In Hartford, Connecticut an elderly man is hit by a car that was chasing another car. Both cars turn into an alley way and disappear. Now, this is all caught on tape for us to see. People who saw it in plain sight and were on scene of the crime did nothing.
The town's police chief observed that "We no longer have a moral compass." On the video it looks like nothing is being done. You don't know though. People could be on their phones calling their homies, but more importantly the po-po. You're not really supposed to move someone because you could break something on the poor sucker and then you could get sued unless you live in a state that has Good Sumeritan laws. What does bug me is the first minute or so when no one seems to do anything. Cars pass by. People look and pace around nervously. Would you know what to do? It's called the Bystander Effect or Bystander Apathy and this phenomenon is basic human nature. The people driving around see other people around and assume that they're handling it. After all, bitches, got places to go, people to see, and things to do.
Again, I turn to Wikipedia (my lifeline to Academia)...
In 1964, Kitty Genovese was stabbed to death in her apartment in New York City (look out Jean J. Hsu). Neighbors heard screaming yet nothing was done. The police weren't called and the dozens of witnessed went back to sleep while Ms. Genovese was raped and murdered. Go to wikipedia. I don't feel like being gruesome at the moment.
Have we lost out moral compass? Is water boarding at Guantanamo ok if used to torture 9/11 perps? Is a lethal injection any more humane than the guillotine? We elect Governors who hire and transport hookers across state lines. Supposed role models like Michael Vick take dogs and make them tear each other apart for money, shits, and giggles. What do you think?
My moral compass, especially in the past 30 days, has been put into question. That isn't to say it hasn't been placed under scrutiny for a while now. Does tsk-tsking those bystanders make you a better person? Many people would love to bring the guillotine back and form crowds around the execution for entertainment...just like what happened in the last few episodes of The Tudors. I mean, we watch reality tv shows of people's lives falling apart. Just because one person gets caught doing the EXACT same thing you were doing doesn't make you the better person. Oh, you changed? Do people change? People are people. We're always going to secretly, or even not so secretly, enjoy the sufferings of others. There really isn't a selfless deed (as Phoebe Buffay didn't know). You're going to go build huts in Africa? Good...but you're achieving self-fulfillment?
This video being posted all across the internet (I too am guilty of it) only helps others tsk-tsk and shake their heads in disbelief at the population of Hartford, Connecticut. What is up with the police chief blaming the populace there? Everyone does it and they just don't know how they would react because something this horrible just hasn't happened to them yet. Blaming the populace, I guess, allows the chief to place himself on a high and mighty pedestal. Ha. I'm tsk-tsking at him. Ok. I'll tsk-tisk myself.
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I like to think that as a society we have not lost our moral compass, but rather misplaced it under the clutter and things of modern existence. As new and shiny (and cheap, don't forget cheap) things began to be offered to us in plentiful amounts, we started to disregard that compass that had guided most of us (or that we were at least conscious of) for a longer period of time. And it's no surprise, a shiny new Wii, or a new phone, computer, pretty pair of shoes or pants, and all made for cheaper on the other side of the globe? Score! When you're getting what you want and don't have to see who it hurts there's no need to look at that moral compass to see which way the needle is pointing.
However, as the globe becomes increasingly more integrated, and our destruction of the environment becomes so apparent even Bushie can't deny it is happening, people are starting to refer back to that compass in greater numbers. That's at least how I see things, especially since I am no longer considered a "dirty hippie" for supporting conservation agencies, scowling at the oil companies, and refusing to buy goods made in sweatshops. Now it's trendy! Hopefully sometime in the future it will turn from trendy to just everyday life.
And Phoebe is so right! But that is a rant for another day :-)
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