This week has been a whirlwind in terms of politics and world events. We’ve seen demonstrations on the floor of the House of Representatives, a historic filibuster in the Senate and a vote for British independence from the European Union, to name only a few of the more prominent headlines.

Whatever your personal leanings on these events, they certainly bring up a number of thoughts and questions about the way both citizens and politicians participate in shaping events, and the nature of civic responsibility. We encourage you to use the following questions at your dinner table to guide discussion about the rapidly changing course of history.

• Have you ever stood up for something you believed in, even when others around you were against it? What did you do?
• Is there any cause or world issue that you believe in passionately enough to do something you otherwise wouldn’t do, such as deliberately breaking a rule?
• What does “strength in numbers” mean to you? Do you believe that strength in numbers is always desirable? Are there times when belonging to a group can be a disadvantage?
• Imagine you were helping to create a new, independent nation. What kinds of rules and rights would you want to put in place for your citizens? What kind of government would you set up?
• Have you ever faced a real life dilemma where it was your personal interest vs. the interest of the group? If not, can you talk about a movie or a book that presented such a challenge?