Two Towns of Jasper

Part of Shawn Berry’s defense was that he was a bystander, not an instigator.The jury did not believe that claim, but assuming that such a situation could occur, what is the responsibility of an observer to an act of racism. Should bystanders who don’t intervene be held culpable in any ways? How might the responsibility to respond be different for blacks and whites? Racist acts can range from extreme violence to a thoughtless comment or joke. Have you ever witnesses any act of racism? What did you do? If the event happened today, would your response be the same? If not, what has changed?

Bad Samaritan

Watch this video: The Bad Samaritan parts 1 & 2 and post comments below.

Eighteen-year-old David Cash chose to walk away as his friend, fellow eighteen-year-old Jeremy Strohmeyer, assaulted and murdered Sherrice Iverson, age 7, in the girls room of a Nevada casino at 3 in the morning. He told the Los Angeles Times when his friend was arrested that he was “not going to lose sleep over someone else’s problems.”

Clearly what Jeremy Strohmeyer did was reprehensible. What David Cash did was to choose to be a bystander, not to be a rescuer or a resister in any way. One can only speculate what might have happened had Cash more actively intervened. But according to Nevada law at the time, he was under no legal obligation to do otherwise.

As awful as the situation was, I’d like to hear your views on the situation. What do you think should have governed Cash’s actions? What obligations does a person who witnesses another wrong have? Are there different rules depending on the nature of the “wrong”?

The Bad Samaritan

Watch this video and comment on the blog. Make sure to comment on your classmates' posts.

For Monday 2/13/12

Read this article from The New York Times and respond on the blog using your secret name and class period. What is the role of the bystander? What would you have done in this situation? Does the situation sound familiar to you? 4-6 sentences minimum. Also respond to at least one other post.

Due Tuesday 2/14/12

Final Identity Reflection This should be typed double spaced 12-font, 1" margins.

Due Block Day 2/8 or 2/9

CRASH REFLECTION - Typed

Choose two characters. What traits did the movie bring out about them? How did the stereotypes turn out to be incorrect? What methods were used to teach us that we cannot judge others by their race or ethnicity? What does the movie suggest about the nature of stereotyping others? Use examples from the movie Crash to back up your opinions. Two paragraphs.

For Tuesday 2/7/12

Read the In Group and answer Connections 1, 2, and 3 in your notebooks.

In your notebooks:

Write a letter to someone you have bullied in the past and apologize for your behavior. Or write a letter to someone who has bullied you and explain how that made you feel.