Discussion Questions
On Messick
Pick one sub-type from each of two different barriers (e.g., causal cleansing from the 1stbarrier and resisting immoral authority from the 3rd barrier). For each, explain it, and then come up with your own example to illustrate it (an example of a leader would be best, but is not required). This can be an example from history, current events, or personal experience. If it is the latter, try not to get bogged down by your own feelings about it; instead, treat it as if it were a case study.
Because this assignment is focused on examples, you can ignore the usual instruction about not using outside sources for this assignment only. You are allowed to use one outside source per example. These sources should be high-quality such as newspaper articles, journal articles, and books. Do not use blogs, tabloids, or the like. You must provide a full citation for your sources, or else it will be considered plagiarism.
On Updike or Morgenson
Let us recall King’s words from his speech, A Time to Break Silence:
“Here is the true meaning and value of compassion and nonviolence when it helps us to see the enemy’s point of view, to hear his questions, to know his assessment of ourselves. For from his view we may indeed see the basic weaknesses of our own condition, and if we are mature, we may learn and grow and profit from the wisdom of the brothers who are called the opposition” (237).
Read this passage carefully. Reflect on how either Harmon, as a leader, or the leaders of the financial sector in 2008 could have benefitted from King’s critical advice about American leadership.
Here is an example from elsewhere in King’s text, just to give you a sense of how to build a similar connection. Remember that King was working to heal what he called the “deep malady of the American spirit,” which had to do with valuing things (profit) more than people. Can we also find symptoms of a kind of sickness in Harmon’s behavior? After all, was he not treating Ganz as an object of his desire more than a dignified human being?
Original Post
Your original post will be a minimum of 500 words long and a maximum of 700 words long. By “original” we simply mean your own thoughts responding to the question(s) listed for each discussion forum. You will not have access to the posts of your classmates until you submit your original post. Only your first post will be counted as your original post for grading purposes. Please do not post more than one week before the deadline.
You are required to quote the text once in your original post. The quote should be about one or two sentences long. Only up to 50 words of the quote will count toward the minimum word count. The quote should provide evidence that your interpretation is correct (just as a prosecutor might provide a gun with the defendant’s fingerprints on it to convince the jury she is correct about him being the murderer). Provide a parenthetical citation for your quote.
No outside sources are to be used for this assignment. Use only the assigned reading. Any documented use of outside sources will be penalized for not following the instructions. Any undocumented use of outside sources constitutes plagiarism and charges will be filed for an academic offense.
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