In Response to the op-ed article, “College, Not Magic”

The article can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/opinion/06edelson.html?_r=1
Hi, my name is Kaitlyn Geiger and I am one of the founding members of the Ohio State Quidditch League. When I am not on the pitch, I spend my time studying under top-notch political science professors. In my experience, Quidditch and an excellent education are not mutually exclusive. Why must a student give up something they have adored growing up, as you say, when they reach college? If anything, they should continue with whatever they enjoy, regardless if others may deem it “frozen in high school.” I have found Quidditch, as well as any other activity I have participated in at OSU, an excellent place to make friends outside of class and a fun way to unwind during the week. So, my advice to you is to lose whatever ivory tower conceptions of college you may have and learn to relax and live a little.

My favorite books

So I decided to write a blog based off of some one's facebook posting. These books are the top 15 most important books in my life as of now and they books that I will always remember and cherish. On with the list!

1. Cat’s Cradle-Kurt Vonnegut
This book was the one that got me seriously thinking about my views on religion. I read it about a year after my dad died and I was pretty shaken in my faith. Luckily, I am no longer that pessimistic or angry towards organized religion, but I am still searching for the one that is right for me.
2. To Kill a Mocking Bird-Harper Lee
Ah Atticus Finch. This book made me want to be a lawyer more than I did before I read it. It just shows you that there are hard cases that you may not want to defend, but you do because of the due process of the law.
3. In Cold Blood-Truman Capote
I read this while I was working at the courthouse. Capote confirmed my views on capital punishment and did point out a few flaws in the legal system, that maybe one day I or some one else will change.
4. East of Eden-John Steinbeck
Another book on religion, although very different from Vonnegut. I just really liked this book. It's the story of Cain and Abel only in the 1950's or so I think.
5. Harry Potter (the entire series)-J.K. Rowling
These books may have had the biggest impact on my life. I grew up with Harry and used Hogwarts as my own refuge when life got too tough.
6. The Kite Runner
My 12th grade English teacher said something that will always stick with me that applies to this book and the next. She said "when we read we expand our subconscious because we are placed in situations we would never have to deal with in reality." The rape scene in this book made me think about what I would do if that was my friend in the same circumstances and honestly I may have done the same thing, which really bothered me. (I won't' say what happened just in case you may read it).
7. The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
Same influence as above only it was about family and not friends.
8. 1984-George Orwell
So too much governmental control can be a bad thing, lol. This book just really amazed me since it was written in 1948 and predicted certain actions the government may take to control its people (i.e. cameras on street corners).
9. Angels and Demons-Dan Brown
I had a very intense reaction to this book. Yet another book that started me thinking about religion, not because of the content though.
10. The Trial-Franz Kafka
I hated this book when I read it. I remember it took me about a month or so. But, it does make some important points that I think are applicable to our legal system today. For instance, the average American has little knowledge of the legal system let alone knowledge of their rights guaranteed to them. As a result of this, litigants are entirely dependent on their attorney's.
11. Starship Troopers-Robert Heinlein
Even though I have yet to finish it, I had to put this in here. Me and David talked a lot about this book in relation to natural rights when we first started dating. Honestly I never really gave natural rights much thought prior to our discussions and just assumed we all had them.
12. The Five People You Meet In Heaven-Mitch Albom
I liked this book a lot because I like to think about the 5 people I may meet if these circumstances were true. Pretty much you meet 5 people that either had an enormous effect on your life or you had one on theirs. You may not necessarily know who they are, which illustrates how we are all interconnected in some way. My thoughts have changed on who I may meet, but the one constant has always been my dad.
13. The Wedding-Nicholas Sparks
I just thought this book was really romantic and cute when I read it. And then Amy and Lauren planned me a surprise bday dinner based off of it and it was quite lovely. I still have all of the clues!
14. The Republic-Plato
This book got me thinking of my own definition of justice. As evidenced in my last post, it is something I am still working on and don;t know if I will ever have a clear view on.
15. Freckle Juice
I read this in 4th grade I think and did a mock court proceeding in class and I was one of the lawyers. I had so much fun I decided I wanted to be one! Plus it was about a kid who wanted to have more freckles, which has always been my dream. :)

ADR=Justice?

Ok, so I have to write a paper for my program and it's turning into something different than I thought it would be, so I am going to jot some thoughts down here and see what happens, lol. The topic is can Alternative Dispute Resolution do justice or is that something only to be achieved in a courtroom?

I have always struggled with the definition of justice. The definition I used for a paper last year was a textbook definition in favor of adjudication. It pretty much read that justice is when an unbiased third party hears each set of facts from both parties and makes a decision based on those facts. Obviously this definition of justice does not pertain to ADR since the parties consent to a settlement and there are discrepancies on what the settlement may be based on the proceedings and negotiations. My tutor said justice is similar to the definition I gave for my other paper and that justice ensures everyone is treated the same under the law, which does not occur in ADR. I have come to conclude that our definitions of justice are flawed. I mean is our legal system really just? Do those who commit crimes serve the appropriate punishment for their acts or are parties remedied for the torts committed against them? Just because the defendant gets their day in court, does that mean they had a fair trial? My colleagues discussed knowingly lying to win a case today. Obviously if this actually occurs in a court room, the trial was decided unjustly and needs to be remedied.

A paper I wrote for my Slavic Literature Clas

The Effects of Psychic Trauma As Seen in Elie Wiesel’s Dawn, Jean-Paul Sartre’s The Wall, Victor Hugo’s The Last Day of a Condemned Man, Death Row Inmates, and Cancer Patients

Man has a finite amount of time on this Earth and the majority of men do not know when their time ends. This lack of knowledge is natural to the processes of life. Life becomes unnatural when a man is told the manner and time of his death. The shortening of life, whether it is by the government or by a terminal disease such as cancer, may cause a man to undergo what is called psychic trauma. Psychoanalyst Dori Laub has studied and defined psychic trauma and its effects on survivors of the Holocaust. The trauma experienced by those sentenced to be executed has been the subject of several works of literature as well, including Elie Wiesel’s Dawn, Jean-Paul Sartre’s The Wall, and Victor Hugo’s The Last Day of a Condemned Man. Psychic trauma can be seen in both men on death row and those in a cancer ward at the hospital. Because of this, there are arguably many similarities between the mental processes of a man on death row and a man in a cancer ward of a hospital.

I used literature to supplement the case studies I found to support my argument that the effect of psychic trauma on the mind of the condemned is similar to its effects felt by cancer patients. I choose to do this because fiction is able to focus on different aspects of the effects of psychic trauma than nonfictional works. Fiction is able to show the perceived effects of a death sentence and give the reader the firsthand experience of what it feels like to be condemned to die. The works I chose to examine explore both the physical and emotional effects of a shortened life span on an individual in order to show how inhumane the unnatural shortening of life is. I used Laub’s definition of psychic trauma to connect what the authors were describing in their literature to the actual effects of trauma on the psyche.

Laub studied psychic trauma in Holocaust survivors and his studies can be applied to those sentenced to die as well. Laub defines psychic trauma as “extreme human pain” that is a result of an event that is outside an individual. The traumatic event causes a person’s mental observation processes to become suspended, which in turn causes the individual to become unaware of what is actually occurring. So, an individual is left with a gaping “black hole” in their mind and a burden they must bear every day until the trauma is realized. Obviously the Holocaust would be one example of an event traumatic enough to have this effect on a man’s mind. Another example of a traumatic event that would have the same effect would be being told one was not going to live out the natural length of his life.

The Holocaust itself can be seen as an execution of a race. It also can be seen as a series of adverted executions since the prisoners of the Holocaust camps would be lined up and sorted on the basis of how healthy and fit they were. Those who were deemed not fit enough would be taken to the death chamber and gassed. Elie Wiesel is one of the most notable authors who survived the Holocaust. His book, Dawn, details the life of a Holocaust survivor and his order to execute an English soldier. The character, Elisha, exhibits psychic trauma immediately after his release from the concentration camp. “I had met Catherine in Paris in 1945, when I had just come from Buchenwald, that other magical spot, where the living were transformed into the dead and their future into darkness” (39). The use of the word dead not only provides the reader with graphic imagery but also illustrates how Elisha is unable to derive pleasure out of life. This state of existence is a consequence of the trauma experienced by Elisha in the concentration camps. This quotation from Elisha illustrates the effects of psychic trauma on the individual that will be with him throughout the duration of his life.

Wiesel also foreshadows the impact of the execution of John Dawson on Elisha throughout the novel. Elisha realizes that he will be completely different from who he is now after he shoots John Dawson. He believes that once he kills John Dawson he will be forever labeled as a murder and nothing will stop him from killing again. This point reaches fruition by the death of the ghost of Elisha’s childhood, which can be interpreted as a loss of innocence. Thus, it is apparent that the execution of John Dawson has an enormous impact on Elisha’s psyche. By executing John Dawson, Elisha himself is condemned to a living death since he loses a part of himself by pulling the trigger.

Ira Brenner also studied the impacts of the Holocaust on survivors of the concentration camps, which is also relatable to the character of Elisha. In reference to the despair and mistreatment the Jews experienced during the Holocaust, Brenner writes, “The resulting assault on the ego is utterly overwhelming, and when flight to safety is not possible, regression in service of survival may be necessary in order to avoid the depletion and total despair that may lead to suicide” (168). Thus, it is understandable that Elisha took little pleasure out of life since he was primarily concerned with his survival at the concentration camp. His time at the concentration camp deeply impacted his mental processes due to his closeness to death.

Laub’s studies on psychic trauma can be applied to a man serving time on death row. He details the burden a witness to a traumatic event must go through until the witness achieves closure. This closure is something those sentenced to be executed only receives upon the act of the execution or the reprieve itself. While a prisoner may receive a stay or several stays of execution, these only delay the execution for the time being. So, he is forced into an unnatural state of existence, which worsens as he waits for the date of his execution to draw closer. Johnson classifies this state of existence in his study “Condemned to Die” as a “living death.” “Living death is here intended to convey the zombie-like, mechanical existence of an isolated physical organism-a fragile twilight creature that emerges when men are systematically denied their humanity” (17). A “living death” is a response to the death sentence itself and little is done to help the prisoners in the death row environment.

The treatment received by those on death row only adds to the mental trauma they are already suffering from. Death row inmates are typically isolated from other prisoners, given limited amounts of time out of their cells, and placed in the most depressing area of the prison. Some guards purposefully mistreat the prisoners because of the nature of their crimes. Examples of mistreatment that contribute to the prisoner’s anxiety surrounding death include test runs of the electric chair, trips to the witness room of the death chamber for no apparent reason, and verbal abuse. Little is done to make a condemned man’s sentence on death row comfortable or humane. According to Johnson, at least 50 percent of prisoners on death row contemplate suicide seriously. This large statistic illustrates the seriousness and the impact of a death sentence on a man. Johnson’s study highlights the impacts of psychic trauma on those serving time on death row. His results show that most prisoners sentenced to die think often of their impending death and suffer from severe anxiety as a result. Anxiety may manifest itself in ways such as a loss of appetite, lack of sleep, or depression. This anxiety has shown to be a concept many authors have chosen to write about in their descriptions of condemned men.

The symptoms of anxiety in those on death row can also be seen in Sartre’s, The Wall. Upon receiving their death sentence, the prisoners in the short story are provided a doctor to stay the night and make their last night more comfortable. Yet, the doctor’s presence provides little relief to the prisoners condemned to death. The effects of trauma are most apparent in the young boy, Juan. He is in a continuous state of despair and cannot be consoled throughout the night. The visual side effects of trauma are also exhibited by Juan. He is continually sweating, shaking, crying, etc. The two other prisoners also exhibit symptoms of psychic trauma. For example, Ibbieta loses all interest in living by the end of the night. He feels nothing towards the ones he once loved and has no interest in the things he used to enjoy doing. And the Irishman, Tom, keeps picturing his execution against the wall. His notions of his own execution leave a deep impact in the mind of the reader and the mind of the main character so that they almost experience the mental breakdown that he is suffering from. By using the imagery of the wall and descriptions of the manifestations of trauma, Sartre makes a powerful argument against the humanity of the death penalty.

Hugo’s novella, The Last Day of a Condemned Man, also takes a stance against capital punishment. This novella is written as a series of diary entries from the perspective of a man sentenced to be executed. The condemned man claims the reason he is writing this account is to distract his mind from the constant thoughts of death. These thoughts are a result of being sentenced to death and having a shortened lifespan. According to Laub’s studies, an individual’s mind processes after suffering a traumatic event, such as a death sentence, focus only on the event itself and the lack of closure. The need to share his story and life on death row is consistent with Laub’s account of trauma. Laub found that a victim of a traumatic event can only relieve himself of the burden he carries through testimonies to other people. Hugo’s condemned man embodies Laub’s account of psychic trauma and attempts to free himself from it by writing in a diary.

Literature, especially when written in first person as seen in The Last Day of a Condemned Man, is a useful account of the mental processes and the effect of psychic trauma on a man sentenced to be executed. Novels and other works of fiction are able to delve inside the head of a condemned man and show the effects of the death sentence. The authors discussed previously in this paper showed the impact of a death sentence on the condemned man’s mental processes, which in the world of non-fiction is difficult to achieve, due mistruths, lack of information, etc. Literature is an important tool in understanding the effects of a death sentence and the thoughts of the time-period on capital punishment.

A critic could respond to the previous argument by saying that a man sentenced to be executed deserves his sentence and his deprivation of humanity on the grounds that he forfeited his humanity by committing a gruesome crime such as murder. And, the psychic trauma that the condemned man undergoes is immaterial to society, since the condemned are no longer human. While it is not the position of this paper that the condemned should not be punished, it is the position that the psychic trauma undergone by the condemned man is an inhumane aspect of the death penalty that needs to be rectified. In order to support this argument and illustrate the effects of psychic trauma a comparison is drawn between a prisoner sentenced to death and a patient condemned to death by a terminal illness such as cancer. This comparison is necessary to show the dire effects of psychic trauma on a group of individuals that unquestionably deserve sympathy. An individual suffering from cancer undergoes severe mental anguish upon receiving their diagnosis; similar to the anguish a condemned man feels when he is read his death sentence.

Because of the mental suffering felt by cancer patients after their diagnosis, Laub’s account of psychic trauma is a necessary tool to understand their suffering. Upon diagnosis, an individual with cancer undergoes depression and anxiety in response to their own death sentence. The diagnosis is so outside the patient’s realm of understanding and unforeseen that it causes him or her to fall into despair. As a result of the diagnosis, a patient’s mental processes are completely altered from their previous state, and all they focus on is their disease and the impacts of it on their life and on their family’s lives. The anxiety surrounding the diagnosis is similar to the anxiety surrounding the death sentence. As quoted in the European Journal of Cancer Care, “the psychological impact of first cancer diagnosis tends to wane with the passage of time and most patients adjust to their disease… but problems like depression and anxiety tend to persist for long periods after diagnosis.” This psychological impact is similar to the impact felt by the condemned as found in Johnson’s study. Neither individual knows whether they will be granted a reprieve or whether the chemotherapy will work and they will be spared from death. Cancer is a heavy burden that the patient must bear for the rest of their life, since even if the patient goes into remission; there is always the chance that the cancer may return. As stated earlier, these uncertainties cause anxiety, which is detrimental to the patient’s health.

The anxiety felt by a cancer patient is similar to the anxiety felt by the condemned. And both groups of people experience a lower quality of life after receiving their death sentence because of this anxiety. As quoted in the European Journal of Cancer Care, “studies have suggested that among chronic disease patients, those who are depressed often respond differently to treatment as compared with non-depressed patients with the same disease.” The European Journal of Cancer Care conducted a study in order to determine whether disease progression impacts the physical function of cancer patients and whether disease progression impacts the severity of symptoms in cancer patients. The study found that both symptom severity and physical function were impaired as the cancer progressed in the patient and worsens when the patient is diagnosed again with cancer after entering remission. One possible reason for this result is that those with chronic disease suffer higher mortality rates. So once a man approaches his last day, his quality of life deteriorates, making it difficult for him to recover.

There are also social stigmas associated with cancer patients that may affect their overall well-being. In China, for example, cancer patients are seen as a cursed group of society who are being punished by the heavens for whatever bad deeds they may have done. Thus, cancer is seen as a curse that the patient must bear for the rest of their life. This notion reflects Laub’s studies on psychic trauma since the patient has a heavy burden bearing on their mental processes that directly impacts the way they live their life even after the patient is cured. “Although some of them may be considered as having “survived” the cancer and can be freed from the fear of death, the fear of recurrence puts enormous burden on survivors” (Chan 15). As quoted in the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, “cancer patients are confronted with discrimination and isolation in addition to physical and spiritual pain during the different stages of their cancer experience” (Chan 15). This social stigma is directly relatable to a man sentenced to be executed since he is also isolated from other prisoners, looked down upon by society, and undergoes metal anguish throughout his sentence on death row.

Another comparison between the condemned and a cancer patient can be seen in the role and impact of the family and support groups. Hospitals and prisons both restrict the visiting hours, which has a negative impact on both groups of individuals. A man facing death depends on his family as his lifeline and connection to the land of the living. Families typically provide support and comfort to those undergoing the effects of psychic trauma, and the individuals that are faced with death feel despair when they are unable to access this support due to the restrictions imposed by the institution.

The mental anguish experienced by cancer patients and those sentenced on death row needs to be alleviated if possible. The psychic trauma experienced by both groups of people severely impedes on their quality of life. In order to possibly curb the effects of trauma, Laub believed a testimonial was necessary in order for the individual to truly come to terms with the traumatic event they witnessed or experienced. “Grasping the full therapeutic potential of the trauma story means successfully working with traumatized persons on their story-telling skills” (Mollica 111). A person undergoing psychic trauma may not be aware of the impact of the trauma itself, not be willing to admit the trauma they are undergoing and recognize in their mental processes, or be unwilling to share the trauma for fear of it reoccurring. Thus, the interviewer needs to be empathetic to the story being told and understand when to probe the testifier in order to ensure they testify completely. This process allows an individual to regain control of their mental processes and improve the quality of their life.

Coping with trauma is especially important to those diagnosed with cancer. It has been proven through several studies that patients with a positive outlook and a support group respond better to treatment, thus increasing their chances of survival. One study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, outlines 8 steps that caregivers can take in order to better the quality of life of a cancer patient and stop adverse side effects to treatment. Some include systematic desensitization, relaxation training, and an evaluation of the environment in order to ensure it is conducive to the healing process. These steps are a part of the behavioral intervention process that is currently being incorporated by cancer caregivers.

While cancer patients are increasingly provided with specialized-care, those on death row are not so fortunate. The condemned do have a spiritual advisor, but the spiritual advisor lacks the training of a psychologist. Psychologists are trained to be objective, which would be especially beneficial to a man sentenced to be executed. An empathetic psychologist that can help the prisoner come to terms with his shortened life span and acknowledge the crime he committed. A meeting with a psychologist is one way to reduce the inmates’ suicidal tendencies. Others include increased family visitation, and access to more recreational materials. Condemned men only receive one one hour contact visit with their loved ones a month. So it is necessary for prison staff to engage the prisoners in order to stop them from succumbing to the effects of psychic trauma. These steps will save the prisoner from undergoing unnecessary trauma since they are ultimately paying the highest price for their crime, death.

The similarities between a cancer patient and a man sentenced to be executed by the state are undeniable. Each has a shortened life span that negatively impacts their psyches that are also manifested in their physical well-being, depends on family members for support, and are seen as outsiders to society. Doctors, academics, and writers have all explored the impacts of psychic trauma and add their own unique analysis of the impact of trauma on the individual. Each analysis is crucial to understanding the effects of trauma and how it may be remedied. By attempting to remedy psychic trauma in cancer patients and those on death row, the quality of life is improved for each individual and the treatment becomes more humane, as it should be.

Works Cited

Brenner, Ira. Psychic Trauma. Lanham: Jason Aronson, 2004.

Chan, Celia L.W PhD, et al. “Turning Curses into Blessings: An Eastern Approach to Psychosocial Oncology.” Journal of Psychosocial Oncology 24.4: 15-31. 3 June 2009

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=2&hid=2&sid=8cdd2041-b960-456e-b8fc-c37380be7208%40sessionmgr9#db=a9h&AN=23593836.

Hugo, Victor. The Last Day of the Condemned Man. Trans. Geoff Woollen. Hespersus Classics.

Jean-Paul Sartre, “The Wall,” Existentialism from Dostoevsky to Sartre, ed. Walter Kaufmann (NY: Norton, 1989), 594-626.

Johnson, Robert. Condemned to Die. New York: Elsevier, 1981.

Laub, Dori M.D., Testimony: Crises of Witnessing in Literature, Psychoanalysis, and History (NY: Routledge 1992), 42-74.

Mollica, Richard F. M.D, Healing Invisible Wounds: Paths to Hope and Recovery in a Violent World. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press, 2006.

Redd, William H. et al. “Behavioral Intervention for Cancer Treatment Side Effects.” Journal of the National Cancer Institute 93: 810-823. 3 June 2009

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Siddiqi, A., M.D. and PhD, et al. "Quality of Life among Patients with Primary, Metastatic and
Recurrent Cancer." European Journal of Cancer Care 18.1: 84-96. 3 June 2009
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Wiesel, Elie. Dawn. 1961. Trans. Frances Frenaye. New York: Hill and Wang, 2006.

Guns in America

On a whim I decided to take a political science class on the Second Amendment. As it turns out, it is one of the most challenging topics I have confronted in my undergraduate degree. The reason is, there is little scholarly work or even court decisions on the subject, so what you have is people basing their beliefs on materials from interest groups and their own interpretation of the 2nd Amendment. This practice leads to polarized/biased views and little hope for any gun control legislation. The NRA is one of the largest lobbyists in Congress. Because of this, guns are the only product not regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Does this seem right? Guns are used solely for the purpose of destruction, unlike knives or similar weapons that have practical uses. Thus, they should be regulated for sole interest of the safety of our society.

I am not saying that guns should be outlawed and collected by the government. Obviously, there is an interest to have an armed society in order keep a check on the government, so they do not have all the firearms. In the Supreme Court case, District of Columbia v. Heller, the Court held there is an individual right to own a firearm for protection. This opinion deviates from most interpretations of the Second Amendment, mine included. I interpret the Amendment to give society the right to own and keep arms as opposed to every individual. It is easy to imagine there are citizens of our great nation that should not own a firearm. Examples: someone with a history of psychological problems; people under the age of 21 (current law); felons; someone who has used a firearm inappropriately. Since the case dealt solely with the D.C. law the Court's opinion only applies at the federal level, since D.C. is considered an entity of the federal government. It is up to the states to decide whether there is in fact an individual right to bear arms.

Understandably, it would be hard to ensure that every person who intends to use a gun for a malicious purpose does not obtain one. Yet, I think there is a balance to be reached. I would rather see someone who is legally and mentally within their right to own a gun not be allowed to obtain one than someone with malicious intentions obtaining one. Thus, this idea leads to stricter gun control laws. Of course there will still be crime regardless of the laws on firearms. Yet, firearms make violent crimes more lethal. So, if guns were not used in violent crimes, there would be less of a fatality rate. I think there is something to be said for that, since guns tend to escalate confrontations and which could ultimately result in the death of the victim. If the victim is armed, the situation could dissolve or result in a shoot out. It is hard to quantify the benefits of using a gun for self-defense since those statistics are not reported. Obviously, that is one use of a firearm, but is the benefit greater than the cost?

So, to sum things up stricter gun control is something to be desired. Any thoughts?

Beliefs and Convictions

I consider this post to be an introduction of sorts. As you may know I am a political science student at OSU, so most of my posts will be in regards to politics, international issues, legal topics, and current events. I will probably write some posts on philosophy and religion since those topics interest me as well.
Prior to attending college, I had set beliefs and convictions. I spouted off my opinions to any one who would listen and often clashed with my fellow classmates. I thought my set of ideals and beliefs were the only ones that mattered and my beliefs were the only correct ones, regardless of any new information I heard. Then, I came to college and started taking classes on subjects I am actually interested in. Now, I have no idea what to believe or if my limited ideas of the world are even realistic. I think that for the people in my age group, or even those older than me, are too biased to take into account new information and shape their beliefs around it. I think because of my limited life experiences it is difficult to form concrete notions of the world around me. And I have come to terms with that. I think life is just a giant learning experience and you need to take as much knowledge away from it as possible. With the right information, even the most concrete beliefs can crumble.
With that said, I am excited to write this blog. I enjoy writing on whatever topics fancy me, so this is pretty much for my own amusement. Yet, feel free to post your own opinions and maybe we can get a dialogue going, or even a debate! This post is intended to just be a reminder to myself and whoever may be reading this to critically evaluate everything we learn before passing judgment. My next post will either be on punitive damages or gun control, so keep an eye out for it.