I've been surprised at most of my students' comments on whaling. There seems to be a cultural pride at work, which causes a very high percentage of them to become a bit defensive and to show a bit of emotion. It's a very interesting phenomenon.
At first, I thought that whaling would be a fruitful discussion topic, but it soon became obvious that I was wrong. I wouldn't advise bringing up this topic with friends or students, unless you're prepared to ignore your feelings or lose your acquaintances.
