Imagine your country has a certain budget that can be allocated either to the self-defense force or to sports programs. Which area should receive the funding, and why? Consider the potential impacts on national security, international prestige, and community well-being in your response.
☆Let’s Read
Excerpt
from An Appeal from the “Article Nine Association”
Through the use of weapons reaching the cruelty of the atomic bombs of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Second World War claimed over fifty million lives.
As a result, the citizens of the world learned the lesson that resorting to force
should never be an option, even for the purpose of resolving international
disputes.
Bearing an enormous responsibility for having continuously pursued a war
of invasion, Japan decided to work towards realizing this global vision, and
thus established a constitution including Article Nine which stipulated the
renunciation of war and of military force.
…The
use of force only results in robbing a country and its people of their
livelihood and of their happiness. Since the 1990s, armed interventions by
major nations into regional conflicts have also failed to result in effective
resolutions. That is why, in such places as Europe and Southeast Asia, efforts
are being strengthened to create regional frameworks that can help to resolve
conflicts through diplomacy and dialogue. … Based on Article Nine, Japan
needs to develop ties of friendship and cooperation with the peoples of Asia
and other regions, and change a diplomatic stance that only prioritizes a
military alliance with the United States. Japan must play an active role in the
tide of world history by exercising its autonomy and acting in a pragmatic manner.
It is precisely because of Article Nine that Japan can engage its partner
nations in peaceful diplomacy while respecting their various positions, and
collaborate with them in the fields of economy, culture, science and
technology.
ヒロシマ・ナガサキの原爆にいたる残虐な兵器によって、五千万を越える人命を奪った第二次世界大戦。この戦争から、世界の市民は、国際紛争の解決のためであっても、武力を使うことを選択肢にすべきではないという教訓を導きだしました。/ 侵略戦争をしつづけることで、この戦争に多大な責任を負った日本は、戦争放棄と戦力を持たないことを規定した九条を含む憲法を制定し、こうした世界の市民の意思を実現しようと決心しました。/ …なにより武力の行使は、その国と地域の民衆の生活と幸福を奪うことでしかありません。一九九〇年代以降の地域紛争への大国による軍事介入も、紛争の有効な解決にはつながりませんでした。だからこそ、東南アジアやヨーロッパ等では、紛争を、外交と話し合いによって解決するための、地域的枠組みを作る努力が強められています。/ … / 憲法九条に基づき、アジアをはじめとする諸国民との友好と協力関係を発展させ、アメリカとの軍事同盟だけを優先する外交を転換し、世界の歴史の流れに、自主性を発揮して現実的にかかわっていくことが求められています。憲法九条をもつこの国だからこそ、相手国の立場を尊重した、平和的外交と、経済、文化、科学技術などの面からの協力ができるのです。 (「九条の会」アピール一部抜粋)
☆Let’s think
1.
How
would spending more money on each choice affect national security, international
prestige, and community well-being?
2.
Considering
specific conditions of your country, which choice would you make? Why?
☆Hints for Points
National
Security
1.
Although
some politicians and military men are still warlike, the world is shifting from
arms competition to business cooperation. Hence, it is foolish and futile for
Japan to prepare for war.
2.
Japan
is the one of the largest military powers in the world. The Self-Defense Forces
have been training with the U.S. military for about 15 years. Militarization of
Japan will complete the practical preparation for Japan as sacrifice buffer
country in the U.S, attempt to keep its hegemony, the constitutional amendment
capping the process.
International
Prestige
1.
The
government will get better images (soft power) by supporting sports rather than
increasing military spending.
2.
Dispatching
self-defense forces to disaster-stricken countries for humanitarian-aids will
raise the national soft power.
3.
Being
armed with more than decent amount will provoke those who want to start a
battle with us. Japan has a history of violent past: imperial Japan before and
during WWII. Militarization would give a bad impression to other countries, especially
countries that Japan invaded in the past. Also. Japan has a history of
diplomatic solutions of international problems since the end of WWII. This has
earned us a good reputation and has kept us free from terrorism. We must
continue this diplomatic peace-building.
Community
well-being
1.
Disasters
like megaquakes and floods are increasing year by year, and the self-defense
forces are indispensable in rescue efforts.
2.
In
terms of the money flow in the economy, the choice is letting it either in the
military-industrial complex (American arms industry, Japanese heavy industry,
businesses that cater to the Self-Defense Forces and American bases) or in sports-related
industries (the media, construction, sports, food and drink, etc.)
3.
Government
spending on sports has been tight as well as those on basic researches art, education,
and fundamental researches in science. To make our country rich in the true
sense, we need to spend more money on these areas.
4.
Weapons
are much more expensive than sports promotion. Therefore, it is more economical
to allocate money to sports than to military.
5.
Sports
are not free from problems. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is
corrupt, prioritizing the profit-making through television broadcasting rights.
The government of the host country often funnel tax to related industries,
making the people suffer from the government debt. The trickle-down effect has
been proven wrong. The weak people are affected. The environment is influenced.
☆Sample Answer
【Thesis】Japan, where I live, should not spend more on defense any
more.
【Supporting Details】The budget for the self-defense forces doubled
recently. This sends a negative message to our neighbors like China, Korea, and
South-East Asian countries because of the past crimes of Imperial Japan.
Moreover, most of our military spending goes to the purchase of outdated
weapons from the U.S. and to make up for the deficit of the U.S, defense. It is
a wase of money and it makes Japan a potential battle ground.
【Counterargument-treatment】It is true that sports programs are not
free from criticisms. They are hotbeds of corruption. However, it is within the
sphere of who benefits the most, while military spending leads to wars and
deaths.
【Conclusion】Instead of spending money for fear, I would like my government
to spend it on sports, which benefit people mentally and physically. (150
words)
Structure
Samples
Sample
A
Thesis
About
Olympics
About
Military
My
Choice
Conclusion
Sample
B
Thesis
Point
1
Point
2
Why
the advantage of the Other Choice is not important
Conclusion
