Write answers to reflective questions.
Go to the Law and Liberty in a
"Secure Homeland" website (http://www.justicepolicy.com/liberties/index.htm) and using the navigation buttons at the top, read the different aspects of Civil Liberties. There are 12 reflective questions scattered throughout the website. Choose 3 reflective questions to answer in detail.
Example of Reflective question:
"Alright already! So these "liberals" don't like Ashcroft or the USA Patriot Act. Big deal! REAL Americans will give up a few rights for security. Freedom isn't free!"
Do these comments represent your reaction to the last set of links? Do individual political ideologies lead us to respond to controversial opinions in predictable ways? Is it easy to discount opposing opinions by personalizing?
For example, "of course they say that, they are _________." (Blank can be filled with "liberal," "conservative," left-wing," "fascist," you name it - or better yet, don't name it.)
Is the truth in there somewhere? Are you concerned about the tendency to "dichotomize" debate by assuming there are just two sides to every question?