Friday Ethics Class #2, 8-10am

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara looks excited, as students trickle in, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet.

"Okay, we've got a lot to get through today. Two announcements to start:

First, Teacher's Assistants have been chosen. I have a carrot - Major K! - and a stick - Angelus. If you're having trouble grasping a concept, talk to Major K!. He'll guide you through the thinking. If you think you've got a hold on it, talk to Angelus. He'll challenge your thinking, give you the opportunity to clarify your position.

Second, and related to the latter - this class is not an easy A. At some point in this course you will find yourself challenged and confronted. For many of you, that will be today. If you walk out of this classroom before class is over, and without checking it with me, I may be understandably upset. However, I recognise that if you get angry or upset, you may need some time alone, or away from the group. To that end, I present to you the Emo Closet Time Out Room." She walks to the back of the classroom and opens the door to what previously was a supply cabinet. Inside is what looks very much like a white padded room. "This room is soundproofed. You can cry, scream and punch things all you want, and I will not penalise you for leaving the class or the discussion. Major K! or I will come to check on anyone who goes to the Emo Closet Time Out Room, in case you need help or support. Feel free to tell us to leave you alone.

Now, we've got our first debate to hear, a discussion topic to... um, discuss, and your first out of class assignment. Which you are going to kill, or at least seriously maim, me for giving you.

Comments

Re: Assignment briefing

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron reads the assignment and shakes his head. "No way."

Re: Assignment briefing

[janet_fraiser]

"Me either," says Janet.

Re: Assignment briefing

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron can completely understand this after what they both been through. "I highly doubt this is going to teach us anything 'ethical' that we don't already know."

Re: Assignment briefing

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Cameron, Janet - explain to me what you already know about slavery."

Re: Assignment briefing

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"That taking away someone's free will is bad?" Cameron asks, he sounds irritated and not his usual polite self at all;

Re: Assignment briefing

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"This assignment does not take away your free will, Cameron. Slaves can run away. Slaves can rebel. You still have all your choices. Now tell me again what you now about slavery?"

Re: Assignment briefing

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

"Nothing that I remember," Cameron snaps but avoids going any deeper in on it. "And that's easier said than done. If a person grows up in a society that condones slavery, they will accept it and not even consider that it might be wrong."

Re: Assignment briefing

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

"You're currently living in a world where a lot of people eat meat," Angelus pointed out. "You're telling me nobody's thought of becoming vegetarian?"

Re: Assignment briefing

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron shook his head. "No, I'm not but you of all people should know that the concept of vegetarianism is a recent development in the western society. It took centuries before the concept of slavery died. It's still not completely gone. And I wouldn't compare sentient beings to animals, no matter how much I love my dog."

Re: Assignment briefing

[janet_fraiser]

"Have you ever been in a situation where you had no control over your own actions?" asked Janet. "I don't mean that psychologically you felt you had no free will. I mean where you had literally no control over your own body."

Re: Assignment briefing

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara looks at her calmly. "Yes. And it was the most horrifying experience of my life. But I'm not taking away your free will, and neither will your partner. What you're describing isn't slavery, Janet. Slaves can run away. Slaves can rebel."

Re: Assignment briefing

[janet_fraiser]

"Then what, precisely, do you call it?" asked Janet. "Being forced to be inside your body, watching, as something else forces your mouth to say hateful words and forces your hands to harm your friends?"

She looks at the guidelines she's been handed and quotes. "'The life of slavery means one of ease, and comfort.'" She looks back up at Professor Maclay. "That's not real slavery. I've seen real slavery." She'd seen, and read the reports on, planet upon planet of human slaves, ground into the dirt, forced to labor in subhuman conditions and tortured and killed at the whims of their so-called gods--not to mention the Jaffa who'd been bred to serve as soldiers and human incubators for their masters.

Teal'c would be ashamed of her participation in this 'project' and, more to the point, she would be ashamed of herself.

"I'm not doing this project," says Janet. "I'll take the detention. But I am not participating in this exercise."

Re: Assignment briefing

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"I'm not offering you detention, Janet," Tara replies calmly. "I would like you to go discuss this with your partner. See if you two can come to an arrangement that you both feel comfortable with to complete the assignment. If not, come back to me and I will make appropriate arrangements."

She smiles softly at Janet. "And no, that's not real slavery. I wouldn't ask any of you to undertake real slavery, even for an hour. You still have your free will. You still have the right to say no. What I'm asking you to do is trust your partner, and use this as a learning opportunity. Talk to Liz. Then come back and see me. Okay?"

Re: Assignment briefing

[janet_fraiser]

"Fine," says Janet, still glaring. "I'll talk to Liz."

Re: Assignment briefing

[janet_fraiser]

Janet and Liz walk back over to Professor Maclay. "I'm not doing this assignment," says Janet firmly. "And I'm not going to take the assignment, not do it, and lie to you about it. If you'd rather I write a paper, then I'll do so.:

Re: Assignment briefing

[janet_fraiser]

Janet keeps her expression under control only with serious effort. "Precisely," she snapped.

Re: Assignment briefing

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron winces slightly and squeezes her shoulder in sympathy.

Re: Assignment briefing

[janet_fraiser]

Janet gives him a grateful look.

Re: Assignment briefing

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker's back by now, and listening to this silently. She'd like to say something to them about this, but has no idea what, and she's getting angry again, this time on someone else's behalf.

Re: Assignment briefing

[janet_fraiser]

Janet notices Parker looking over and throws a half-smile her way.

Re: Assignment briefing

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker tries to look supportive and not just pissed-off; she's glad Janet's not storming out like she did.

"You going to be okay with this?" she mutters, when there's a break in the chat. "Maybe... maybe they'll let you switch, if it's too weird. You'd go easy on Liz."

Re: Assignment briefing

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

"Just hear Professor Maclay out. It's not as bad as it sounds. There's safeguards and stuff to make sure it doesn't get out of hand."

Re: Assignment briefing

[janet_fraiser]

"Charlie, you of all people should know precisely what my objections are," said Janet.

Re: Assignment briefing

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

"Yeah Janet, I do. And I'm still asking you to hear her out. This isn't a dumb assignment. A lot of work has gone into it and a lot of stuff, important stuff, can come out of it. You think I'd go along with it, knowing what you do about me, if I didn't think it out good and proper and know it was worth participating?"

Re: Assignment briefing

[janet_fraiser]

"Then tell me what 'important stuff' you think can come out of it," she said. "Convince me I won't be ashamed to look Murray in the eyes come Parents Day."