Gay Marriage in Class

[TechieGuy]

So let me get this straight if I say nothing to defend family values I am not sinning? I was always taught to say something whenever the truth lacked representation.

Again, you did fine - the instructor asked for comments about the persuasiveness of the argument and you gave a response that was relevant to the subject.

You weren’t there to defend orthodox values, you were there to learn about public speaking and to comment on the persuasion techniques used in the video.

Which you did…good job…

 

[QwertyGirl]

When I took public speaking in college we had several assignments which were to prepare and deliver speeches on topics which were patently false. The idea was to see how persuasive one could be. So, for example, I gave a speech that revolved around the idea that rain falls up, instead of down.

Then the class would critique your delivery, persuasiveness, etc.

When you go to a secular college you aren’t going to be submerged in Catholic values or around people who are interested, necessarily, in Catholic answers. What if everyone on the class was of their own religion and felt they needed to incorporate that into their critique? I think it was fine that you bring up the concept that people with strong religious beliefs would be difficult to persuade while giving this speech. That is truthful, and something all good speechmakers keep in mind. They meet their audience.

 

[Clementine14]

And, when I said I had to say “nice things” I was editorializing. I honestly didn’t mean to mislead anyone with that phrase. And, yes I get impassioned about things. Please don’t hold that against me. I didn’t realize other Catholics don’t see this the same way I do. But, thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut, because now I know!

As a college instructor, it is one of my pet peeves when students misrepresent something I have said or asked them to do. On occasion, I have been “reported” to a student’s advisor for something that didn’t actually happen, and thankfully have always had an email trail to back it up. So if the professor didn’t actually say that you had to say something nice or you would be marked down, that does change your initial argument considerably.

I think you did just fine by saying that not everyone would necessarily be persuaded by the speech. In college, you are not always going to be able to get into a debate with everyone. You will need to be discerning regarding when it is time to take a stand and when it is time to stand back a little. I teach at a secular university, and if I made every assignment into a defense of the Catholic faith I would be fired. Part of my job is to evaluate the strength of students’ arguments, and students can make good, well researched and supported arguments on any side of an issue. I don’t think you need to over-think your participation in the discussion, but make sure that you are not misrepresenting a professor, because sometimes these things can actually affect a professor’s job.

 

[F_Marturana]

In general you should speakbwhen your speech can prevent something immoral from happening.

So if someone asks advice on something. Or if you are in a position of authority. You speak so someone can hear you.

This young person as raised in this scenario. You speaking about it isn’t likely going to cause him to realize the immorality if his parents. This person is probably seeing that he was raised well and cared for.

 

[teddy1]

Actually I believe the oldest form of marriage is not between one man and one women, but it was the practice of polygamy. So marriage has been defined many ways, there is no one true definition.