmund Burke
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Chapter
13. The Seat of
Wretchedness
- What
are the consequences of giving in to
authority addiction in our homes,
schools, workplaces, communities, and
nations? Please discuss each level of
society in turn.
.
- Do
you agree that renouncing authority
addiction is necessary for us to create
real democracy and world peace? Why or
why not?
.
- Do
you believe nonviolence can defeat
despotic leaders? Why or why not?
.
- The
author argues that global thinking has
caused him to behave more responsibly
in his life. How is this possible? How
does global thinking influence your own
choices in daily life?
.
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Who
is powerful?
He that governs his passions.
- Benjamin
Franklin
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Chapter
14. Conquering the World
- What drives
people, especially men, to conquer the
world? Do you agree with the author
about why?
.
- If a craving to
rule the world is proof of insanity,
are all would-be kings and messiahs
inherently unfit for leadership? Why or
why not?
.
- Do you believe
that world peace will ever be possible?
Why or why not?
.
- Discuss Nazi
Hermann Göring's strategy for any
government getting the people to go
along with a war of conquest. Why does
this strategy work? Can you name recent
examples of this strategy being
used?
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It
is to be feared when America has
consolidated its despotism,
the world will witness the truth
of the assertion.
- Mercy Otis
Warren
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Chapter
15. The Tyrants Last Stand
- If
it's true that tyrants always oppose
any law that gives liberties to the
people, what can we do to assert our
rights and freedoms?
.
- If
government leaders offer to revoke the
repressive security laws providing that
they get to stay in power, would you go
along? Why or why not?
.
- If
you've gone along with a petty dictator
in your home, on the job job or
community group, what were the
consequences for you? Would you do it
again? Why or why not?
.
- If
we'd have real freedom in society,
would the result be chaos? How does
your reply reflect your beliefs about
human nature?
..
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On
the road from the City of
Skepticism,
I had to pass through the Valley
of Ambiguity.
- Adam
Smith
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Chapter
16. Hints for Global
Democracy
- Do
you believe a global constitution among
sovereign democratic nations would help
or hurt humanity? Explain your
reasoning.
.
- Would
Paine's plan for writing a constitution
of the United States work for writing a
constitution uniting the world's
nations? Why or why not?
.
- The
author proposes a "direct republic" in
which the legislatures draft laws and
the voters have final approval (instead
of a president). If people are educated
enough to vote wisely, could this plan
work?
.
- What
economic model would you prefer on a
global scale, capitalism or socialism?
Why?
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Were
there a people of gods, their
government would be
democratic.
- Jean Jacques
Rousseau
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Chapter
17. A Government of Our Own
- The
author asserts, "Global sense is
necessary and sufficient for
peace and democracy." Use logic to test
the validity of this statement.
.
- Do
you agree that society is full of
would-be messiahs awaiting a chance to
save the world in trade for power to
rule our lives for us? What can we do
to resist the temptation?
.
- What
would you put into a declaration of
global interdependence to help humanity
become free of our authority addiction?
Explain your reasoning.
.
- If
nonviolence is the best path for
securing our freedom, what can you do
when faced with government coercion by
force or fraud? What are your thoughts
and feelings about passive
resistance?
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