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Leaders and Bystanders-2
By: Patrick Maguire
Book Chapter: Human-to-Human Service
Posted: 11/15/2011
Please take a moment to read this great piece by David Brooks in today’s New York Times about the media response to the Penn State atrocities. I devoted a blog post to The Bystander Effect, and it will be discussed at length in the book. Too many people talk a big game, but turn away or remain silent during moments of truth. If you’ve ever watched an episode of John Quiñones’ TV show, “Primetime: What Would You Do?” you know what I’m talking about. We need to turn the tide and encourage more people to step up and speak up.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/opinion/brooks-lets-all-feel-superior.html
2 Responses to “Leaders and Bystanders-2”
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Permalink | Posted in Human-to-Human Service | 2 Comments »
Hmm, as far as I know, there are only allegations of ‘atrocities’ at Penn State. No one has been convicted in a court of law just yet. And given the current level of national hysteria over this issue, and our long history of convicting totally innocent people based on falsified testimony, coerced confessions, and discredited ‘recovered memories’ (Fells Acre Day Care, McMartin Preschool, Little Rascals trial, etc, etc) I’m withholding judgment for the moment.
But I certainly agree that people do need to speak up, especially when crimes are committed against the most vulnerable in our community. Those who stand by while atrocities are committed are just as guilty as those who commit the crimes. Although I guess that the religious right gets a free pass on this issue as their senior management funnels hundreds of millions of dollars waging a campaign of persecution against gays and lesbians, a campaign with which the majority of their flock silently disagrees.
One of my favorite authors is Mark Twain, and he has a great quote that relates to this:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
John B