The Five Most Controversial Topics in the USA?

Question

Please give me your opinions and why you have those opinions regarding the following five most controversial civil topics in the USA:

1. The Death Penalty

2. Gay Marriage

3. Abortion

4. The Right to Bear Arms

5. Legalizing Marihuana


We once did a seminar discussion over these topics in a University summer camp I went to, and it got very heated. It was interesting to listen to all the different opinions.

I dont really want to get into president bush because it is highly political, and I want to stick to civil. War in Iraq and Lebanon is military.

I will, however pose a sixth topic:

6. Illegal Immigration

Answer 1

I think you left out some.
President Bush
Illegal immigrants
War in Iraq
Israel
Iran

Answer 2

Hmmm...I'd have to disagree with the topic list. For the five most controversial, I would say:

1. Abortion
2. Religion
3. Illegal Immigration
4. The War in Iraq
5. Politics (in general)

My opionions, to keep things really short, would be:

1. Moral issue and you can't put a law on morality. Has to be legal - there are too many exceptions to the rule.
2. To each his own - no religion should preach hate or intolerance. If I want to have the 10 commandments on my lawn I should be able to. If I want to refuse to say the Declaration of Independence because of the Under God thing, I should be able to. But no one should sue over either of those issues.
3. The system may be flawed, but they're still in the country illegally. Let's get the system changed - but for now, they're breaking the law.
4. Bring the troops home now, and quit trying to police the entire world. We have enough problems in the US, and could be helping countries that really want us there, instead of staying where we are not wanted. It's past saving face. Bring them home NOW.
5. I will not be voting for Bush. I will probably vote Green. If everyone would quit saying that it's a 2 party system, and that by voting outside the 2 parties was tantamount to throwing away your vote, we might actually bust the 2 party system wide open. Go out and VOTE. People died for your right to vote - if you don't vote, you have no right to complain about the government.

To voice an opionion on your other subjects -

Gay marriage - who am I to tell ANYONE who they can and can't love?

The Death Penalty - tough one for me - I think the system needs to change. But until it does - life without parole. It's more of a punishment than death anyways.

The Right to Bear Arms - people should be able to have guns, but I don't think semi-automatics or automatics are necessary.

Legalizing marijuana - legalize and tax the hell out of it. Reduce the defecit and let people smoke.

Good question - one of the more intelligent and interesting ones I've seen. Good job!

Answer 3

Yes, I imagine that seminar did become very heated... when I am at work and these topics come up I have to bite my tongue much too often.. alot of times I just have to walk away... because I will eventually say something to piss someone off... but here goes my opinions nontheless.. I do think there are certain crimes that the death penalty should be use with... such as the molestation or abuse of children.. there is no excuse for it... you have to be a sick, cold hearted, evil person to do something like that.. and really.. how often are these people actually "rehabilitated"... As for gay marriage, can't say I'm all for that...but what two consenting adults do behind closed doors is their business(I don't even want to know) that is between them and God.. but marriage is suppose to be between a Man and a Woman... On abortion... well, anyone who knows me knows I am against it.. its the murder of an innocent life.. how can you say it's illegal to kill a child 1 second after it leaves the womb but it's perfectly ok to kill it seconds, or days or weeks or months before leaving the womb? that makes no since to me. you are killing an innocent life either way.... regardless of what some people think it is still a life, still a human being... not fully developed but still human.. and still alive ... as for the right to bear arms.. I think people should have the right to bear arms.. should have the right to protection for themselves and their families. If the right to keep and bear arms were taken away don't you think that the criminals would still find a way to have weapons? and then the rest of us would be screwed...as for the legalizing of marihuana... well, I'm not sure about this one... I see people who abuse it badly but then again I also have seen cancer patients who used it to help with the nausea and pain of chemo..so I am still unsure on this one..

Answer 4

1. The Death Penalty- I am not sure if I am for or against this.
2. Gay Marriage- Doesn't seem like it will harm me any if gay people were allowed to get married.
3. Abortion- Totally against it.
4. The Right to bear arms- Yes Im for this if the person is properly trained and has passed a psychological evaluation prior to being permitted.
5. Legalizing Marijuanna- Yes would sure save a lot of prison space for real criminals.

Answer 5

I think these are controversial because
1. Justice and Revenge. oh yeah and the taxpayers
2 It's SOOO different then what were used to.
3. People don't mind there own business!!
4. People are scared
5. Goverment -vs-the people $$$$
6. All americans want their cake and eat it too.

Bottom line it's all a matter of opinion. But if things are harsh,different,pro-life,scarey,and a $$ issue its always going to strike up controversy.

Answer 6

1. The Death Penalty-->Against. Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong? Besides, their victims' families live with a life sentence because of their actions. Let's study them instead.

2. Gay Marriage-->For, and not just because I'm same-sex married. We have the right to the pursuit of happiness, and to live in ways that others may disapprove of, so long as no one's being forced.

3. Abortion-->Against except in cases of rape (I can't tell a woman to deal with the changes in her body in that case) or threat to the mother's life. But I care more about prevention than making it illegal.

4. The Right to Bear Arms-->For. I think we need a license and a waiting period, like you get with a car, but an armed society is a free society. With guns, you can protect yourself, even revolt if you need to.

5. Legalizing Marihuana-->For. It should be regulated like tobacco or alcohol. I have seen pot smokers thrown into jail and come out true violent criminals. Why ship a 21-year-old pot smoker to Criminal College like that?

6. Illegal immigration-->My wife would have been called an illegal immigrant, except she and her family were Russian and benefited by Cold War-era policies. My great-grandfather just laid low in Canada for a few years after the Bolshevik Revolution. The immigrants I know seem to have a "there but for the grace of God go I" sort of attitude towards illegals. I understand that, definitely. I don't think it's a good idea to let people in that we don't know about, who may not support America and who are collecting benefits intended for Americans. At the same time, these people are doing important work for us--they're picking our food and cleaning our toilets, and they didn't come here for the fun of it! We need to be kinder and make it easier for the ones who just want a better life to be recognized by law, as well as sort out the ones just here to cause trouble.

Answer 7

I'll answer your questions, but you know you might start a Yahoo Answers riot, don't you?

1. I am for the death penalty in all cases that involve murder of a police officer, a child, a mother, a father, more than one person, including serial killers, and in cases of sexual assault of a child involving rape.

2. I am against gay marriage. I feel that gay people who are citizens of our country and abide by the laws of our country are entitled to the same rights as every other citizen, which is why I support health care benefits for same-sex partners. However, marriage is not a right. It is a privilege God created for a man and a woman, period. There is absolutely no Scripture to support gay marriage.

3. I am against abortion. It not only kills a baby, it devastates and sometimes kills the soul and the heart of the woman who has one. She will never be the same afterwards, no matter how carefully she considered her choices. It is inherently unnatural for a mother to agree to having her own flesh and blood, which is dependent on her for life, ripped from her body. If it was natural, women would not have such strong feelings before and after the procedure. It would be just as routine as a Pap smear or a teeth cleaning.

I also feel that if a woman feels like she must have an abortion, the message she is getting is not only does she not matter, but what she is going through doesn't matter, no one cares about her, and no one cares about her child. How tragic and sad.

4. I believe in the right to bear arms. It is a right under our Constitution, and we are free to exercise it. Banning firearms will not stop criminals from obtaining them, just like banning cocaine hasn't done any good either. Keeping firearms legal allows people to engage in a gun collecting or shooting hobby if they have one, and it allows people to pursue the hobby of hunting wildlife if they choose.

It also allows people to keep guns in their homes. if people who keep guns in their homes are irresponsible about it, and if their irresponsibility leads to injury or death of another person, that person should be prosecuted and perhaps put to death because they are obviously a moron.

5. As far as legalizing marijuana, I say no, keep it illegal. There are millions of people in America who can't even hold their liquor and drive drunk and hurt and kill people, and it just seems like marijuana use would do the same. My brother is quite the pot smoker, and it impairs his reflexes, his judgment, and sometimes his vision and speech. It's ten times worse when he drinks on top of it. The fact is that some people are stupid and irresponsible, and we need to protect ourselves from them.

This of course makes me go back to number four, that we should protect ourselves from idiots with guns and make gun ownership illegal too. It seems logical, except it's in our Constitution, and I would like to retain the right to own a handgun. I like guns and I like the shooting range. My neighbor has an M16 and an AK 47, and I like those too. I was raised in a home with guns and learned how to shoot when I was eight years old, so I'm sure that's one big reason I don't have a problem with it.

How is that for an essay? Do I get an A, or did I just provoke a fight?

Answer 8

The death penalty Yes but bring back the electric chair. If someone kills one of my family I want their death to be painful.That's whats wrong with us we are too nice. If you let me do it I would make it a long death. As far as their relatives,life's a bicth.
Gay marriage? SICK!
Abortion only in cases of rape
The right to bear arms should only be for the mentally competent.
Legalizing pot I dont like pot however I think it should be legalized &they could have pot bars & tax the hell out of it to take some of the tax burden of of us

Answer 9

1) absolutely for it...get some of the scum out of the prisons who are sitting on their butts living the easy life on OUR tax dollar.

2) Why not..leave people alone..everyone deserves to be happy.

3)PRO CHOICE..PRO CHOICE..PRO CHOICE....not pro abortion..How dare any of you presume to tell me what i can and cannot do with my body! If you think abortions are terrible...then dont have one..its a person choice..if they take away that freedom from us, what is next? Many of you say..well i say they are ok in this instance..and this instance..no such thing..they either are legal, or illegal. So keep the choice in case one of "those instances" happens to you, or another woman that you love.

4) sure, but there needs to be some type of control.

5) why not, alcohol and smoking tobacco are legal.

Answer 10

pretend, they are ideally construct upon an analogous fundamentals. As a Christian i do not deny the very reality of genetics, for sure my youngsters may have similar positive houses that I do, yet once you commence replacing species and what not i imagine its a set of BS. also how does organic determination stick with to people after we glance after our a lot less privileged.

Answer 11

do you want my top 5 or my comment on yours? any way:
1 an eye for an eye
2 i dont care if tom & dick get harry-- i mean married
3 murder - but a woman right to choose-this is very gray
4 dont bring a knife to a gun fight
5 it would be a more peaceful world (obese- but peaceful)
my top 5:
1 micheal jackson-- guilty
2 OJ guilty
3 hurricane katrina-- our gov. guilty
4 good jobs being taken from us--lets not blame the prez
5 tom cruise-- what were you thinking?