Behind Chapter 14

In Episode 14: we discuss many subjects in this last chapter of the Book. We reflect on words and their meanings and the need for precise clear communications in human interactions – we recognise that  the essential element of good communication is  listening – active listening    We discuss the fact that ‘ignorance of the law is no defence’.  That led us to an interesting discussion about Latin – the language of learning - and the part it plays in some legal concepts. We reflect on  the fact  that so many of the questions, that had come from the group of  young people, that gave rise to this Book, were about trust in police forces – trust in  the judges and the courts ‘to get things right’. It was quite revealing that the preliminary questions, that they told Mumu they had submitted, as part of their penfriend project, to their friend in France, were questions about the symbols of justice, how people dressed in the courts, what the formalities of the court systems were in France and also if people trusted their police and what  French people thought of them.  
And, in many respects, the question that had been put by Nova, when we were discussing the horrors of the First and Second World Wars, as we sat in Collins Barracks, and reflected on the work of  the anti-war hero, Harry Patch, when she asked: “Why can’t we just share this world, we only have one world?” reveals so much.
In that respect, she represented the curiosity that gave rise to this Book. This is an apt and fitting way of ending Episode 14 because this emerging ‘fledgling generation’ is now on its own conveyor belt. It is important for them to reflect on the principles discussed and to keep being curious - and keep feeling the need to ask and find out more - and scrutinise the information that they are being given - and testing the administrative processes that support our democracies.