Friday, 28 November 2008

Football

Who would have thought it, the Heaton Manor Union Society holding a debate on football, especially following he infamy of the 'Football Thread'. But next Tuesday's debate will indeed be on the issue of whether the Premiership season should be extended include a 39th game to be played overseas.

The motion will be 'This house believes the Premier League should add a 39th game to be played abroad' the debate will take place on Tuesday 2nd December at 2.45pm in L7. Speaking in proposition will be the Chair of last year's grand final, Jake Robinson who will be partnering David Larke, ICYD finalist 2008. On the opposition bench will be the Society President and former team mate of David Larke, James Bartle and Chris Redfearn who is already making an impression on the society since his arrival at the start of the year.

Saturday, 22 November 2008

Debates unveiled

Hello, there. Perhaps you're still revelling, like many members of the Heaton Manor Union Society, in the delight that the United States of America elected its first African-American President this month. Well, as James has outlined, we celebrated in style with a Sixth Form Vs. Lower School extravaganza. And, two weeks, later, we have now organised our debates for the forthcoming season. Although these debates are subject to change, they're included here as a guide.

Tuesday, 25 November 2008
This House believes that CCTV is restricting our freedom.
SPEAKER: David Lowes
PROPOSITION: Willem Evans & David Larke
OPPOSITION: Sahan Bentotage & Keir Mochrie
JUDGES: Miss M. Murphy, Laurie J. Dudley & Ben Wallace

Tuesday, 02 December 2008
This House believes that the Premiership League should add a 39th game, to be played abroad.
SPEAKER: Keir Mochrie
PROPOSITION: David Larke & Jake Robinson
OPPOSITION: James Bartle MYP & Chris Redfearn
JUDGES: Mrs M. Robinson, Laurie J. Dudley & Saskia Neibig

Tuesday, 09 December 2008
This House believes that religion is preventing world peace.
SPEAKER: David Larke
PROPOSITION: Ewan Gibson & David Lowes
OPPOSITION: TJ Bentotage & Andrew Burdis
JUDGES: Laurie J. Dudley, Miss M. Murphy & Willem Evans

Tuesday, 13 January 2009
This House believes that the media is unfairly demonising children.
SPEAKER: Andrew Burdis
PROPOSITION: Sophie Barker & Saskia Neibig
OPPOSITION: Chris Redfearn & Jake Robinson
JUDGES: Mrs M. Robinson, Laurie J. Dudley & Ewan Gibson

Please follow our 'Forthcoming debates' page at heatonmanorunion.org.uk for up-to-the-minute information. This will be an exciting few weeks at the Society.

Wednesday, 5 November 2008

US Election - reflections

Congratulations to Mr Obama. If I am pleased about nothing else today, I am pleased that America has stood up to the racists within its borders and has shown it can elect a black man as President. It is a shame however the America people fell for his empty rhetoric and threw away the chance of electing one of the most experienced Presidential candidates the country has ever had the choice of electing (my own opinion of course).

But as the campaign is written in to the history books and Mr Obama prepares for inauguration day, it is nice to look back on what a gripping campaign this has been. Once again Britons have proven they seem to care more about an election state-side than we do about our own elections here, showing there is so much we can learn from the American electoral system.

For the society, the campaign has prompted 1077 views (at the last count) of our discussion on the issue and nearly 300 posts. In looking back on the past six months of campaign here are some of the highlights of our discussion:

"Although I quite agree with you that (apart from Afghanistan) Bush's response to the Twin Towers disaster was very good."
Laurie Dudley

"A far better way to diminish the capabilities of the Taliban would have been to use a controlled, small, nuclear explosion in the mountainous/hilly areas where the Taliban was known to be based."
James R Bartle

"I don't think TRUE Republicans can be very 'nice' in any sense really..."
David Lowes

"OBAMA FTW OKAY?"
David Shepherd

"I know that they [conservatives] are complete racist and sexist pigs, so they won't vote for Obama and Clinton, they might just not vote at all!"
David Lowes

"It's not age that's the issue; it's experience. Obama was only sworn in as a Senator in 2005."
Laurie Dudley

"As I said ages ago, Hillary Clinton lights up the stage. Barack Obama just drones on about change in America. Snore."
Laurie Dudley

"A flu virus is more intelligent than an American."
David Lowes

"The notion that Hillary wants someone to assassinate Barack is the biggest joke I've ever heard."
Laurie Dudley

"She can't and won't win now, so the longer the [expletive deleted] fight amongst each other Republicans can win votes!"
James Bartle

"I would like to congratulate the Democratic Party on handing the Republican Party victory in this year's General Election. On behalf of the Heaton Manor Republican Supporters Association can I thank the Democratic Party and its supporters most sincerely. You have no assured us that we won't have a President come inauguration day who wants to end free-trade, negotiate with Iran and leave Iraq in the lurch."
Anon

"It's (and I quote) "too socialist" for the Americans, and, according to some, it's not in their constituents best interests, so, what they're saying is that mass unemployment is in the best interests of the people."
David Lowes

Tuesday, 4 November 2008

US Election

Did Heaton Manor vote the same way as the American people in our US election special debate this afternoon? Well we'll have to wait until tomorrow to know, but it was (as somewhat expected) victory for Team Obama in today's debate.

By Team McCain's own admission we simply didn't do the old man justice and looks like his own campaign team state-side will be guilty of the same. As a declared McCain supporter my tissues are at the ready and I'm looking forward to a miserable day tomorrow as the scale of the defeat becomes clear. Our Chair, Director of Communications and indeed most of the Society can celebrate victory for their candidate tomorrow.