In Alan Dershowitz’s book The Abuse Excuse, he argues that the current vogue of making excuses for violent actions threatens the democratic ideal of individual freedom. Do you agree with him? Or do...

In Alan Dershowitz’s book The Abuse Excuse, he argues that the current vogue of making excuses for violent actions threatens the democratic ideal of individual freedom. Do you agree with him? Or do you believe that we are the products of our environment and, as such, unable to overcome our past? If we are merely products of our environment, should terrorists, such as those that blew up the World Trade Center in 2001, be held morally responsible for their actions? Discuss your answer in light of the determinism versus free will debate as well as your own personal experience