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In regards to Introduction to Corrections, I still maintain that
the class could have been taught with much less book learning and more
"chit chat", or engagement of and with the material. Engagement of
and with the material would not only have supplemented the book learning, but
applied it and made it easier to remember. The field events were a fine
application; but the engagement known as "chit chat" would have also
helped, and frankly helped apply to the field experience what we learned in
class.
I also maintain that Drako did not apply "the punishment fits
the crime" first, and the Ancient English did not apply lex talions and
wergild first. The Hebrews did, and Genesis 9:6 applies one of the first--
if not the first of the-- Drakon-associated codes. As for lex talions
(family justice) and wergild (restitutive sanctions-- e.g., blood
money), the Hebrew Torah gives cases in which each are to be applied. For
example, if a man accidentally kills another and does not flee to a marked city
of refuge allows for lex talions, or if he must make restitution for a
baby who he caused to be miscarried during a fight allows wergild.
I
respectfully bring to point that I did not like the mockery of Christianity.
Being a Messianic Jew and now understanding that (as far as I can tell) you are
a Non-Messianic Jew, I fully respect your right not to believe in Jesus.
However, I did not like the mockery of, incidentally, what the Quakers
themselves based their rehabilitative, reformatory, and penitentiary models on.
To them and me, Jesus would not just have been another high for drug and
alcohol addicts, let alone one comparable to work and other addictions for the
same. I also did not like the "Lazarus has risen" joke regarding
Cameron. To me, Lazarus' resurrection was a sacred even and nothing to make
light of, let alone to use as a metaphor for Cameron finally coming back to
class after car problems.
I
myself do not seek to proselytize, but hold strong Evangelical Christian,
Messianic Jewish views. As the Quakers did with the views, I apply my views to
my life and every aspect thereof, including an Introduction to Corrections
class and corrections themselves. On that point, I found the Drug Court to be
consistent with a Quaker-Christian view of saving the lost, rehabilitating,
reforming, and bringing to penance. As a Messianic Jew, I look forward to
seeing the Drug Courts-- and now the Mental Health, Veterans', and other
Specialized Courts-- increase in number and effectiveness in decreasing the
backlog in the Criminal Justice System.
In
conclusion, I learned much about corrections and how to strengthen and apply my
views to corrections in Introduction to Corrections, but I still would have
liked to engage more with the material to supplement it and the applications of
it (e.g., the field trips). I also, as I said, would've liked to see less
mockery of Christianity, although I understand your views and certainly do not
seek to proselytize. However, as aforementioned, I will do my views as the
Quakers did with their views-- that is, apply them to corrections, and learn
about other views in light of how to examine and strengthen my own.
