ENGLISH 4 HAVE YOUR SAY RELATIONSHIPS

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WHAT’S WRONG WITH NEPOTISM? FROM : BBC WORLD , HAVE YOUR SAY, WEDNESDAY 14 0CTOBER 2009 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/

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The French president's son is parachuted into a top job as boss of Europe's biggest business

district. He's 23 and still a student, but he and his dad insist, he's getting the job on merit. But

what's wrong with nepotism?

QUESTIONS

Asking someone for their opinion

1. What do you think of Jean Sarcozy? (= asking about a specific person, thing)

2. What do you think about nepotism? (= asking about a general topic)

3. How do you feel about having the son of the president as boss of Europe’s biggest

business district?

ANSWERS

Introducing your own opinion

1. (Personally),I think …

2. (Personally),I don’t think …

3. In my opinion …

Having strong opinions

1. I thought it was a brilliant

idea.

2. She thought it was ridiculous.

Giving the opinion of others

1. According to Le Monde

2. Le Monde says …

Agreeing with someone

1. Yes, I agree (with you).

2. Yes, I think you’re (absolutely) right.

Disagreeing with someone

1. Yes, possibly, but don’t you think …

2. Yes, perhaps/maybe, but I’m not sure that …

3. Yes, you could be right, but don’t forget …

Disagreeing with someone but not completely

4. Yes, I see what you mean, but …

5. Yes, I take your point, but …

STRONG DISAGREEMENT

1. I totally disagree (with you).

2. I’m afraid I don’t agree (with you) at all.

ENGLISH 4 HAVE YOUR SAY RELATIONSHIPS

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WHAT’S WRONG WITH NEPOTISM COMMENTS Favour : give an advantage to someone or something, in an unfair way. A strong wind will favour the bigger boats./She always felt that her parents favoured her brother. Favouritism : unfair support shown to one person or group, especially by someone in

authority. A parent must be careful not to show favouritism towards any one of their children.

1. Jerry Cordaro Cleveland OH October 14, 2009 at 14:48

Nepotism is okay to an extent – that is, if your family knows someone who can help you

get a job you’re qualified for, no problem. It’s when you’re given a job you’re clearly not

qualified for (Bush, anyone?) just because of your family that the problem comes in.

2. Sade October 14, 2009 at 14:51

(…)

Perhaps it is his age because, like it or not, this sort of thing happens all the time. People

who hire, or who have influence over hiring, are very powerful people.

We may not like it but what can we do about it?

3. Joan Belfon October 14, 2009 at 14:58

I don’t have a problem with parents helping their children to find jobs but when you’re

the president of a country you might want to give this a second thought. Additionally, I

would like to believe that he is being given the job because he is the best person for it

and that some more deserving person is not being denied this job to facilitate the

president’s son. Did he apply, submit his resume like everyone else and was interviewed

for the job? If everything was transparent about the application for the job and he’s the

best person for it then good luck to him. I just hope the president is also willing to give

his son the pink slip if he is not performing.

4. Jennifer October 14, 2009 at 15:09

Do children of politicians really get a helping hand thanks to mum or dad? Or is it

actually harder to prove themselves? And if you could benefit from a family contact,

wouldn’t you use it?

I don’t see what is wrong with a politician’s child getting a “helping hand” because of

connections their parents have. The only people who seem to have a problem with that

are people who are not supporters of said politician. Can the child of a politician not have

talent and offer anything to a position? I think it’s just harder for them to prove

themselves by their own merits.

I don’t see why people are stating that at 23 someone has no experience or doesn’t have

ability to succeed at such a job. It would seem to me that having someone young; with

fresh ideas, determination, etc. could be more of an benefit than someone who was

older.

5. Timmy Gibson (Murfreesboro, TN) October 14, 2009 at 16:01

A parent will naturally want the best for their child. However, I feel that it is the parent’s

responsibility to make sure that his or her child is well qualified for the position.

6. Luz Ma from Mexico October 14, 2009 at 16:10 The thing is we will never know if those who got their jobs through their family

connections were the best qualified for the job. The doubt will be there forever.

I think nepotism is wrong, but it is very common and many people don´t see any

wrongness about it (usually those who benefit from it)

7. Chintan in Houston October 14, 2009 at 16:18

There is nothing wrong with it and it exists at every level in the society, it is not the

privilege of the rich and the famous.

When you are in college career counselors advice you to start building your network

early. That is the reason you have peer lunches, conferences, presentations where you

get noticed and build connections that will last a long time.

After all in certain cases it’s not WHAT you know, it’s WHO you know!