2006_03_Session_A_sample speeches

1. Should Japan focus more on relations with other Asian nations?

Japan definitely should focus more on relations with other Asian nations. In fact, Japan has little choice but to do so. Three main reasons come to mind, and the first economic. Many people believe that the 21^st century is the Asian century. Already, several Asian countries, including China, have experienced double digit growth in the last several years. Some economists predict that China’s economy will be the world’s largest by the middle of this century. To remain a strong economy, Japan must strengthen its trade and business partnerships with its Asian neighbors. The second reason is political. Due to strong economic growth and rapid militarization in Asia, political power is shifting in Asia, as well as throughout the world. Japan cannot ignore these changes. Japan must assert itself in the Asian region to remain a political force and to provide stability and balance in an era of change. Japan should utilize its past history of war and more recent history of peace to push for mutual understanding, goodwill and political reconciliation. The final reason is geographical. Much has been made of the fact that Japan is an island nation, but no nation today should encourage its people to maintain an island mentality. We are inherently tied to one another, and Japan is especially tied to other Asian countries due to its location. In fact, our very nature as Japanese, as well as our culture and history, have been shaped by our vicinity to China, Korea and other Asian states. For these three reasons, Japan must strengthen its ties to the nations of Asia.

Japan definitely should focus more on relations with other Asian nations. In fact, Japan has little choice but to do so.

Three main reasons come to mind, and the first economic. Many people believe that the 21^st century is the Asian century. Already, several Asian countries, including China, have experienced double digit growth in the last several years. Some economists predict that China’s economy will be the world’s largest by the middle of this century. To remain a strong economy, Japan must strengthen its trade and business partnerships with its Asian neighbors. The second reason is political. Due to strong economic growth and rapid militarization in Asia, political power is shifting in Asia, as well as throughout the world. Japan cannot ignore these changes. Japan must assert itself in the Asian region to remain a political force and to provide stability and balance in an era of change. Japan should utilize its past history of war and more recent history of peace to push for mutual understanding, goodwill and political reconciliation. The final reason is geographical.

Much has been made of the fact that Japan is an island nation, but no nation today should encourage its people to maintain an island mentality. We are inherently tied to one another, and Japan is especially tied to other Asian countries due to its location. In fact, our very nature as Japanese, as well as our culture and history, have been shaped by our vicinity to China, Korea and other Asian states. For these three reasons, Japan must strengthen its ties to the nations of Asia.

2. Is it possible to report the news objectively?

Some people assume that news is merely the reporting of facts or events unfolding in the world, and thus conclude that news is basically objective. But this is an overly simplistic view. In reality, events of people are often made to look better or worse than they really are. For example, a report about a politician may only focus on a negative event associated with that politician. An image or video accompanying that report will generally make that politician look dark, angry or particularly vulnerable. In addition, news stories are often sensationalized to make them appear bigger than life, shocking, or somehow threatening to our existence. Stories seek to stir our feelings, whether those feelings are sympathy, anger, fear or disgust. For this reason, the most shocking stories are highlighted, while other less sensational events are left unreported, even if they are ultimately more significant. Why do news programs seek to sensationalize? They fight for the same viewer ratings that other TV programs do. Similarly, news publications are fighting for greater circulation, and in this day of free Internet news, stories that scream out at us can make the difference between a newspaper’s or magazine’s survival and closure. For these reasons, news reporting is subject to the same exaggerations and distortions of truth as other kinds of information exchanges, whether they are neighborhood gossip or the most recent product advertisement.

Some people assume that news is merely the reporting of facts or events unfolding in the world, and thus conclude that news is basically objective. But this is an overly simplistic view.

In reality, events of people are often made to look better or worse than they really are. For example, a report about a politician may only focus on a negative event associated with that politician. An image or video accompanying that report will generally make that politician look dark, angry or particularly vulnerable. In addition, news stories are often sensationalized to make them appear bigger than life, shocking, or somehow threatening to our existence. Stories seek to stir our feelings, whether those feelings are sympathy, anger, fear or disgust. For this reason, the most shocking stories are highlighted, while other less sensational events are left unreported, even if they are ultimately more significant. Why do news programs seek to sensationalize? They fight for the same viewer ratings that other TV programs do. Similarly, news publications are fighting for greater circulation, and in this day of free Internet news, stories that scream out at us can make the difference between a newspaper’s or magazine’s survival and closure.

For these reasons, news reporting is subject to the same exaggerations and distortions of truth as other kinds of information exchanges, whether they are neighborhood gossip or the most recent product advertisement.

3. Have modern farming methods become too industrialized?

Modern farming methods have clearly become overly industrialized, and we the consumers are paying the price. By price, I don’t mean money, for the creation of large farms has actually brought us greater volumes of food at lower prices, which are clear benefits. What we don’t often see, though, are the underlying negative aspects that affect our health and security. Industrial farmers are business people, first and foremost. Their goal is to mass produce at the lower cost, for the biggest margins. They use large amounts of fertilizers to speed up crop growth, and then cover their crops with pesticides to protect their investments. Today’s produce lacks the vitamins and minerals of the produce our ancestors consumed. Studies of produce quality show a 50 percent drop in the content of vital nutrients compared with earlier produce. In addition, small farmers are being undercut and are being forced out of business. Many varieties of fruits and vegetables are becoming extinct, because industrial farms choose to grow only in a limited number of varieties, those that bring in the largest profit and pose the smallest risk. With fewer varieties, crops are more prone to diseases that could potentially wipe out particular crops. Moreover, in this age of globalization, large farms send their products overseas using preservatives to keep them artificially fresh. The days of truly fresh, highly nutritional locally grown meats, dairy products and produce are drawing to a close.

What we don’t often see, though, are the underlying negative aspects that affect our health and security. Industrial farmers are business people, first and foremost. Their goal is to mass produce at the lower cost, for the biggest margins. They use large amounts of fertilizers to speed up crop growth, and then cover their crops with pesticides to protect their investments. Today’s produce lacks the vitamins and minerals of the produce our ancestors consumed. Studies of produce quality show a 50 percent drop in the content of vital nutrients compared with earlier produce. In addition, small farmers are being undercut and are being forced out of business. Many varieties of fruits and vegetables are becoming extinct, because industrial farms choose to grow only in a limited number of varieties, those that bring in the largest profit and pose the smallest risk. With fewer varieties, crops are more prone to diseases that could potentially wipe out particular crops.

Moreover, in this age of globalization, large farms send their products overseas using preservatives to keep them artificially fresh. The days of truly fresh, highly nutritional locally grown meats, dairy products and produce are drawing to a close.

4. Do competitive sports build character in children?

Competitive sports can build character in children and can teach them valuable lessons about life. Through sports, children can and often do build stronger bodies, become team players and learn to endure. In addition, many athletes gain confidence by overcoming various obstacles. But competitive sports can also do more harm than good. Children can become overly competitive, and the most successful can become too narrowly focused and egocentric. Most students are familiar with arrogant school athletic stars who set poor examples for other athletes. And many schools place far too much emphasis on competitive sports, especially here in Japan. Children with athletic skills are often pushed into joining teams or clubs. There, students are forced to practice long hours every day throughout the year. Many are too busy and too exhausted to seriously pursue their studies or undertake other interests. By the time they graduate, many school athletes find that they are not well rounded and have few skills to help them face the various demands that life places on everyone. Thus to the question, do sports build character in children, comes a qualified “yes.” But first we have to consider the sport, the particular context and the character of the child before jumping to any simple conclusion.

In addition, many athletes gain confidence by overcoming various obstacles. But competitive sports can also do more harm than good. Children can become overly competitive, and the most successful can become too narrowly focused and egocentric. Most students are familiar with arrogant school athletic stars who set poor examples for other athletes. And many schools place far too much emphasis on competitive sports, especially here in Japan. Children with athletic skills are often pushed into joining teams or clubs. There, students are forced to practice long hours every day throughout the year. Many are too busy and too exhausted to seriously pursue their studies or undertake other interests. By the time they graduate, many school athletes find that they are not well rounded and have few skills to help them face the various demands that life places on everyone.

Thus to the question, do sports build character in children, comes a qualified “yes.” But first we have to consider the sport, the particular context and the character of the child before jumping to any simple conclusion.

5. Do arranged marriages have a role to play in society today?

Arrange marriages do play a role in modern Japanese society. Many young Japanese today prefer what is called romance marriage to arrange marriage and some even oppose the concept of “arranged marriage.” But many of these same people fail to consider how arranged marriage has changed over the years, and how many people have benefited from this option. First of all, I’d like to talk about how arranges marriage has evolved. The traditional view of arranged marriage has a parent, or other authoritarian person choosing the marital partners for young people, often without their consent. Arranged marriage still carries the stigma of this outdated approach. Today, young people choose to review information and photographs about prospective mates. They meet only those who appear to be the most compatible and the most attractive to them. Many young people are simply too busy or too shy to meet a variety of prospective mates on their own, so arranged meetings provide a needed service. In fact, today’s arranged marriage is really more like a practical dating service than the old model of forced marriages. By viewing arranged marriages as just one useful alternative for people looking for partners, we can see why it still play an important role in Japanese life.

But many of these same people fail to consider how arranged marriage has changed over the years, and how many people have benefited from this option. First of all, I’d like to talk about how arranges marriage has evolved. The traditional view of arranged marriage has a parent, or other authoritarian person choosing the marital partners for young people, often without their consent. Arranged marriage still carries the stigma of this outdated approach. Today, young people choose to review information and photographs about prospective mates. They meet only those who appear to be the most compatible and the most attractive to them. Many young people are simply too busy or too shy to meet a variety of prospective mates on their own, so arranged meetings provide a needed service.

In fact, today’s arranged marriage is really more like a practical dating service than the old model of forced marriages. By viewing arranged marriages as just one useful alternative for people looking for partners, we can see why it still play an important role in Japanese life.