Next up was
Jordan Moshe. His topic was Wikipedia vs Encyclopedia Britannica. Moshe was a defender of Wikipedia and proceeded to justify his position via the Rotary 4 Way Test.
Even though there are doubters about the truth and accuracy of Wikipedia, Jordan first focused on the differences between these two information sources of timing and development of content. The encyclopedia Brittanica publishes a new edition once a year. Wikipedia is updated an average of three times per second! It is a self healing process, in that mistakes are corrected in very short order through a well regulated editing process. Wikipedia clearly wins the "latest information race" in today's fast changing world.
What can be more fair to all than an internet system that provides access to quality information for more than 275 million people?
Wikipedia builds good will as the world's 4th largest non profit company, run by 22 people, whose efforts result in taking less and giving more.
It is also beneficial to all through its operating dictum that actively seeks out and removes bias reporting.
Jordan suggests that Wikipedia follows the same questioning attitude as the Rotary 4 Way Test. This is a time tested formula to be followed by any progressive, intellectual and caring society.
Sean Whitehouse concluded the presentations by putting forth the 4 Way Test to evaluate the Stimulus Packages and Bank Recovery initiatives recently passed by the U.S. Congress.
Sean asserted that the bank bailouts have not resulted in truthfulness by the participants, in that the companies who received them are still indulging in the wrong kind of spending, including undeserved awarding of bonuses.
These packages are not fair to all concerned in that they do not help every person who is here in the room. The economic recovering plan only provides 12 cents to people, and does nothing to fix the economy now.
No good will has been achieved by these plans. Actions speak louder than words. There was no Republican support or any real bi-partisan effort put forth in the development of the programs. This has resulted in dividing the country further.
The plans are not beneficial to all concerned. The money is not getting to work fast enough, and provides no help for people who need it the most. There are no details yet availability, and there appears to be no accountability for how the money is actually spent.
The packages fail all four tests and according to at least one poll, only 37% of the people are in support of the Stimulus packages. Sean suggested that tax cuts and improved unemployment benefits are a better way to deal with the current economic crisis.
Each of these speakers did an outstanding job in advocating for their chosen topics. They were all winners in the contest. Sean was named the ultimate winner by a team of 4 eminently qualified (?) Lafayette Sunrise Rotarians. He will advance to the next level in the District contest. Sean was warmly congratulated by his equally talented competitors. The program was concluded with the speakers taking turns introducing each other.
It is a great tribute to their teachers, and the school, for providing the opportunity and the environment for developing such superb public speaking skills to any student who has the desire and initiative to participate.
Maja Fosse and Gunilla Klensmeden Fosse. All part of the grand Norse invasion of Lafayette!
next month. More details to follow. Dick has just returned from a heartwarming Rotoplast excursion to Central America, which we will be learning about in the not too distant future. Another great Rotary International Program!
Teacher Kristen Plant, who provided background on the speech program at the school. There are currently over 100 students from all four grade levels who participate in the program. They learn and participate in all kinds of public speaking activities, such as extemporaneous speeches, debating and student congress activities. Miramonte is ranked in the top 1% of high schools in the country in this regard. Four students were chosen from the twenty three who applied to enter into the contest this year. The students chose their own topics which they applied to the 4 way test. The following are summaries from the three contestant's speeches:
Workers are distracted and lose focus, and even IQ, with excessive multi-tasking.