Last week, President-elect Obama chose controversial pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration in January. The selection of Warren, who opposes gay marriage and abortion rights, has disappointed gay rights advocates and some liberal and religious groups. Obama however, defended his decision, saying, “We’re not going to agree on every single issue, [...]

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Football legend Vince Lombardi once reasoned, “Individual commitment to a group effort — that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Read coverage of one of the upcoming weekend NFL games profiled in today’s paper. Next, decide which of the teams best exemplifies Lombardi’s quote. Explain your [...]

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You’ve likely heard the old adage, “Money makes the world go round.” (Sometimes the word “credit” is substituted for the word “money.”) Peruse today’s paper and identify examples of how money (or credit, such as loans, credit cards, etc.) influences consumer spending, the job market, the economy or another aspect of life. Then, decide whether [...]

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President-elect Obama knows that his plans to stimulate the economy, cut the country’s dependence on foreign oil, bring closure to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, reform the health care system and make other important changes will not succeed without the approval of Congress. Consequently, Obama has taken the unprecedented step of personally calling both [...]

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During the Great Depression, when so many people were unemployed, President Franklin Roosevelt moved to create jobs through public works programs that built dams, schools and roads. Today, the country is also facing an increase in unemployment. President-elect Barack Obama has stated that he will “put people back to work” by creating jobs dedicated to [...]

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At a news conference on Wednesday, Nov. 26, President-elect Barack Obama said, “At this defining moment in our nation’s history, the old ways of thinking and the old ways of acting just won’t do.” In small groups, identify and list the reasons for the nation’s critical condition. Then, describe two “old ways of thinking” that [...]

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How would you describe the current mood of the country? Look through the paper as you think about this question. Jot down phrases or words that come to mind as you scan headlines, stories, photos and graphics. Next, select a song from any era and any genre that you think captures the mood of the [...]

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