R: Ban amusement parks.

Wednesday, November 6th at 7.30pm in the Berkeley Mendenhall Room

Ah, our country’s famed amusement parks—Coney Island, Disney Word, Six Flags—some see these towering names (and their towering roller coasters!) as cultural icons, but some see them as indicative of a larger cultural vice in our society. Undoubtedly, these parks and their rides offer thrilling highs and pleasurable adrenaline rushes. But what does it tell us about American values that we are willing to wait in line for hours just to experience this gratification? Does too much entertainment of this sort have a blanching effect on the color of the human soul? Perhaps we would do better to immerse ourselves in higher forms of culture—music, art, literature. But then again, it seems both presumptuous and elitist to assume that simple leisure does not carry any inherent good. Going to amusement parks has arguably become an American pastime. Should we be so quick to dismiss the value that we place in our pastimes? Would this mean we rid ourselves of sports and any other form of entertainment not intrinsically necessary to Man’s cultural, moral and spiritual development?
 
An intriguing resolution with some profound implications, indeed. So come join us this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Berkeley Mendenhall Room as we debate these and other questions about American culture, values and intrinsic goods. All are welcome!