Turning the other cheek Discussion Discuss with your class: }: De vou easily forgive people, or do you hold grudges? 3: Have you ever not forgiven a person for something that they did to you? *: Do vou know anyone who has forgiven s meee who: * cheated shem our of some money? * physically assaulted them? * spread -umours about them? * stole from chem? Wont) inlaithful co them? ihad sex with someane else) 4. Would you forgive the person in he situations above? Reading Read through the first part of this article and answer the question below: AHUG IN EXCHANGE FOR A BEATING? For no apparent reason, Reginald Denny, 33, was balled irom his ruck and badly beaten by al least to man during the '992 race rots ito Angeles. The horrible and violent Images of Galtht on film by the many television camera shar were there at the time. Treat OF Renny being kicked and punched seas nt Over again until his body. lay Tats on the ground were broadcast ve into mien: Of living rooms all over the world Ant cameras even captured the happy dance that oes of the men did in celebration of his act of brutality, while his partner took the Sppertunity to reach down and take Denny's wallet. Luckily, Denny was rescued by Some good samaritans in the area and Promptly taken to a hospital What do you think should nappen to the attackers? Continue reading and answer the questions below: iecnnY as elt with dermanent shysicaldetonmities and Sandicaps hut he did eventually iho near eC Ulously, fom his injuries and was well ouch attend the tial of the men ‘tho nearly host him to death, BUI Whal Was even even amazing than his relatively quick vera fas his attitude towards his attackers. Denny's assailants showed absolutely no center let the entire wis! and were sentenced te to years each in prison, The light in the Uno Would have outraged most victims, and ie ay did outrage many people inthe United States at the time, but not Reginald Denny. Immediately after the sentences ecko Dene, present throughout the ‘tal, walked over to the mothers of the Mlackers and hugged them both, He hte said, "Formers there. Ithas to be.” Dein sil regularly suffers from severe seizures aye} headaches and can no longer drive a track ~ his job at the time of the beating, ie only income now is the $120 a week ne four meg OM" 2 disability allowance fcom the Govemnmarg Denny's attackers served only the eget ot te ten-year sentences and have since heen arrested for tape, murder, and the illegal possession of drugs |; Whar proof was there of the beating? 2. What was Reginald Denny's job in 19922 3. How long did the men who beat hin 0 to jail for? 4 Were the sentences considered long enough? 5: Did the men feel kad about what they dit 10 Denny? 38 Tuming the other cheek Taboos and Issues SSeeneneeeeeee) iDiscussion Now use the expressions in these sentences: | always forgive people. I'm not the sort of person to : 8, We ased to be hitter enemies but thar’ all 1, Why do you think Denny forgave his attackers? 2. Do you think forgiving chem did any good? 3. Do you admire his act of forgiveness? - now. 4. Would you have forgiven the men if they tad + possible, the best policy : done the same thing to you? if you can’t forget, at least try to forgive 0. [think [ need to go and talk zo Sally and veces eees «We can’t keep ignoring Language each other like this Match the words on the left with those on the (1. 1f someone aurts or insults you, your |nstinct fight to make whole expressions about t0 get revenge. The harder option to {. forgive and a. grudge 2. Martin’s a very difficult person to work with. ieee cre Hes... about not geting 4. bury the . shoulder promoted ast year and he’s so cynical all the Schold a e. hatchet time 6. got 1 chip on his f bridge Do you have similar expressions in your 1A hatchet is a kind of axe.) language? Discussion In small groups, decide if you would forgive the people involved in the situations below: 1. Your father cells you, when you are $0, that you are adopted. You find out that your partner of 15 years has 3een sfeeping with your dest friend. You catch your mother reading your diary. You lend your car to a colleague at work who damages it beyond Your partner slaps you in the face in the heat of a serious argument: Your orother/sisicr forgets your birthday. ~ You're in hospital following a major operation and your best triend doesn't visit you. 8. You find out that a good friend of yours has been revealing your intimate secrets to others. 9. A stranger in a bar spills a cold beer on your new shirt and just ‘aughs. (0. While naking love, your sartner calls you by someone efse's name. In America when a criminal is found guilty, the victim js allowed to make a speech in court addressing the criminal. Do you think this is a good thing? Why? if you were a victim, what sort of speech would you give? Quotations Which of the following quotations is your favourite? Why? Always forgive your enemies — nothing When a man says “I cannot torgive,” he is annoys them so much. ‘ying. What he means is, “! will not Oscar Wilde forgive.” Anonymous An eye ‘or an eye and a tooth for a tooth. The Bible The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the . 7 naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive can forgive, but | cannot forget” 's only but fo aot forget. another way of saying “I cannot forgive” Thomas Szaz, American psychiatrist H.W. Beecher, American clergyman y Taboos and Issues Turing the other cheek 38Discussion Work in pairs. Discuss these questions: Do vou have the death penalty in vour country? Iso, for what offences? How is it carried out? "now whac is the severest punishment that can be given? Reading Read the text below and answer these questions: |. How didd the writer feet about the dex 2. How does the writer feel now? My sister was walking home from work ‘wo Years aB0 when two men stopped her and tried Caney, fet handbag. Sho resisted and they Stabbed her in the heart. The police caught ihem They were found guilty of murder ot they're now in prison. That's when 1 changed My views on the death penalty Pefore that, it was prety easy tobe liberal and 10 aay that t didn’t believe in capita unishment. But not now. There was no dourr ‘hat the police caught my sister's killers there were eye witnesses; there was forensic evidence. | thought those guys should die fre that they did. They not only took ner fe feo changed the lives of her family and french, The lives of her husband and her two litle chilies will never ever be the same. Discussion How do you feel about the writer's views: + surprised? * shocked? + sympathetic? * horrified? pee Mere the writer, would you want the death Penalty for the killers? Why? Why net? your own. Are You basically in favour of or against capital bunishment? 39° The death penalty Did you know that on average someone is executed every three days in the US, ath penalty before the attack? Some people say that if you execute a murderer you become a murderer yourself, but that’s not the way I see it, Hf you take someone's life, you lose the right to keep your own. if you marder ameone You should be forced io experience fhe same horror as your victim: pein na julfering, and the anticipation of the end of your Fig COPle think that is cruel. But my deter didn’t have the luxury of saying goodbye Rome Beople also think hat death is the easy way Out for a murderer ~ that life imprisonment means @ lifetime of suffering in prison. | don't think so. Life imprisonment 's a ifetima of son meals, eading and television — atthe taxpevers expense, That is not a suitable gunishment for 4 murderer. But death is. “Better sit down, son. ve gor 1 bit of a shock for you.” Taboos and Issues