Writing for Academic Discussion Sports programs or Self-Defense Forces

 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 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?

 

 

☆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)

             

 

☆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, chances are low that Japan wages wars against other nations and arms race is futile.

 

2.       Japan is already the fifth largest military power in the world although its military spending is in the ninth place. The Self-Defense Forces have been training with the U.S. military for almost 15 years. Militarization of Japan will complete the practical preparation of making Japan a country that can go to war, the constitutional amendment capping the process.

 

International Prestige

1.        Dispatching self-defense forces to disaster-stricken countries for humanitarian-aids will raise the national soft power.

 

2.        The government will get better images (soft power) by supporting sports rather than increasing military spending.

 

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 the money flow into either the military-industrial complex (American arms industry, Japanese heavy industry, businesses that cater to the Self-Defense Forces and American bases) or sports-related industries (the media, construction, sports, food and drink, etc.)

 

3.       Government spending on sports has been tight as well as on science, art, and education. 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 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. It is a wase of money.

【Counterargument-treatment】It is true that sprots 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 always reminds 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. (119 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