Cognitive Dissonance, "1619" and Justice Monologues #1 Work Time

Starter
Can you think of an example in your own life where there is a disconnection between something you believe and an action you do? Or a contradiction in two thoughts/behaviors? 
Example: I know that riding my bike to school is both better for the environment and my own mental and physical well-being, but I very rarely do it. 

Today's Goals

1. Understand what "cognitive dissonance" means and how it might apply to your own life
2. Determine how the podcast, "1619" views the U.S. in terms of its commitment to and embodiment of "justice"
3. Synthesize your understanding of the Justice project course texts thus far and apply them to your own life.

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What is Cognitive Dissonance?​

1. Share out starter examples
2. Watch the 6 minute youtube video
3. Read-aloud  the last page or so of "Consider the Lobster” by David Foster Wallace

Moral of the story:  How do we ignore certain things that make us uncomfortable, morally? What is the connection to the Justice project? Think about the ways in which your beliefs around justice line up with your actions in the world. As we study various philosophies, to what extent do you agree with them? To what extent do their ideas clash with your own actions? To what extent does that clash influence HOW you respond to the philosophies? Do you disregard them simply because it makes you uncomfortable or challenges your own ways of being???

Listen to "1619" Podcast  (Follow along with the transcript if you'd like)
Four hundred years ago, a ship carrying enslaved Africans arrived in the English colony of Virginia. A new audio series from The New York Times examines the long shadow of that fateful moment. This podcast is a great review of an important period of American history and helps lay the foundation for us to think about the founding ideals of our country and the ways in which people have fought to uphold those ideals. 

 As you listen, try to answer these questions (WRITE THEM DOWN)

• What are the founding ideals of the United States as listed in this podcast?
• How is this podcast both patriotic and critical of our nation? 
• What premises does this podcast challenge?
• How does cognitive dissonance factor in during this podcast?

HOMEWORK FOR THE WEEK!  Let's review it!
See the "Homework" tab!

​Justice Monologue Series #1 Overview and Work Time
The purpose of these monologue series is multi-fold:

1. Hold you accountable to doing the readings, and thinking deeply about them
2. Allow you to synthesize your understanding of them and review them so that they "stick" in your brain better
   
3. Enable you to clarify your own perspective on the readings, and justice in general, by formulating your own stance, verbalizing it, hearing other students' perspectives, and then reflecting on your own. This will definitely help prepare you for the final essay AND help you get clearer on what you believe and why, which is, like, totally good for life, chah.