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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: February 6, 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 4: Week of February 10, 2008

To stay on track, 1) you should start the review of the literature for your visual project topic(s) that were approved, last week. 2) bring crayons/markers to class on Friday, February 15th.

Topic: Everyday Grace/Trials

Preparatory Readings:

• Paul Loeb. The Impossible Will Take a Little While. -- Chapters 8 through 12.
• Martha Minow. Between Vengeance and Forgiveness. - Chapter 3.
• Cornel West. Democracy Matters. ----
• Documentary: "Horton Hears a Who " (to be shown in class)
  
  

Lecture related links:



• Forgiveness - Structural Violence: the Stranger
  
• Laughter Cures - Laughter as an Alternative to Anger and Violence.
• Paul Loeb's website
• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
  
  




Concepts to be covered:



• Nuremberg trials
• Tokyo trials
• United Nations
• international law
• sukkah
• changing seasons



Discussion Questions:

Note: You will need to incorporate this week's film as well as this week's text readings into your answers.

1. What do the various characters in "Horton Hears a Who" symbolize/represent? Why. How does this Dr. Seuss video relate to this week's readings?

2. According to Minow, how effective are trials? Do you agree or disagree with Minow? Why.

3. "Your view of things is totally dark," says Sander's son, "It burns me out. You make me feel the planet's dying and people are to blame and nothing can be done about it." Do you ever feel that way when people are talking about global problems? How can people talk about what's wrong in the world without reinforcing a culture of despair? [from Loeb's website]

4. "The command to love my neighbor as I do myself is not an admonition to be nice: It is a statement of truth like the law of gravity." Explain what Waskow means by this statement. What obstacles sometimes prevent us from loving our neighbors? What can help overcome such obstacles? [from Loeb's website]

5. Have you ever experienced hope at a time or place when you least expected it? Explain. [from Loeb's website]

6. Discuss the metaphor for life as one of seasons compared to one of manufacturing. Which do you prefer? To what extent do you think the metaphors we choose for life influence our perceptions? Our actions? [from Loeb's website]



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.



• Research the International Criminal Tribunal.
• Research one of the trials mentioned in the Minow book, (i.e., Nuremberg).
• How effective is international law? the United Nations?



Recommended Readings:



• Scott Russell Sanders. Staying Put .
• Scott Russell Sanders The Force of Spirit.
• Scott Russell Sanders. Hunting for Hope.
• Rabbi Arthur Waskow. A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven.
• Henri Nouwen. The Road to Peace and Justice.
• Parker Palmer. A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life.
  
  
• 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.
  
  

Self-Assessment Questions for each Visual Project:




1. List the names of the individuals in your group. What did you do exactly for this visual project? (If in a group, explain the division of labor and your individual contribution to this visual project).
2. Briefly explain how your visual project relates to "criminal justice/social justice" (i.e., the readings, the documentaries). What did you learn?
3. Assess how the 6Cs apply to your visual project, with special attention on competence and creativity. What is your visual project self-assessment (provide a letter grade) ___ ? Why.

Course Syllabus for CRMJ 353 Criminal Justice/Social Justice

takata@uwp.edu