Endless grading during summer session - working on essay #4. I have rejected more than half of this batch, and I am making them re-write. What is it about being required to "use citations to literature" that students just don't get?

And now for the Tuesday Too:

1.) Do you think pornography is dangerous? Why, or why not?

Yes and no. I think no in general, when the issue is "run-of-the-mill porno" (although I do wonder who would want to participate in the industry), but I believe when it involves kids or violence, dangerous is far too mild a word.

2.) What do you think about people being held in jail without charges, without access to a lawyer, or a phone call for an indeterminate period of time?

Despite my feelings about there being way too many lawyers and far too much litigation in our society, I am 100% in favor of the protections afforded us in the Constitution, understand why they are important, and feel very wary of shortcuts. On the other hand, when something happens like that little girl in CA being molested and killed, with the (yes, alleged) murderer arrested twice before for improper dealings with young girls, but never convicted (which his mother claims is "never being in trouble before"), I wonder what rights for the accused in our system may have resulted in such an unacceptable outcome.

3.) How do you feel about this US program?

This has to do a bit with Question #2, as well. I know I am probably supposed to be all worked up and alarmed over both these things, but I'm not. My thoughts have a different texture since 9/11; before that I am ashamed to say I was very naive. I have not written a lot here about this subject and its impacts, and for personal reasons I don't plan to start now, but please - I hope my mail carrier etc. is being vigilant. I wish we all were, before, and maybe there wouldn't be a crater in Manhattan.