we could be heroes, just for one day
When Joseph Darby found out that prisoners were being abused at Abu Ghraib he followed his conscience and spoke out.
How did that happen?
I think it is really interesting that people have this tendency to think that evil is fascinating. Why aren't people just as fascinated with people who decide to do good acts?
I think of evil as deliberate acts of power that hurt other people. And I think that evil acts are astonishingly commonplace. Nevermind Nazi Germany. Just think of the Milgram obedience experiments that showed that ordinary people will inflict lethal pain on others -- just because someone in authority asked them. Or think of the fact that bullying is a cross-cultural phenomenon. Cruelty is commonplace.
What I think may be more interesting than the idea that anyone can be tempted to the dark side is the question: what are the preconditions that help someone choose to do good?
Maybe the case of Joseph Darby is a key to understanding good.
One thing I discovered about him is that he knew himself. When he was stationed at the prison he did not want to guard prisoners because he knew he had a short temper. He was afraid that he might act inappropriately.
Another thing I discovered was he had been tormented when he was in high school. Some of his fellow students thought he was arrogant and wanted to take him down a few notches.
Was he bullied because he was unique? Did he become more unique because of the bullying?
One person who knew him suggested that maybe he had gained a deeper empathy for others as a consequence of the bullying. His empathy for others stopped him from accepting the dehumanization of the prisoners.
Maybe he was able to speak out because he did not really identify with the group. Maybe he saw himself as an individual instead. When you don't care about the group's norms you have the freedom to make critical judgments and draw unique conclusions. If so, then maybe the stereotype of loners being mentally unbalanced ought to be re-examined. Maybe that status as an outlier --deviant -- can push one into unconventionally good behavior as often as it may lead one down the path of coercion or violence.
I didn't know that he and his family were persecuted for his choice and that he had to live under protective care. Or that Donald Rumsfield outed him not only when he had been promised anonymity but also while he was still stationed at the prison.
I think he is an interesting person. Much more interesting than the people who acted without thinking.
How did that happen?
I think it is really interesting that people have this tendency to think that evil is fascinating. Why aren't people just as fascinated with people who decide to do good acts?
I think of evil as deliberate acts of power that hurt other people. And I think that evil acts are astonishingly commonplace. Nevermind Nazi Germany. Just think of the Milgram obedience experiments that showed that ordinary people will inflict lethal pain on others -- just because someone in authority asked them. Or think of the fact that bullying is a cross-cultural phenomenon. Cruelty is commonplace.
What I think may be more interesting than the idea that anyone can be tempted to the dark side is the question: what are the preconditions that help someone choose to do good?
Maybe the case of Joseph Darby is a key to understanding good.
One thing I discovered about him is that he knew himself. When he was stationed at the prison he did not want to guard prisoners because he knew he had a short temper. He was afraid that he might act inappropriately.
Another thing I discovered was he had been tormented when he was in high school. Some of his fellow students thought he was arrogant and wanted to take him down a few notches.
Was he bullied because he was unique? Did he become more unique because of the bullying?
One person who knew him suggested that maybe he had gained a deeper empathy for others as a consequence of the bullying. His empathy for others stopped him from accepting the dehumanization of the prisoners.
Maybe he was able to speak out because he did not really identify with the group. Maybe he saw himself as an individual instead. When you don't care about the group's norms you have the freedom to make critical judgments and draw unique conclusions. If so, then maybe the stereotype of loners being mentally unbalanced ought to be re-examined. Maybe that status as an outlier --deviant -- can push one into unconventionally good behavior as often as it may lead one down the path of coercion or violence.
I didn't know that he and his family were persecuted for his choice and that he had to live under protective care. Or that Donald Rumsfield outed him not only when he had been promised anonymity but also while he was still stationed at the prison.
I think he is an interesting person. Much more interesting than the people who acted without thinking.