Replies to threads must be at least one hundred fifty words. Supporting references are encouraged, but not required for use in classmate responses.

Replies to threads must be at least one hundred fifty words. Supporting references are encouraged, but not required for use in classmate responses. Rather, stating reasons that support the opinion, adding additional ideas/thoughts, or providing alternative ideas/thoughts count as a reply. Courtesy in any disagreement is expected, thus, personal attacks or calling an idea “stupid” are not acceptable and will count against your grade. Responding to a classmate’s post requires both the addition of new ideas and analysis. A particular point made by the classmate must be addressed and built upon by your analysis in order to move the conversation forward. Thus, the response post is a rigorous assignment that requires you to build upon initial posts to develop deeper and more thorough discussion of the ideas introduced in the initial posts. As such, reply posts that merely affirm, restate or unprofessionally quarrel with the previous post(s) and fail to make a valuable, substantive contribution to the discussion will receive appropriate point deductions.

I personally believe with regards to plea bargaining it all depends on the crime committed, type of deal that is struck, and what the judge rules if justice is served or not. If a defendant is simply pleading their case trying to justify their crime in court, that should carry no weight. However, openly admitting they did wrong and accept whatever consequence should hold some bearing. It is up to the defendant to have their heart in the right place, God will judge at the end of their day. It is common knowledge that there are several different degrees of crime out there, but perhaps in a petty crime, sometimes making someone do 200 hours of community service in multiple sectors, attend 40 hours of free community organized group counseling, write  an apology letter to the victim, in addition to probation may be justice served for the crime. Simply “slapping someone on the wrist” for any crime is not effective. “If judges take a more active role at the stage of designing the plea (and not only approving it), they may use restorative justice, integrate welfare services, encourage rehabilitation and choice-making,…” (Alberstein & Zimerman, 2017, p. 290).  However, I feel that there is no justice served in murder cases when a plea bargain is allowed. Murder is a crime in which I feel justice may never be served regardless of the sentencing, but I am a strong believer in the death penalty. “Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death” (Exodus 21:12, NIV). There is nothing the defendant can say or do that can replace a human life that was intentionally and maliciously taken away. “But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death” (Exodus 21:14, NIV). 

Effective leaders must live for eternity because they have to be aware of what may happen three-thousand years as a result of their decision, not just five or ten years. Christians expect an eternal life with God so why should they not think eternally for the “earthly life”? The Bible has shown what happens when leaders do not lead well, it is almost impossible to live well. The importance and relevance of “to lead well is to live well” is that people are often faced with difficult decisions that test their ethics and if the unethical decision is made it does not just affect them, it is a ripple effect on the people around them. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9, NIV). What starts at the top eventually comes down so when bad leadership is at the top and trickles down into the people at the bottom, they will keep it growing in a bad direction. Results may not be seen that day, but surely, they will be seen in the future.              

References:

ALBERSTEIN, M., & ZIMERMAN, N. (2017). CONSTRUCTIVE PLEA BARGAINING TOWARDS JUDICIAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION. Ohio State Journal On Dispute Resolution, 32(2), 279-294.

http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=i3h&AN=123397416&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Holy Bible New International Version, Burgundy, Bonded Leather, Life Application Study Bible, Personal Size. (2012). Zondervan.