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California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan - Transcend Art and Peace
Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: January 31, 2008
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

CRMJ 353: Criminal Justice/Social Justice

You will be held accountable for purposes of grading for the readings and exercises listed here. There will be no "testing." That means that you will not have to live in anxious anticipation of what we will ask and how much you will have to know. Instead, we will provide weekly discussion questions, lectures, essays, and concepts we feel that you should know as a result of having taken this course. You will assure us of that learning and receive your grade for the questions and concepts about which you choose to write and talk with us. In addition you will find detailed explanations and examples on our grading policies in the first week's reading.

* * * * *

Week 3: Week of February 3, 2008

By the end of the week, email me your visual project topic(s) for my approval.

Topic: Dark Before Dawn/Vengeance & Forgiveness

Preparatory Readings:

• Paul Loeb. The Impossible Will Take a Little While. -- Chapters 5 through 7.
• Martha Minow. Between Vengeance and Forgiveness. - Chapter 2.
• Cornel West. Democracy Matters. ----
• Documentary: " ----- " (to be shown in class)
  
  

Lecture related links:



• Paul Loeb's website
• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
  
  




Concepts to be covered:



• theory, policy, practice
  
• vengeance
• forgiveness
• definition of the situation



Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to read the links as well as this week's text readings.

1. How does Minow define "vengeance" and "forgiveness"?

2. Zinn provides many examples of people and events in history that show how seemingly powerless people can actually change the world. Can you think of additional examples from history or your own experience that support this point? [from Loeb's website]

3. Most of us will not face the hardships of imprisonment like Nelson Mandela, but in what other ways can we be imprisoned? What qualities does Mandela suggest help human beings surmount even the greatest of challenges? [from Loeb's website]

4. Is it possible for us to look similarly beyond the horizon to see what might be possible in changing unjust situations in our own political context? What does it mean to "make a way out of no way"? [from Loeb's website, in reference to the Havel article]



Suggested Creative Measures:




Note: Start thinking about ideas for your creative measures. Must relate to "criminal justice/social justice." Must be approved before starting your creative measure. Cannot be something that you are doing or have done for another course. Research cannot be 100% online (i.e., google, askjeeves). Must conduct library research using scholarly works, (not the popular press -- Time Magazine, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated). No term papers! Allow time to dialogue and present your creative measure in class. Email me your idea.



• "The difficult I'll do right now. The impossible will take a while." Define what you believe is a "difficulty." And, what do you consider "impossible." Explore these two different situations. [from the Loeb site]
• Research how much of our national governmental budgets go to programs that benefit children? What does this say about our national priorities? [from Loeb's site]



Recommended Readings:



• Howard Zinn. A People's History of the United States .
• Howard Zinn. The Power of Nonviolence: Writings by Advocates of Peace.
• Nelson Mandela. Long Walk to Freedom.
• Vaclav Havel. Disturbing the Peace.
  
  
• Martha Minow. Breaking Cycles of Hatred: Memory, Law and Repair.
• Desmond Tutu. No Future Without Forgiveness.
• MoveOn.org. Move On's 50 Ways to Love Your Country.
  
  

Course Syllabus for CRMJ 353 Criminal Justice/Social Justice

takata@uwp.edu