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California State University, Dominguez Hills
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Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: April 3, 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.

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Week 12: Week of April 6, 2008

Topic: Democratic Traditions/Identities

Preparatory Readings:

• Cornel West. Democracy Matters. Chapters 3 and 4
• Paul Loeb. The Impossible Will Take a Little While. Chapters -----.
• Martha Minow. Between Vengeance and Forgiveness. -- entire book.
• Documentary: "Looking for Answers" (to be shown in class)
  
  

Lecture related links:

• Try making an origami earth.
• Actively participate in the Community Building discussion group.
  
• Paul Loeb's website
• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
  
  
• National Criminal Justice Reference Service. Administered by the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
  

Concepts to be covered:

• the blues
• jazz
• James Baldwin
• Toni Morrison
• identity politics
• Western-style democracy

Discussion Questions:

Note: You will need to incorporate this week's readings and the documentary, "Looking for Answers" into your answers.

1. In Chapter 3, Cornel West begins: "To many, our democratic system seems so broken that they have lost faith that their participation could really matter" (p. 64 - I have the hardback edition). Do you agree or disagree? Why. If faith is lost, then how can it be restored? Relate your answer to the Loeb readings.

2. On page 103, Cornel West states: "Our history shows that stirring the deep commitment to democratic values and mandates does make a difference. But we must not confuse this democratic commitment with flag-waving patriotism." What is the difference between "democratic commitment" and "flag-waving patriotism"? Provide examples of each to better illustrate your point.

3. In Chapter 3, Cornel West concludes: "... how can we take back our country so that the deep democratic tradition in America can help forge these democratic identities abroad and be a force for peace and justice in that troubled part of the world?" (West, p. 105). How might this question relate to the documentaries, "The Fog of War" and "Looking for Answers"? Why.

4. In Chapter 4, which one of the following do you think is the most challenging: "the lack of democracy and presence of anti-Semitic bigotry in oil-rich Arab states, justice for Palestinians, and security for Israel..."? Why.

5. Much of this week's reading has focused on traditions and identities. How do you identify yourself? In other words, what characteristics or roles take top priority for you? Why. What traditions are maintained? Why. What traditions have been lost? Why.

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.

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.



• Explore the oil situation: supply and demand, the rising gas prices, etc.
• Critique Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11." What are the strengths and weaknesses of this documentary? Why.
• Research the history of the blues or jazz.
  
  
• Make A Box a Week or some other visual presentation focusing on this week's topic.
• Select a current event and examine the left/right perspectives and other news source links on the Dear Habermas site (located in the middle of the front page). How do the different perspectives present this current event? Why.

Recommended Readings:

• James Baldwin. Go Tell It on the Mountain.
• James Baldwin. Nobody Knows My Name.
• Toni Morrison. Beloved.
• Toni Morrison . The Bluest Eyes.
• Toni Morrison. Sula.
  
  
• James Hilton. Lost Horizon.
• George Orwell. 1984.
• Aldous Huxley. Brave New World.
• Margaret Haddix. Among the Hidden. series, especially her latest, Among the Enemy .
  
  
• 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.
  
  

• Instructions for making a box. Or, make an explosion box. .

Course Syllabus for CRMJ 353 Criminal Justice/Social Justice

takata@uwp.edu