fandomhigh | Advanced Criminal Justice, Class 28, Period 1, 04.20.06

[OOC: Continuing "Raid Wiki For Info" Week! Also, I've finally updated the Class Info Post.]

"Hello, students! Today we're discussing two opposing models of Justice. But first, a reminder: there's only a week of classes left!"

"Okay, the two models are the Conflict Model and the Consensus Model. The Conflict Model states that the organizations in the Justice System should - and perhaps do! - come into contention with each other. For example, police are determined to put people in prison and even have clearance rates. Similar stories with the prosecutors. But prison officials may be concerned wiith overcrowding and do what they can to limit their numbers. Perhaps they even let criminals out more easily."

"Another example would be the way that police can be so determined to arrest superheroes sometimes. Or the courts with their fines for public destruction. It's all conflict. Competition, even, to see which wheel on the Tricycle of Justice is the best."

"On the other end of the theoretical teeter totter is the Consensus Model. It says that the Justice System should - and perhaps does! - work together and cooperate. The police and courts work together to send bad people to prison. The prisons hold the bad people. Superheroes assist where they can. The important thing is that, egads, we're on a tricycle and we're having fun! Look at us zoom down this hill! Wheee!"

"Some people have speculated that we shoot for Consensus but Conflict is our reality. My question for you is what do you think about the whole thing? Consensus? Conflict? Are we one? Are we the other? Is one better? What are we doing with our shiny, red tricycle?"

"Please discuss!"

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Angel squirmed uncomfortably. "It, um, has. Kinda."

"Oh?" asked Janet curiously. "How so?"

"Apparently anybody who helps me will end up dead or wishing they were," Angel said. "So... probably going to be answering my own phones, once the business gets running."

"The future is not carved in stone, Angel," said Janet firmly. "Is this some kind of prophecy thing?"

"It's a 'somebody's already been there, done that, and besides I can already see it happening' kind of thing."

"Then he and you are from alternate universes," said Janet. "Sam explains this concept better than I do, but essentially, there are an infinite number of universes, and every time you make a decision, another universe is created. Or something like that." She shook her head. "Physics is not one of my areas, but my point is that just because it's happened in one timeline, that doesn't mean it's going to happen to you."

"Maybe," Angel said, but he didn't look like he totally believed it.

"I'm not saying you shouldn't be careful," said Janet. "Similar situations may come up in your timeline. But your future isn't preordained based on what happened--or will happen--to a different version of you."

"Where I'm from there's similar themes," Angel said. "The day to day stuff may change but the huge events are all the same. Everyone I care about dying? That sounds pretty big to me."

"The day-to-day stuff affects the larger picture. And changes it," said Janet. "Of course the thought of everyone you care about dying is huge. Anyone you care about dying is a huge deal. But you also can't decide that means you have to be alone, because you can't decide for other people." She took a deep breath. "Each of us chooses what risks we take, after all. Maybe your friends in that dimension would think the risk was worth it."

"And maybe they'd be happier if they didn't," Angel said.

"And you get to decide that for them?" asked Janet, one eyebrow raised.

"I am if I'm the only one who truly knows what's being decided," Angel said.

"You might want to consider that other people deserve the knowledge to make that choice on their own," said Janet, deliberately keeping her voice mild.

"It's one thing to be told," Angel said. "Another to know."

"You were told, not shown, weren't you?" asked Janet. "Or did you see it all happen?"

"I've seen it," Angel said, quietly. He didn't look like he'd feel comfortable saying any more about it.

"It doesn't sound pleasant," said Janet, not pushing the issue. "But even so, if I'd found out someone had made a decision for me without giving me all the information possible, I'd be furious." Her tone was sympathetic, but her voice was firm. "No one gets to decide the course of someone else's life for them. That's just plain wrong, whether you think it's for anyone else's good or not." She sighed. "Wouldn't you worry that alienating people would drive them to their death, instead of away to safety? I'd want to be around to protect my friends."

"I can protect them by keeping them away," Angel said.

Advanced Criminal Justice, Class 28, Period 1, 04.20.06

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