Criminal Justice Class 22

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory sat at Tick's desk, nervously eyeing the students and occasionally fiddling with the collar of her turtleneck. She looked exceptionally tired.

"Um, okay. Professor Tick's not here, so I'm your sub. Please sign in here," she said, pointing to a clipboard on the desk.

She stood and walked out in front of the desk, wringing her hands. "Last time you met, I know you talked about redemption and reform. Neither of those can happen without forgiveness."

She faced the students, and looked at them each in turn.

"What is the evidence that you require to forgive someone? What do they need to do to prove that they're worthy? And moreover, since one person's acceptance of an apology can be seen as completely fair and just, while another feels that the perpetrator deserves a larger punishment, how does the idea of forgiveness fit into society and most especially, the judical system? If the law enforcement officials choose to forgive a person of their wrongdoings, are others expected to follow suit? And what if they don't?"

"Discuss. Oh, and your extra credit is: bring me either surfboard wax, or a book you think I've never read. If I have? No extra credit. Surfboard wax is probably easier."

[ooc: Several things - first off, I apologize that this is posted so much later than you're used to seeing. Secondly, still not getting email notifications, so I might be slow replying. And third - I did find a list online of every book Rory's been mentioned reading in canon. I shan't simply make things up.]

Comments

Sign in

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Sign in here, because Rory's going to need to give an attendance sheet to Tick when he gets back, omg.

Re: Sign in

[janet_fraiser]

Janet signs in and looks around for waffles to dodge.

Re: Sign in

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron barks, not able to sign in.

Re: Sign in

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin signed in, looking with some confusion at the dog in the classroom.

"Got a gift for you," he whispered to Rory as he passed by.

Re: Sign in

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack signs in.

Re: Sign in

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Marty signs in.

Re: Sign in

[fates_jaye]

Jaye signs in, kind of hoping Rory has a Tick-like metaphor ready. Because she's sick like that.

Re: Sign in

[can_be_more]

Aeryn signs in.

Re: Sign in

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie signs in, sorry that the Tick isn't here, but mildly relieved as well . . . not that he would admit it.

Re: Sign in

[aka-vala.livejournal.com]

Yawning and very, very, very late because her boyfriend apparently forgot to wake her up after his morning run, Vala signs in and grabs a seat, making a note about the extra credit thing and completely failing to notice either the absence of her boyfriend or the cute wolf curled up under a desk

Discussion - Forgiveness?

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Discuss. If it turns into an argument, Rory'll throw coffee throw waffles make someone bigger break it up.

Re: Discussion - Forgiveness?

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

Lockheed eyes the class from atop his usual bookcase, prepared to step in if there's an argument. Well, not so much "step in" as "shoot fire."

Re: Discussion - Forgiveness?

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron would have some interesting thoughts. Sadly enough, they all come out like barks.

Re: Discussion - Forgiveness?

[janet_fraiser]

"Of course you're not required to forgive someone if the judicial system does. It depends on how you feel. If you're the victim of a crime, then you forgive someone when--or if--you're ready. Or you don't. There are no hard and fast guidelines here."

Re: Discussion - Forgiveness?

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

"To give forgiveness? Anyone can do that. It doesn't necessarily mean that someone has redeemed themselves though. It also depends on what has been done where forgiveness is needed. There are some things however that can never be redeemed in my opinion. Redeemed? Maybe. If you're lucky."

The look on Marty's face is one of glumness mixed with a little anger.

Re: Discussion - Forgiveness?

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

Anakin thought for a long time, dwelling on the recording Logan had let him listen to.

"I believe forgiveness and justice should remain separate issues," he finally said. "Emotions have a tendency to muddle things. Whether the law enforcement officers, or even the victims, forgive the being who inflicted harm, the point is, and what the judicial system is for, is to provide balance for the harm." He stared at his boots. "On the other side of the equation, the judicial system is there to also provide balance in punishment--how violated the victim feels should not encourage the system to punish the offender more than necessary."

He scowled. "As for the evidence I need to forgive someone? There needs to be some serious acts of repentence. Words just don't suffice." He tapped his hands on his desk. "And some acts are just unforgivable. When something evil has happened, and the perpetrator has knowingly chosen to do it, well..." he coughed. "I've been taught that once you go down that dark path, it will dominate your life forever. Some things you just can't come back from, no matter how sorry you might be."

Re: Discussion - Forgiveness?

[can_be_more]

"No one's required to forgive anyone. In the eyes of the law, I don't even think forgiveness really exists. Most judicial systems I've heard of even tend to keep an eye on first time offenders and are harder on them even for lesser crimes that happen afterwards," Aeryn shrugs. "I think forgiveness happens if and when you're ready for it. And if you're never ready, then... Nothing you can do about that."

Re: Discussion - Forgiveness?

[fates_jaye]

Jaye has to think about it. "In order for me to forgive someone, they have to prove they're sorry. I don't care if it's just being really nice to make up for it, or if they do something stupid like walk barefoot over burning coals mixed with glass shards, but you can tell if someone's not really sorry for what they did. If they're not sorry, they can bite me, and keep on biting me until they are. Sorry," she winces. "That sounds bad, doesn't it?"

She raises her hand. "What if I didn't bring a book or turtlewax with me right now? Can I bring it Thursday?"

Re: Discussion - Forgiveness?

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

"I don't believe there's any evidence that the judicial system can offer that would induce me to forgive someone if the crime were of sufficient magnitude," Archie says quietly. "Forgiveness would depend entirely on the evidence of my own eyes and ears, not what the law decides."

His smile is more than a little bitter. "In one particular instance that comes to mind, I would have to reach the point at which I could honestly say that I could be in this person's presence and be completely at ease around them -- and that, believe me, would take a damned lot of doing."

Chatter/Note-passing/etc.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Because we all know you do it. Don't lie.

Extra Credit!

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Challenge the queen of literacy to see if she hasn't read what you've brought. Or else bring her wax for her boyfriend's surfboard to use when they go to Hawai'i for no apparent reason. Or do both, and then you get Doube-Super Extra Credit!

Re: Extra Credit!

[janet_fraiser]

"Does the extra credit have to be literary?" The only thing Janet has in her backpack that could possibly apply is The Cartoon Guide to Genetics.

Re: Extra Credit!

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Cameron actually has a book from the library that he very much doubts Rory will have read as it's on weapons in the Old Republic. It's not like he can tell her about it, though.

Re: Extra Credit!

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Marty holds up a copy of James Joyce's Ulysses with a slight smirk on his face.

"What about this Gilmore?"

OOC

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Why not?

Re: OOC

[bugofjustice.livejournal.com]

Wow, so this is what this class looks like all organized.