World Cultures Question #10

In Lee Harris' book The Suicide of Reason the writer says the following:

The West (Western Europe, America, etc.) is eliminating the alpha males from our midst, and at a dizzyingly accelerating rate. But in Muslim societies, the alpha male is still alive and well. While we in America are drugging our alpha boys with Ritalin, the Muslims are doing everything in their power to encourage their alpha boys to be tough, aggressive, and ruthless. We are proud if our sons get into a good college; they are proud if their sons die as martyrs. To rid your society of high-testosterone alpha males may bring peace and quiet; but if you have an enemy that is building up an army of alpha boys to hate you fanatically and who have vowed to destroy you, you will be committing suicide.




Discuss the quote with a parent and then answer the following questions...

In what ways is this quote true about males in America? In what ways is the quote false about males in America? Is aggressiveness and toughness not being taught to boys in America?

Do you and your parent agree? Why or why not?

U.S. History Question #10

Matthew 7:3- "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

1 Peter 3:8-"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

Since the founding of our country Americans have debated the idea of whether the United States should be involved in foreign affairs around the world. Whether or not America should be isolated or not is a major issue and one American citizens, Presidents, and Congressmen have often struggled with and continue to battle in the history of our country. In various cases Americans were told that policing the world was a strategic and moral "must": we were "saving the world" and defending our own national security. In other cases people argue that America has enough of its own problems and should worry about its own domestic issues before it tells everyone else what to do.

Consider the verses above and use your knowledge of history to answer the questions below...

Does America have something great to offer other countries in order to help them out? Is that America's responsibility?

Should America act as the world's caretaker and police and enforce its value on other countries OR only worry about the problems inside the country?