Final Ethics Class, Friday 8-10am

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Over the course of this term, we've looked a lot at your personal moral stance on things. Today we're going to be looking more generally - on how morals are taught to children, often insidiously.

"A good medium for this is fairy tales. Every culture has them - stories that are told to children, bearing little moral gems to shape and guide. The first thing I want you to do is a select a fairy tale. Don't worry if it's not one I'll know, just pick one you're familiar with."

Comments

[demonbelthazor]

Bel raised his hand. "We don't have fairy tales where I come from," he said.

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Wow," Tara replies, not thinking about the word before it pops out her mouth. "Um, any story told to children will do...?"

[demonbelthazor]

"They really don't tell stories to children," Bel said uncomfortably. "Except maybe something like 'There was once a young demon who coveted something that the Source had claimed as his own. He wanted one the Source had chosen as a mate, and was fool enough to think that he could safely arrange secret meetings with her. But the Source of course discovered the betrayal. He killed neither outright; he tortured them both for days so that all could see what would happen to those who betrayed him. Their suffering was legendary, and they thanked the Source when he finally allowed them to die.' Does that work?" He glanced over to Phoebe, then turned his face so she wouldn't see the conflict of emotions in his eyes.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe swallowed hard and then reached out to take his hand and squeezed it gently.

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Yes," Tara murmurs quietly, sympathetically. "That works, Bel. So what moral lesson do they hope children will learn from that story?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Um, obey the Source or die," he said quietly.

[brambless.livejournal.com]

Tara nods slowly, sad eyes filled with compassion for the childhood Belthazor never got to have.

"Is that a useful lesson? Something that they're better off for knowing? Or is it just a way to control them?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Well, they're better off knowing," Bel said slowly. "Makes them think twice before doing something stupid if they know the price they'll pay."

[brambless.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Belthazor," Tara replies quietly. "Well done."

[demonbelthazor]

His own hand shook a little, but he squeezed Phoebe's back. He already knew he was going to die for betraying the Source and letting Phoebe and her sisters live. The only question was how soon.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe moved her desk closer to Cole's and the look in her eyes dared anyone to say anything about it. Usually he was the one comforting her and protecting her, but right now he was the one who needed comfort. Her mind was formulating a plan to protect Cole from the wrath of the Source...

That, or some sort of magic spell...

[demonbelthazor]

"I'm okay, love," he said softly, trying to shake off the fears he was usually able to force from his mind.

[sensethevisions]

"Yeah, and I'm frelling Cinderella," she said softly, not moving.