Michael Braswell is currently a Professor in the Department of Justice and Criminology at East Tennessee State University.  He teaches several courses offering a  peacemaking/social justice/restorative justice emphasis. These include  

• "Ethics and Social Justice"
  
• "Themes of Justice" (a film course)
  
• "Human Relations and Criminal Justice"
  
• and "Peacemaking Practicum."

Braswell earned graduate degrees in humanistic psychology,  rehabilitation counseling and counseling psychology.  He worked as a Prison Psychologist in Georgia and is currently a licensed marriage and family therapist. He has taught at the college and  university level for almost thirty years.  

Braswell has co-authored/co-edited three books which include a peacemaking/social justice  emphasis. 

Leading Edge.  Michael is  examining  peacemaking, social and restorative justice  in a broad context, including cultural values, the media (especially film),  and personal responsibility. He wants to find how to effectively  teach these issues to college and university students.  

Michael continues to explore the relationship between personal and institutional transformation in ways that contribute to developing a more just and compassionate community and criminal justice process.

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Important Idea:

We need to remember that we are all in it together---the best of us and the worst of us---the best in us and the worst in us...

Each of us is an individual person.  Yet, we are also neighbors with other persons in communities, and work in and contribute to various institutions which represent larger groups.  In a larger ecological context, we also exist in an interconnected and interdependent "community of life." 

Considering this theme within the ecology of justice, there is a choice before us individually and collectively.  It is the choice of death or life.

  Fear, greed, an over reliance on the idea of punishment, cynicism, and the resulting loss of hope represent the choice of death.

 Humility, compassion, service to others (especially the least among us), sacrifice and a  commitment to the possibility of forgiveness and restoration are the choices life offers.
 
Michael Braswell

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Reach Michael Braswell at braswell@xtn.net

Bibliography