March 23 That we should have compulsory military service

[MsElliott]

Round 1: Monday, March 23rd 2015 at 7pm

That we should have compulsory military service: Affirmative

Versus Aquinas College 1

Okay, we need to consolidate our materials, arguments, and plan for this upcoming debate. I suggest that our model is to include both males and females, have a model similar to Denmark was it? Where the compulsory service gives the option of working in many different departments (not just as a foot soldier) and that the time spent can contribute towards higher education degrees/diplomas etc.

How about we take turns below posting arguments and rebuttals (both for the opposition and for us) and then we can see what we have and divide it up into speakers? Anyway, whatever you think will work best, lets just get this conversation started and material generated!

[isabelleewert]

Good evening chairperson, audience and members of the negative team. This evening we are debating a topic which influences countries all over the world, and that is 'That we should have compulsory military service.' We strongly believe that compulsory military service in Australia is completely necessary in our time of peace to maintain the safety and protection of our country, to teach and train citizens to become better people within our society and to have fun while meeting other people through collaborating and team work.
Tonight I am going to be explaining why we really do need compulsory military service as it will benefit the individual participating dramatically in both learning life skills, about themselves as people as well as giving them opportunities to explore the world and meet other people. Our second speaker will be discussing the reasons as to why military service would greatly help the country's protection and nationalism as well as how it would benefit society in uniting all citizens and creating a healthier nation. Finally our third speaker will be recounting our major points.
We are not talking about a training system where everyone trains as a foot soldier or rolls around in the mud, we are talking about a comprehensive system where men and women are trained as equals in a range of different areas from learning how to fly a plane, to learning how to cook meals and hospitality. Our system would be much like the one in Denmark and would involve men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 having to complete a minimum of one year service with the military in an area which suits their capability and desires. Once they have completed the year of training, they would be on call for the following year to assist should the military be needed in a national emergency or be called to help overseas.

[isabelleewert]

This is the beginning of my speech, is it going well? I have done the first argument as well.

[jemimareid]

Mar 21, 2015 9:42:05 GMT isabelleewert said:

This is the beginning of my speech, is it going well? I have done the first argument as well.

It sounds really good. Here is my intro and first paragraph. My conclusion and second arguemt are still in the editing stage but I will have them posted today.

Good evening ladies and gentleman. I am the second speaker for the affirmative team. As our first speaker has previously stated, our team is here to tell you that relying on the trickling amounts of volunteers we currently have, is completely inadequate, in the world that we live in today. We need a comprehensive system where men and women can be trained in valuable skills, so that if we were under threat, we would have adequate protection to preserve our wonderful Australian culture. Not only this, but our military is also responsible for important duties that help our country greatly. With the extra help from the compulsory servicees, crises such as black Saturday and in the aftermath of floods and cyclones, less lives would be lost and less families would be destroyed. Isn’t that something good enough to sacrifice a minimum of two years for? Isn’t a safer society worth it?

Now, to begin, I would like the audience to imagine their favourite thing about Australia. Is it the people? Is it the food? Is the AFL football? Is the vegemite? Or is it the fact that unlike Pakistan, and Afghanistan, we have a stable country and government. We can go to work and school without worrying that someone might shoot us, or hurt us. We have the freedom to learn and to choose. However, this freedom, isn’t free. In the world that we live in today, our country needs to have a ready military, so that we can continue to not only protect our way of life and our people, but so we can protect other people in other countries who need our help. Who aren’t as lucky as us, and have a military that has no interest in protecting its people, only in protecting its assets. The AAF is legendary, not just because we are a good fighting force, but because our loyalty, our kindness, and our overall selflessness has proven time and time again to be the thing that sets us apart from others. I am lucky enough to be traveling to Gallipoli next month as a representative of Australia and Victoria for the 2015 Gallipoli centenary, as part of a Victorian team of select student representatives. Let me tell you, when we were all at Parliament house last year, listening to the Premier Dennis Napthine speak, I noticed something. When describing the Australian military force, I did not hear a mention of the ANZAC skill in battle. Though they were described as incredible fighters in previous speeches. Instead, I heard stories, of comradery, friendship, sacrifice, love and loyalty found in the Australian lines. I heard tales of Simpson and his donkey, and I heard countless stories, of men putting themselves in direct firing range to save each other. To give another example, one of my good friends Meg Powsen is currently training to be a Navy officer in the army. She told me, that the first thing they do every morning, is they get up, they go outside, and they pay respect to the Australian monument dedicated to our previous ancestors. As our first speaker highlighted on, in the Australian army, they learn respect, compassion leadership. Imagine a society based on mutual respect between citizens. Though I admit that cutting out the entirety of crime and drugs in our society is wishful thinking, I know that it would bring the sins in our society sufficiently lower. Look at Korea and Denmark. They have compulsory military service and their crime rates are sufficiently lower than ours. Is it a coincidence? I don’t think so.