An event like this can give us a more personal understanding of history. In
recent years, it was thought inconceivable that Americans would have
approved of sending Japanese-Americans to "relocation" camps and, certainly,
we would never do such a thing today. It is easy to forget the impact
extreme situations have on a nation's thinking during these times. This
event is a strong reminder and an indicator of the fact that human beings
haven't really changed much after all. Once we know the situational
pressures acting on people at a certain time in history, their thought
processes become more understandable (if not, forgivable). I like to talk
about that distinction (understanding vs. absolution) with my students
because it is right on the boundary between science and morality (not that
they are opposites but they are different). This is also a reason for
discussing things as close to the heat of the moment as possible. As
passions fade, it becomes harder to remember our initial reaction and harder
to understand the general principles involving these reactions.
Rick
Dr. Richard L. Froman
Psychology Department
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
phone and voice mail: (501)524-7295
http://www.jbu.edu/sbs/psych/froman.htm
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Ricker [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 9:43 AM
To: TIPS
Subject: Gallup data on effects of NYC disaster
Given the discussion of the last several days, I thought the following
item of information from the Gallup organization
(http://www.gallup.com/tuesdaybriefing.asp) might be of general
interest:
"A majority of Americans favor having Arabs, even those who are U.S.
citizens, being subjected to separate, more intensive security
procedures at airports. About half of Americans favor requiring Arabs,
even those who are citizens of the United States, to carry special ID."
Other poll data regarding American's attitudes about the attacks, the
likely perpetrators, US response to the attacks, etc., can be found at
this site.
Jeff
--
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213
9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
Listowner: Psychologists Educating Students to Think Skeptically (PESTS)
http://www.sc.maricopa.edu/sbscience/pests/index.html
