December 17, 2004 The following discussion questions cover the stories featured in today's edition of CNN Student News. First Up: Bin Laden on Tape? 1. Who is Osama bin Laden? Where has alleged evidence of Osama bin Laden recently surfaced? * * 2. What references to Saudi Arabia were made on the audiotape? What did the alleged voice of Osama bin Laden call for in the message? Which terrorist act did the tape celebrate? * * * 3. How does CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen explain the release of this tape so soon after the Jeddah attack? How does Bergen suggest that terror experts might be able to find bin Laden? * * * 4. How many tapes are believed to have been released by bin Laden or his top henchmen since 9/11? What do you think is the significance of this audiotape? What questions do you think that terror experts are asking in response to the release of this tape? * * * 5. What are your thoughts about Osama bin Laden more than three years after 9/11? Do you think that the U.S. media should air bin Laden's messages? Why or why not? * * *
2004 Rewind: Election 1. How many Democratic contenders were initially in the race for the 2004 presidential nomination? Which candidate became the front-runner following the Iowa caucuses? In what month did John Kerry receive the number of delegates necessary to win his party's nomination? * * * 2. During which event do political parties officially select their candidates for the presidency? Did you watch these televised events? Why or why not? * * * 3. Based on what you learned in this story, how would you describe one of the "distinct gap[s] between the Republican red states and the Democratic blue states"? Where on the political spectrum do you think you stand? Explain. * * * 4. According to the poll results leading up to the November election, how close was the race between President Bush and Senator Kerry? How did the poll results compare with the actual election results? * * * 5. On election night, which state's results held up the final outcome of the race? In the end, how many electoral votes did President Bush win? By how many popular votes did Bush beat Kerry? Do you think that this was significant? Why or why not? * * * 6. According to the story, what are some of Bush's priorities for his second term? * * 7. What stand out in your mind as the most memorable moments of Election 2004? Based on what you learned throughout the year, how would you evaluate the election process? What lessons do you think that both politicians and citizens can learn from an analysis of this year's election? Explain. * * *
Saving Merry Christmas 1. Who is Manuel Zamorano? Why did he create a Web site called Savemerrychristmas.org? According to the story, how many people have joined his cause? * * * 2. Why is Zamorano calling for a boycott of Federated Stores? How has Federated Stores responded to Zamorano's charges? Which argument do you find more compelling? Explain. * * * 3. According to CNN's Jeanne Moos, what is "Chrismukkah"? Do you find that this depiction of the holidays is humorous? Why or why not? * * * 4. What is your opinion of the decision by so many companies and organizations to opt for messages of "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" as opposed to "Merry Christmas"? Why do you think that "Christmas" is rarely seen in holiday advertisements? How might you explain the media's shift in the past few decades away from the words "Merry Christmas"? * * * 5. How does your school celebrate the holiday season? Do you agree with the choices that the school's administrators have made on this subject? What do the holidays mean to you? Do you support Zamorano's cause? Why or why not? * * *
Suggested Online Resources Bin Laden on Tape? CNN.com: Purported new bin Laden tape criticizes Saudi royals (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/12/16/bin.laden.tape/index.html) CNN.com Special Report: Fighting Terror (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/fighting.terror/) CNN.com Special Report: The Hunt for Osama bin Laden (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/bin.laden/index.html) 2004 Rewind: Election CNN.com Special Report: America Votes 2004 (http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/) The White House (http://www.whitehouse.gov) Saving Merry Christmas CNN.com Special Report: Holiday Hustle (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2004/holiday.shopping/) History Channel: History of the Holidays (http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/) Holt, Rinehart and Winston Resources HRW: Analyzing Current Events (http://go.hrw.com/resources/go_ss/teacher99/toolkit/TOOLKT02.pdf) Holt Researcher (http://researcher.hrw.com/index.jsp)
Keywords Osama bin Laden, diatribe, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, al Qaeda, henchmen, Iowa caucuses, New Hampshire primary, Howard Dean, John Kerry, delegates, conventions, divisive, conceded, electoral vote, popular vote, initiatives, amok, Federated Stores, Macy's, multicultural, scoured
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