This week you are required to watch the film, "Crip Camp." You can access the film here (Links to an external site.) for the captions option. (The embedded video doesn't allow for captions) 

Evil and Insanity

An evil person is someone willing to participate in morally wrong activities even when they are fully aware that it is not right. On the other hand, insanity is a situation in which a person has no control over his actions because of a defect in their brain. Therefore, this person may participate in crimes unknowingly. The criminal justice system shows that crimes are committed by people who are evil or insane because for one to commit a crime, it starts in their mind, meaning that it is psychological.

The relationship between psychology and criminal justice opens up another topic of discussion of whether evil is based on the person's nature or is nurtured as an individual grows up. In his Ted Talk, Jim Fallon argues that crime is based on the nature of a person and that a person can be born evil. He says that evil can be passed down from one generation to the next as it is genetic. He supports this argument by bringing forth a list of serial killers in different generations who were related (Fallon, 2009). Each of those had a damaged orbital cortex, and the age of crime was determined by when the damage occurred. The damage to the orbital cortex changes how a person responds to various emotions, such as anger and sadness. It causes impulsivity, a situation that may make someone commit regrettable crimes such a murder.

I agree with Jim Fallon's argument because he supports his argument with scientific facts. However, being evil is also determined by the environment and can be nurtured according to the situation that a person experiences as he grows. For example, a person who has grown in a neighborhood with constant violence may grow up knowing violence as a normal thing (Fallon, 2009). This individual may grow up choosing to kill whenever someone inconveniences them, even in a minor way. In addition, experiences such as trauma brought about by divorce, family problems, or child abuse can nurture someone to be evil. Therefore, evil is a subject of both nature and nurture, depending on the context.

Discussion Board: Crip Camp

This video helped me see people living with disabilities in a different view. My favorite part of the video was when a group of fifty people held a demonstration in the city, which caused a lot of chaos and traffic (Netflix, 2020). I loved this part because it indicated that people with disabilities also have needs, and they should be heard whenever they speak up. Through the demonstration, they aired issues such as unemployment and discrimination. It is commendable to see that the situation is improving.

            Watching this video was so emotional for me because I felt sad for the experiences that people living with disabilities go through. The people featured in the video share one opinion; that the problem exists not with people with disabilities but those living with disabilities (Netflix, 2020). Society has stereotypes that discriminates and denies them equal opportunities. It is sad to see how parents discouraged their children from participating in normal activities even when disabled children wanted to participate.

            Steve Hoffman's experience of being stigmatized by members of his class reminded me of my junior school (Netflix, 2020). I had a classmate who had a spinal injury and had gone through surgery. For a few months, he experienced urinary incompetence, a situation that had him wearing diapers. Most of the classmates did not want to sit or play with him because of the smell. It was heartbreaking to see him sitting alone and not participating in class activities because he was afraid of being bullied.