Racism in America

I do not agree that race is the most consequential issue our nation faces today. I think that in a time where we have elected a black president, it is apparent that racial equality is at an all time high. While things may still not be equal and racial tensions may still exist, I don't think that race is as huge an issue as Mr. Smiley makes it out to be. I think his points were fairly one-sided, and that he only portrayed race as an issue strictly as one of white hostility to blacks. He also did not provide any substantial proof for his claims that racism is a serious everyday problem, nor did he propose any solutions as to how to fix the problem. I do agree that prejudice is often a difficult subject to confront, but I feel this is a more two-sided subject than Mr. Smiley presents. I feel that every racial group holds prejudice towards all other groups, rather than just whites towards blacks or vice versa. I think that a way to open up discussion about this topic would be for all groups to not degrade each other, but to take pride in their respective cultures and take the time to appreciate and learn about another culture and race's values. A conference aimed towards peace and friendship rather than confrontation and accusation would do more to ease racial tensions in my opinion. I also think that as time goes on, younger generations are learning to become desensitized to race and move away from the prejudice of older generation. Time doesn't heal all, but I think that time paired with a conscious effort to gravitate towards love and acceptance rather than hate and isolation is going to fix this problem.

Dead Man Walking

I still can't say that I have a firm "yes" or "no" stance on the death penalty, as I am not sure how I would feel if the victim were a family member or friend. Some people have committed serious atrocities, and keeping someone for a life in prison is expensive. On the other hand, I find it hard to grapple with the idea that the government is responsible for the daily and methodical executions of any of its citizens. The idea of being "put to death" almost seems barbaric. I can say that Dead Man Walking definitely made me put more thought into the subject of the death penalty, because before this movie it was something that I just accepted. From this movie and our discussion f the death penalty, I was disturbed to learn that certain states use the death penalty so often that tens to hundreds of criminals are executed yearly. I also think that the right to appeal a death sentence often is a good security for false accusations, but the subjection of the victims and victim's families to these trials give the victim little comfort and an unfair continuation of their victimization.

Restorative Justice

I don't think restorative justice is a realistic approach to the criminal justice system, because of the amount of loopholes this would create in the system. In certain cases, it may not benefit the defense to have their victim have so much say in their prosecution, and it may not benefit the victim to have criminals that know the victim can decide their fate (gangs, threats, bribes, etc). I do however think that in certain cases, it would benefit both parties for the wronged and the accused to be able to work things out between themselves with the oversight of the law. If someone wrongs someone, and he victim either doesn't care or forgives the person who did wrong, why should the law punish someone more than to keep them from committing the same crime again? I think it is keeping with Catholic Social Teaching because it provides a realistic opportunity to put forgiveness into action.

Hotel Rwanda

 1) I think Jack was right in his assumption that people would feel bad for the suffering of Rwandans if they viewed it on the news, but they would not feel inclined to do anything about it.
2) I think we have become somewhat indifferent to the suffering we see on the news because we are constantly bombarded by tragedy after tragedy on television. We see tragedies in the newspaper, hear about killings on the radio, watch it on the news and in our favorite tv shows. I don't think people are totally indifferent, rather have become desensitized to death by the constant exposure to it.
3) I think the only way I could make a legitimate and timely difference for Rwandans affected by the Rwandan genocide would be to raise awareness and collect supplies and money for a relief effort in Rwanda. Military intervention is not something the ordinary person really has a say in, which I think could be a reason people did not feel they were able to do something to stop the genocide.

social issues

Two pressing social issues that have become increasingly prevalent in recent years are random acts of violence and gay rights. In the past years, there have been countless shootings of innocent people for little to no reason whatsoever. The growing violence we see in our society has created a numbness to tragedy and a heightened sense of danger and personal safety. Another issue is the focus on gay marriage, and whether or not denying two people of marriage is a civil rights issue. Some argue that marriage is a Church practice that should be between a man and a woman, and some argue that homosexuals deserve to have the same rights as any other person.