Recently two different articles caused me to do some additional thinking on moral obligations and what it is that makes us human, the commonalities that are specific to us and that are not discernible in other living creatures. I’ve been waiting to post on them because I thought I would put a little something together on morality/moral good to accompany what I have written on the articles, but I certainly can not pretend to be an expert on what morality/moral good is so instead I give you the causes for my recent pondering with a bit o’ my venting thrown in with them.
First, I read that The Bibliotheque de France is opening a controversial exhibit next year that will focus on the ethics of photography. One prominent piece will be that of Kevin Carter. Many people are familiar with the work, especially if you've had any exposure to photojournalism; in fact, it is one of the things that prompted my gradual drift away from MU’s J school when I started classes there 10 years ago. The photo was still fairly new at the time and caused quite a hubbub. It was certainly a topic for discussion in more than one of my classrooms. The piece I am referring to, as you can see, is of a vulture awaiting the death of a small Sudanese girl. Carter took the photo. He won a Pulitzer Prize for it.
When the J school kids and instructor were overwhelmingly in support of getting the photo, and the minds of my Religious Studies Contemporary Issues classmates were far more concerned and invested in looking at the (pardon the pun) bigger picture, it just made me reevaluate my life priorities. While it wasn’t the only motivating factor, and I am by no means stating there is an definitive difference in morality between the persons in each discipline, it certainly contributed to my thought processes in making choices for the next semester: I increased the number of RS courses I was taking and chose to cease enrollment in the J school; I just wasn’t home there.
Ugh, I digress on too much me…anyway, there's no questioning that it is a moving photograph; it's disturbing and shocking, but I think that there is no way that I could have taken it. I think that I can say with confidence that I would want to pick that baby up and carry her away, somewhere safe. I say “think” because having never been in that situation I do not know and to say with 100% certainty that I know what my reaction would be seems a bit like me judging. Sometimes it’s difficult to not pass judgment, and sometimes we fail; there’s a common factor between humans and animals – neither are perfect. That said I am trying not to judge Carter or other photojournalists negatively; it's just not for me, and maybe to some of you that is me judging (oh well – my apologies). Carter actually committed suicide about 3 months later, leaving a note to explain that he was haunted by killings, corpses, anger, pain.
While the loss of Carter’s life is sad, I have to say that I find some solace in that his note seemed to demonstrate remorse and that he wasn’t just idly moving through life, oblivious to the tragedies affecting other people. And really, I get that maybe his role as a war photographer was his way of helping, that there is something good that comes of this type of work. Much like the disturbing image of the napalm-burned little girl during the Vietnam War, this photograph is certainly attributed to have played an integral role in awakening people to the extreme crises occurring in the Sudan. It just saddens me that such an awakening is even necessary.
I think that War truly puts us at our lowest level of humanity and am reminded of a Bertrand Russell quote that I also recently came across, “War does not determine who is right. War determines who is left.” While this photographic reminder of the extremely grievous realities that are war, hunger, pain left me feeling melancholy and disappointed it did not compare to the reaction the next article elicited from me.
Last week, I’m reading the news and am more than disgusted by the actions, or lack thereof, surrounding the June 19th death of an ER patient in a New York mental hospital. Admittedly, because I find it horrific that her undignified death was made viewable to all public, I have not watched the surveillance clip so please accept my apologies for any errors in retelling the story as it is based solely on the news articles I have read. The patient was involuntarily brought in to the mental facility’s ER for treatment, thus rendering them responsible for her care. After nearly 24 hours of waiting in the ER waiting room she fell out of her chair, from what sounds like a seizure. Both staff and other patients/non-staff occupants of the space witnessed her fall and convulse, including one security guard that wheeled his chair over for a peek and then wheeled back to his post. She was on the floor for approximately an hour before a non-staff member eventually flagged down a person in a lab coat to assist. Additionally, it appears the staff attempted to falsify her records to make it appear as though she had not been on the floor for an hour. If you’re not familiar with the story and would like the actual news vs. my synopsis it is available here.
That clinical and clerical hospital staff, security as well as other patients and attendants in the ER, just ignored this woman in her final moments of life sickens, saddens and angers me. What is wrong with people? I have yet to come across her actual cause of death, but I’m betting had she been acknowledged, there is a possibility that she would have survived. We’re all quick to prosecute the serial killer or even the admitted accomplice, but are these people not also guilty of a horrendous crime? This is an assortment of people from various walks of life, all treating this woman with total disregard.
We like to think that in general, as human, we are superior to other animals, in part, because we have discernible morals. Where is the morality in this situation? Truly are these people any better than the vulture preying on the tiny Sudanese girl? I think this incident disturbed me so much simply because I had the prior article and photograph to think about while reading it. The former made me think: surely the average person, if put into a situation where another person was suffering, would help that person. Right? Then I read the news of this woman, and I have to think: well, maybe not. Ugh, I am disappointed.
I read some online comments from other readers of this article that stated the other people had no obligation to help this woman. They made their remarks for various reasons: some saying that since it was a mental facility it was probably common to see someone pretend to fall as acting out, some saying that the non-medical staff shouldn’t have to be concerned, and so on. While I said that I wasn’t going to go into moral good and what I think or have learned on the topic I will say this: it is definitely something that I will be thinking on more, and I hope all of you will do the same. I’m not trying to proselytize or anything, as although I teeter, I am lacking full ascription to any belief system; I just think it would be lovely to chat on with some other peeps. For instance, I’m pretty sure that the great Dostoevsky would’ve have said that the people from the ER as well as the commentators I just referenced could all quite possibly be lacking the presentation of moral good because they are living without acknowledgement of blame, refusing to take responsibility for their actions or inactions. Yeah, someone read Notes From Underground so we can have playtime on it (see? I’m sweet ‘cause I picked a short one to start).
First, I read that The Bibliotheque de France is opening a controversial exhibit next year that will focus on the ethics of photography. One prominent piece will be that of Kevin Carter. Many people are familiar with the work, especially if you've had any exposure to photojournalism; in fact, it is one of the things that prompted my gradual drift away from MU’s J school when I started classes there 10 years ago. The photo was still fairly new at the time and caused quite a hubbub. It was certainly a topic for discussion in more than one of my classrooms. The piece I am referring to, as you can see, is of a vulture awaiting the death of a small Sudanese girl. Carter took the photo. He won a Pulitzer Prize for it.
When the J school kids and instructor were overwhelmingly in support of getting the photo, and the minds of my Religious Studies Contemporary Issues classmates were far more concerned and invested in looking at the (pardon the pun) bigger picture, it just made me reevaluate my life priorities. While it wasn’t the only motivating factor, and I am by no means stating there is an definitive difference in morality between the persons in each discipline, it certainly contributed to my thought processes in making choices for the next semester: I increased the number of RS courses I was taking and chose to cease enrollment in the J school; I just wasn’t home there.
Ugh, I digress on too much me…anyway, there's no questioning that it is a moving photograph; it's disturbing and shocking, but I think that there is no way that I could have taken it. I think that I can say with confidence that I would want to pick that baby up and carry her away, somewhere safe. I say “think” because having never been in that situation I do not know and to say with 100% certainty that I know what my reaction would be seems a bit like me judging. Sometimes it’s difficult to not pass judgment, and sometimes we fail; there’s a common factor between humans and animals – neither are perfect. That said I am trying not to judge Carter or other photojournalists negatively; it's just not for me, and maybe to some of you that is me judging (oh well – my apologies). Carter actually committed suicide about 3 months later, leaving a note to explain that he was haunted by killings, corpses, anger, pain.
While the loss of Carter’s life is sad, I have to say that I find some solace in that his note seemed to demonstrate remorse and that he wasn’t just idly moving through life, oblivious to the tragedies affecting other people. And really, I get that maybe his role as a war photographer was his way of helping, that there is something good that comes of this type of work. Much like the disturbing image of the napalm-burned little girl during the Vietnam War, this photograph is certainly attributed to have played an integral role in awakening people to the extreme crises occurring in the Sudan. It just saddens me that such an awakening is even necessary.
I think that War truly puts us at our lowest level of humanity and am reminded of a Bertrand Russell quote that I also recently came across, “War does not determine who is right. War determines who is left.” While this photographic reminder of the extremely grievous realities that are war, hunger, pain left me feeling melancholy and disappointed it did not compare to the reaction the next article elicited from me.
Last week, I’m reading the news and am more than disgusted by the actions, or lack thereof, surrounding the June 19th death of an ER patient in a New York mental hospital. Admittedly, because I find it horrific that her undignified death was made viewable to all public, I have not watched the surveillance clip so please accept my apologies for any errors in retelling the story as it is based solely on the news articles I have read. The patient was involuntarily brought in to the mental facility’s ER for treatment, thus rendering them responsible for her care. After nearly 24 hours of waiting in the ER waiting room she fell out of her chair, from what sounds like a seizure. Both staff and other patients/non-staff occupants of the space witnessed her fall and convulse, including one security guard that wheeled his chair over for a peek and then wheeled back to his post. She was on the floor for approximately an hour before a non-staff member eventually flagged down a person in a lab coat to assist. Additionally, it appears the staff attempted to falsify her records to make it appear as though she had not been on the floor for an hour. If you’re not familiar with the story and would like the actual news vs. my synopsis it is available here.
That clinical and clerical hospital staff, security as well as other patients and attendants in the ER, just ignored this woman in her final moments of life sickens, saddens and angers me. What is wrong with people? I have yet to come across her actual cause of death, but I’m betting had she been acknowledged, there is a possibility that she would have survived. We’re all quick to prosecute the serial killer or even the admitted accomplice, but are these people not also guilty of a horrendous crime? This is an assortment of people from various walks of life, all treating this woman with total disregard.
We like to think that in general, as human, we are superior to other animals, in part, because we have discernible morals. Where is the morality in this situation? Truly are these people any better than the vulture preying on the tiny Sudanese girl? I think this incident disturbed me so much simply because I had the prior article and photograph to think about while reading it. The former made me think: surely the average person, if put into a situation where another person was suffering, would help that person. Right? Then I read the news of this woman, and I have to think: well, maybe not. Ugh, I am disappointed.
I read some online comments from other readers of this article that stated the other people had no obligation to help this woman. They made their remarks for various reasons: some saying that since it was a mental facility it was probably common to see someone pretend to fall as acting out, some saying that the non-medical staff shouldn’t have to be concerned, and so on. While I said that I wasn’t going to go into moral good and what I think or have learned on the topic I will say this: it is definitely something that I will be thinking on more, and I hope all of you will do the same. I’m not trying to proselytize or anything, as although I teeter, I am lacking full ascription to any belief system; I just think it would be lovely to chat on with some other peeps. For instance, I’m pretty sure that the great Dostoevsky would’ve have said that the people from the ER as well as the commentators I just referenced could all quite possibly be lacking the presentation of moral good because they are living without acknowledgement of blame, refusing to take responsibility for their actions or inactions. Yeah, someone read Notes From Underground so we can have playtime on it (see? I’m sweet ‘cause I picked a short one to start).
4 comments:
Morality is an interesting human invention. Morality is simply based on intelligence and choice. Without intelligence we cannot know what choice to make.
But the choice to make is determined by what we are taught. The common case I state for issues of morality is greek & roman pederasty and homosexuality. Similarly homosexuality in Japan and prostitution.
These are generally the most heated debates - when I first learned of the Japanese culture's idea of homosexuality - "love between men was viewed as the purest form of love" (from wikipedia, but no citation, I have read/heard this before) - I was horribly shocked, growing up in a mostly Catholic environment.
All of these ideas wax and wane with culture mostly following what the current mainstream religion (in our westerner view - Christianity)
From other things I've read, in some older tribal cultures (indians, mayans, africans, etc) - Even cold blooded murder isn't exactly considered taboo, as long as the person isn't of your tribe or blood its fine - you're not a warrior until you kill someone.
Its because of this polychotomous divisions of choice vs. intelligence vs. teachings that really makes me ponder what truly is right or wrong.
In essence morality to me can only be decided by that person, in that situation, in that moment.
A photography who gets placed into a war zone is sometimes granted some special privileges by both parties, and can spend a week with one faction and a week with another. He has to make decisions on his own - societies statistical mean decision has no bearing there, and never will.
A photographer placed in a situation to enact change cannot change the situation for fear that he might not rally enough to support his cause. He believes he is there for the greater good. To gain good will from others based on observations of pain.
The photograph you speak of is so powerful because we all want to grab that little girl and just hold her, even if all we can do is hold her for her last moments, In essence to me thats what he did, he held her forever undying in a photograph so that people from that day and forward realize they should care about situations they aren't near. And to me it was probably the best decision of that situation. I don't know what happend after the photo, but I know what happend in later years, action - and that's the response he hoped for.
He wanted people like you and I to discuss this so that at some level we may make decisions that will prevent it from happening again.
Another good one love. I really do miss our chats and wish I was still in that building. You and prozacgod are both correct in saying that there is something good out of such a photo; I think it genuinely helps inform people of wrong-doings/crimes against humanity that need be addressed in such a way that it speaks beyond newsprint or a CNN report. Images like these stay with us. I should also say that I don't think I could be that photographer either, and that unfortunately, with some of these war photographers it isn't always about helping; sometimes it's a bit sick and pornographic (see Fisk and Danner for more on that).
With regard to the mental hospital story - AHHH! I too, am disgusted. I know zilch about how to care for someone in a medical situation, but I would at least alert someone that did. I mean, really, they were in a hospital would it have been so hard to ask for help? If I saw this happen at Target or the library or on the street I'd be screaming for help and reaching for my phone to call 911. It is truly sad that she died in such a way and that no one seemed to care. Indeed, the people there (especially the staff) should be held accountable to some extent. Like you said she was committed so they were responsible for her.
Anyway, back to work, but if you have Notes I'd like to borrow it, and I'm thinking that since I recently loaned you Brothers so you didn't have to get into your garage you should help me out :p
- C
:(
That picture breaks my heart, and that video (I've seen it)...I just can't believe it either. You want to believe that we're better than animals (above animal instinct) but what about those people's inaction makes them better than animalistic behavior? I can think of nothing. Surely they are not lacking the intelligence to make a proper choice in that instance. It shouldn't be hard to know right from wrong in that situation. I just don't get it.
As for the photographer, I'm sure you already know it, but I read that the little girl was within sight of a relief shelter and even after he took the pic he didn't carry here there. I think it's great that his work helped awaken people to the tragedy there, but I am saddened that he didn't help her.
Anyway, as always you make us all think about the bigger picture so thanks.
Wish I could've seen you Sat, but I just couldn't get out of work. I'm sure you had a great time at the concert, and if I know you at all I bet you tore up the dance floor at HOME ;)
Kisses - Steph
That security guard should be prosecuted.
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