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Points: Up to 15 Time frame: Thursday through Tuesday (May 4) This is another debate. The first two parts addressed juveniles and capital punishment. In this one, we will try to draw together some of the things we've learned during the term and debate the issues of executing juveniles. From now until Weds, you will discuss IN YOUR TEAM AREAS some of the issues below. Then, I will post a question about every 36 hours and you will debate it (as a team). Up to 15 points will be given for the quality of INDIVIDUAL participation. Up to five more will be presented to the participating team members in the private areas. The winning participating team members get an additional five points (so, this is actually worth up to 25 points). Teams A/B will take the DON'T EXECUTE JUVENILES position Teams C/D will take the "Fry 'em" Remember: It's not what you PERSONALLY believe, but rather how well you can muster the issues and defend them. Each of the three questions I pose will be based on the following three questions. As you see, they are somewhat linear. The following questions will appear as separate topics beginning Thursday evening. Question 1: Thursday through Friday midnight. Question 2: Friday through Sunday. Question 3: Sunday through tuesday. 1. Opposition to executing juveniles is based on a notion of "childhood" that ends at age 18. Some people argue that this is appropriate, because by 18, we're physically and emotionally "adults." Others argue that "childhood" is a social construct. Because we can execute "children" for crimes committed as young as 16, the concept of childhood is an important issue. Teams A/B: The "social construction" issue matters Teams C/D: The "social construction issue does NOT matter - 18 is 18, period. 2. The history of executing juveniles shows that it's not been rare. Drawing from this history: Teams A/B - the "history" should end Teams C/D: We should recognize tradition - historical precedents are a guide, 3. Some say that there's something goofy (ie, illogical) about executing a "child" for a crime committed as a child, but requiring them to reach adulthood before actually executing them. Teams A/B - yes, this is goofy Teams C/D - no, it's not!
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