Part 1 due Thursday, April 28, by 11:59 pm (10 points)

Part 2 due Saturday, April 29, by 11:59 pm (5 points for each of two responses)

Part 1: What’s Going on Here?

People in the world sure see things differently.  One would have to be living with his head in the sand not to see that.  We may get why some people feel and act as they do, but as for others – we’re stumped.  We don’t get it.  And you’re probably going to encounter that feeling of confusion in the people we read about, real, hypothetical, or fictional, in this class.   The key here is to think critically without being critical.  In other words, give some honest and open thought, without judgment, as to why people act and/or react as they do.  One man believes in the right to bear arms; another doesn’t.  One woman wants a career and family; another just wants the family and is contented being a housewife.  This West coast neighborhood celebrates Kwanzaa; that mid-west neighborhood doesn’t even know what Kwanzaa is.  With all the influences that come into our lives, it’s hard to put a finger on what exactly makes a group or an individual behave in a particular way – but I want you to try.

So think about a situation you know of (read or heard about it in the news, in an article, story, or book, or saw it in a TV show or movie), witnessed, or experienced directly when someone adheres to a belief that you don’t quite understand or follow yourself.  This isn’t a judgment but an observation, an observation where you attempt to figure out where such a mindset might have come from.  

In a paragraph, explain what the situation is by providing enough details to illustrate what’s going on or what happened so a reader can see what you’re talking about.  (This is much like when you describe what happened in a movie or TV show to a friend; you give the details so he or she can “see” what you’re talking about.)

Here are some brief examples of situations where there is either an expression of a strongly-held belief or an action that shows some “radical” thinking.   

• In 2015, Kim Davis, a Rowan County clerk in Kentucky, refused to grant a same-sex couple a marriage license because of her religious beliefs even though the U.S. Supreme Court had declared gay marriage as legal; Davis was sent to jail for not doing her job and upholding the law.
• An elderly man from Iowa admitted that he’s always voted Republican even though he’s sometimes believed the opposing candidate was better suited for the political position.
• The president of a boutique (small but successful) advertising agency discovered that the Christmas gifts meant for his wife and his mistress got mixed up and both packages were delivered to the wrong woman; however, all three got a good laugh over the foul up.  

Here’s a complete paragraph example:

In the novel Deliverance, Ed Gentry, a graphic designer for an advertising agency in downtown Atlanta, finds himself in a kill or be killed situation on a canoe trip way up in the wilderness.  After his friend is shot by a local mountain man, he is able to get the best of the murderer, kill him (using a bow and arrow), and sink the body in the river before heading back to civilization.  Once there, he makes up a story that his friend was drowned.  He lies to the police, even when a local deputy, brother-in-law of the mountain man that Ed killed, questions the story.  The deputy even blatantly accuses Ed of having encountered his brother-in-law and killing him.  In spite of the chillingly accurate accusation, Ed challenges the deputy to prove it.  Without any such proof, local authorities have no choice but to let Ed go.  He returns to the city, resumes work, and lives with the fact that he’s been directly involved in murder.    

Part 2: Response 

Respond to two of your fellow students’ posted paragraphs by offering some insights as to why you think this person, or persons (if it’s more than one or a group), acted in such a manner.  Consider what you feel might have influenced the thinking behind the actions.  You might want to consider cultural, familial (family), local, religious, political, gender, or other relevant influences.  There are always several factors involved, so give your response some thought.  Don’t worry about how correct or accurate you are; there isn’t any such thing here.  You’re just guessing, but you’re also being open-minded and somewhat curious as to what inspired the person, or persons, to act in such a manner.  Think about this as an attempt to learn about the thought-processes of people who might think a little differently from you.  You don’t have to write a lot but some genuine thought and/or insight should be apparent in your response.  

Here’s a sample response to the above example paragraph:

Seems like Ed got stuck in a very unusual situation where the regular rules can’t apply.  If he didn’t act, then he’d probably be dead.  In the wilderness, it’s the law of nature.  Survival of the fittest.  Ed proved himself to be more “fit” because he’s the one who survived, not the other guy.  The problem is that he has to go back home where the law demands people don’t kill each other.  A man who commits murder most likely, depending on the circumstances, goes to jail.  Ed has a job, it seems, and a life that he wants to get back to so he can get on with his life and not go to jail.  In order to do so, he has to lie about breaking the law.  Since the circumstances in which the “murder” took place were outside the rule of law, Ed is apparently able to overlook a limitation (he’s guilty of murder) that he would otherwise not.

Now here’s how to post (and respond) to the assignment with Canvas.

Post your observation paragraph(s) by Thursday at 11:59 pm

To post your original observation paragraph(s) go down to the introduction thread below and click on “Reply” and write or paste your paragraphs(s) in the Rich Content Editor; when you are finished, click “Post Reply.”

Respond to two posted observation paragraph(s) by Friday at 11:59 pm

To respond to other students’ posted paragraphs,  find two that intrigue you (and either have no posted responses or only one), click on “Reply” under the post and write in your thoughts and insights.  When you are finished, click on “Send.”  (Remember that you need to respond to two students here, so you have to do this twice!)