Politically Correct

Discussion & Reading Activity

Look at the photos of these political leaders. What are their names? Which politician do you know most about? Share your information.

 

Match the quotations to the political leaders.                                    Who said...?

A- “My life work has been accomplished. I did all that I could.” (Dec. 15, 1991)
B- “Good-bye from the world’s biggest polluter.” (G8 summit, 2008)
C- “Ony free men can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts.” (Feb.1985)
D- “The US Empire is on the way down and it will be finished in the near future, for the good of all mankind.” (At the UN, Sep 2006)
E- “In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.” (Sep 1975)
F- “To live a full life one must have the courage to bear the responsibility of the needs of others.” (Nobel prize speech 1991)

In your opinion what makes a great political leader?

Why do some people mistrust politicians?

TRUE LIES

Conversation Activity

Look at the following quotes about lies and lying. Explain what they mean in your own words. Which ones do you particularly agree/ disagree with?

“People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election” – otto von bismarck 19^th century German statesman

“always tell the truth, that way you don’t have to remember what you said”. – Mark Twain, American writer.

 “A half truth is a whole lie” – Yiddish proverb

  "A lie told often enough becomes the truth."  -   Lenin

  

Look at the list below. Mark on a scale of 1 to 5 how bad you consider these examples of dishonest behavior:  1= perfectly normal ,  5=very dishonest.

¨  Pretending you’re ill in order to have a day off.

¨  Not telling a salesperson that he/she has undercharge you.

¨  Saying you like a gift when you really hate it.

¨  Cheating on a boyfriend or girlfriend.

¨  Lying about your age.

¨  Lying about your professional experience on your CV.

¨  Using the office phone to make personal long distance calls.

¨  Doing nothing after damaging a parked car.

¨  Not declaring all the income in a tax declaration.

¨  Gossiping about a colleague behind his/her back.

Discuss your answers with the group.

ANSWERS:   Aung San Suu Kyi (Burmese democratic leader) (F)    -   Mikhail Gorbachev (last leader of former USSR) (A)  - Margaret Thatcher (former PM of Britain) (E)  -  Hugo Chavez (president of Venezuela) (D)  - Nelson Mandela (first black president South Africa) (C) George Bush Sr (former president US) (B)

Elections Vocabulary

to abandon V. to leave something behind; to give something up

to back V. to give support to

a ballot N. the piece of paper you write your vote on

to campaign V. to advertise oneself (or someone else) as a candidate in an upcoming election; to work towards getting oneself (or someone else) elected

a campaign  N. the process of trying to get oneself (or someone else) elected

to cast (a ballot) V. to put (your ballot) in the ballot box

connections N. social relationships which allow you certain opportunities; the people you know who can help you (get a job, raise money, gain power...) 

to debate V. to have a structured, formal argument about a controversial topic

a debate N. a structured, formal argument on a controversial topic

to elect V. to choose someone through a democratic vote to be a leader

an election N. the process of choosing a leader through a democratic vote

to run for  President V. to campaign to be President, to try to become President

to vote V. to formally express one's choice in writing or by raising one's hand; to make one's choice in an election

a vote  N. the act of formally expressing one's choice in writing or by raising one's hand

Exercise

1. If you want to…………………………  your ballot, the ballot box is over there near the voter information desk.

2. Women …………………………  in the U.S., but there has never been a women President.

3. Next month the presidential candidates are going to…………………………  health care and insurance issues in the United States.

4. That politician is absolutely wrong. I can't understand why the party would …………………………  him. How could they possible support such an ignorant person?

5. Who are you going to…………………………  for in the next election?

6. She is …………………………  for the Republican party and her husband is working for the Democratic party. What a crazy marriage they must have!

7. They carefully check your identification when you vote because they want to make sure you only …………………………  one . Otherwise, people might vote two or three times.