Bliss English Club

Meeting Recap of “攻敵必救Miss Sloane ” by Archer on July 22, 2017

Date: July 22, 2017

Host: Archer

Participants: Archer, Uncle Ting Lee, Allen, Stanley, Steven, Carmelo Lin, Ellen Huang, Annie,

Meeting Photo:https://photos.app.goo.gl/fVTZROCxGtNXCsqB3

Carmelo, New Member’s link:https://photos.app.goo.gl/VHixW8d0Vo0h60fx1

Meeting started:

As informative as expected, Archer offered us the full archive on politics:

Roman Republic:

Before Rome was an empire, it was a republic with a long history of “democratic” rule, for people fought for their own good, not for the ruler, gradually forming a mixed constitution, the constituent of which are two consuls, embodying the monarchic form; the Senate, embodying the aristocratic form; and the people through the assemblies

USA Democracy: Constitutionally limited democratic republic.

The USA is a democracy and a republic: a republic because USA Laws are made by representatives of the people, forming a Congress, rather than by direct popular choice; and a democracy in that those representatives are chosen in elections contested by multiple political parties that vie to represent the preferences of the median voter, the reason of which lobbying systems evolved.

The Bill of Rights; the First Ten Amendments

 It is amended to the United States Constitution which deals with constitutional matters and sets out certain basic civil rights. Over these 200 years, the amendment to the early issues continued to be addressed and resolved today: as played in “Miss Sloan” for “Gun control” H-H Bill vs. “Gun Purchase” Right in 2^nd Amendment.

2^nd Amendment

A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.

NRA Projects “Minority Influence”

NRA, short for American Rifle Association, a non-profit association but regarded as a typical gun- purchase profit organization.

1.      Owning 5,000,000 members approximately, among whom are Presidents like Bush, Kennedy, Roosevelt and prestigious Congressmen, manipulates the “Gun Purchase” Bill resorting to “2^nd Amendment!

2.     “Gun-Using “Skill Training

Holding training programs for different ages in schools or workshops for safeguard.

3.     “Wild Game” Party in Politics

Invite annually or periodically high-ranking or powerful political figures to legally shoot the animals with guns and bows in the wild as well as advocate the Gun-use, a good tradition!

Here is the fun fact shared by Uncle Ting Lee for Wild Game in the USA:

https://www.nrablog.com/articles/2017/3/friday-feast-wild-game-snacks/

A.     Theme Question for any attendee to answer:

1.     I do not think people living in Taiwan (including citizens or non-citizens) do need hold a gun to protect themselves.

Why: Because people who hold the gun will be very likely to accidently injure their families or friends owing to the wrong practice of gun use, which comprised 80% gunshot casualties in Australia.
 

2.     “Guns” cannot protect people, but people themselves do, either keep away from provoking dangers by self-alert or alarms from the social networks.

3.     “Guns” don’t kill people but peoples do. Safer world is established once if we eliminate cultural conflicts including the racial, wealth issues and provide the gun-using skills.

4.     The USA already suffered from 2^nd Amendment, bearing the casualty in the accidental or attempted gun shooting problems.

5.     Once the door to the Gun Purchase lays open, Taiwan will cost more to regulate the gun use and control. We don’t need to repeat the USA history.

B.     Reflections:

1.     We really appreciate Archer’s efforts and all participants’ outputs there which opened our eyes toward the firearm control issue in the USA.

2.     Now we understand how the NRA demands their own lobbying firms to vie for the support of Congressmen.

3.     Through “Miss Sloane”, we understand how the USA Congress and lobbying system have been running and how astonishing to know the professionalism of USA Congressmen or lobbyists on the issues and debates for their Bill.

4.     We even got the Belgium chocolate from Stanley! What a” fruitful” meeting it was under the guidance of Archer and the outputs from all the participants!!!

***For those interested in the strategies applied, we list some quotes for references.** Ref 1. Quotes from “Miss Sloane”

我站上台時，會冷靜得像石頭。

When I take the stand, you’ll see nothing but a granite wall.

妳如果不喜歡，就改變它。

If you don’t like it, you change it.

我只為相信的事物工作，所以我晚上睡得著覺。

I work on behalf of causes I believe in. That’s how I sleep at night.

要熟知你的專業啊，各位！不然就會錯失良機。

Know your subject, people! Failure to do so may result in the loss of a golden opportunity

想打破僵局，要用洞察力。

You want to break the ice, do it with insight.

有時我們行動不是為自己而是相信是做對的事。

Sometimes we act, not for ourselves...but because we believe plainly and simply it is the right thing to do.

遊說重點是洞察先機，預測敵人動作並設計對策

Lobbying is about foresight...about anticipating your opponent’s moves and devising countermeasures.

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