Ground Zero Mosque Debate

On the week right after half term, Mr. Evershed was away, so Debating was canceled. Not that I would have attended, as I was sick practically the whole week, but it's the principle of the thing; because Mr. Evershed was away, it doesn't look so bad for me to skip another session.

The prepared debate about the Ground Zero Mosque ("THBT a mosque should be allowed to be built near Ground Zero") was finally debated this Monday, the 1st of November.

It sucked big time.

First of all, the teams were all mixed up since quite a substantial number of people were not in attendance. On top of that, it had been about 2 weeks since I'd done the research and I was unfamiliar with the topic. It was my first time trying the role of the First speaker, and I had no idea whatsoever how to start the debate.

I spoke like a 6th grader debating for the first time.

At least it's so bad that it can only get better from here...

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On the topic of the actual debate itself:

The "Ground Zero Mosque" is a planned mosque being built near the 9-11 World Trade Center terrorist attacks Ground Zero. I feel that it brings into focus the still on-going tension between religious ideology even in the 21st century, and even years after 9-11. The ongoing controversy and debate surrounding it is another symptom of the mutual hate and suspicion that the terrorist suicide bombings, religious wars, etc, going on in the world, especially in the Middle East, are rooted in.

screenshot of my section of the debate research/plan: