Last week watching about half an hour of news on CNN people discussed The Trump Hush Money Trial, and I watched Pres. Biden’s short talk about student protests on the college campuses. Although a small minority ,400 or so, were arrested for encampment and other violations at Hamilton Hall there was an inordinate amount of TV coverage. How many of the 400 were actually current students ? Yet, the NYPD found gas masks, helmets, goggles,hammers, knives,ropes and a book on terroism.This essay pertains to disobedience of an authoritarian and humanistic conscience .
According to the Old Testament, Adam and Eve expressed disobedience when they first opened their eyes and looked at each other as strangers in a strange and hostile world. They left the Garden of Eden and then became fully human. In Greek mythology, Prometheus disobeyed when he stole fire from the gods. The angry gods retaliated and punished him for his disobedience. And he replied: "I would rather be changed to this rock than be the servant of the gods “ and then civilization began.
Disobedience is associated with man’s moral,ethical, and character dynamics.which accounts for different reasons and motives for such and especially related to either nonviolent and violent illegal behaviors. A few examples follow. Sir Thomas Moore comes to mind as he was disobedient to Henry VIII and said " no" to this tyrannical king regarding divorce and remarriage because of his faith and conscience. Sir Thomas was given an opportunity to lie to himself. But on principle was incarcerated in the Tower and later was beheaded. Moses was true to his God, disobedient and took his people out of slavery. Ramsey went after the Hebrews to kill them but his army was swallowed up in the Red Sea. Jesus Christ spread the word of humanity and therefore was disobedient to the Roman Empire. He was given a trial and then crucified. Galileo Galilei because he believed in Copernican theory was tried by the inquisition and was placed under house arrest . Gandhi was disobedient to the British Empire and later assassinated. Dr. Martin Luther King was disobedient and also assassinated. These individuals did not act out of archaic emotions of fear, hate and greed. They were not acting out anger, disappointment or resentment nor break man-made ethical laws . They preached non violence. Their actions and beliefs were based on a humanistic conscience associated with the welfare of all humanity.
An authoritarian conscience is associated with commands, prohibitions that are fear and reward based . It’s about being eager to please ; being loyal ; and being afraid of displeasing an external authority figure . That external authority could be parents , leaders ,state, tribe, group , public opinion or whatever. It's unquestioned loyalty, obedience to that power ,attitude, morals, values and actions. When operational,, it compromises the ability to think critically, objectively and rationally. As a result, It’s a conformity, to be servant-like, to follow and be in congruence with the authority regardless of actions,,values and beliefs of that authority The authorities ethical and moral legislations are adopted or internalized and therefore become part of the individual.Therefore, not following or obeying the authority results in fear of rejection and guilt
With an authoritarian conscience, the values, morals and power components become idealized and not centered on reality. In essence, the norms of authority could be good or bad . And if bad, acting according to one's authoritarian conscience results in evilness, prejudice ,violence ,rape, murder, death ,destruction as well as other law breaking behaviors. It’s as if the individual becomes immune and blind to all and any bit of contradictory or dissonant empirical evidence of reality.
In contrast, a humanistic conscience is independent of external sanctions ,prohibitions and rewards . With a humanistic conscience, one is able to distinguish what is human from what is non-human; what is conducive to life compared to what is destructive of life. It is true to self and not a herd mentality. It is a congruence with thought, belief and behavior. It's loving life, growth, freedom, humanity, solidarity and justice with ethical and moral values..
In essence, we began the socialization process with an authoritarian conscience and then through development,and learning ,we mature cognitively in the direction of formulating a humanistic conscience. As a result, there is essentially a blending or combination of the two consciences , although there can be a weighted tendency directed in either direction .Implications of such become clear. Am I being true to myself or am I compromising by rationalizing my decision by pleasing another ? Sometimes, guilt and/or fear of disapproval or rejection interferes and one makes too many compromises .
The motives of terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah have been clear regarding the destruction and elimination of Israel. They commit sadistic acts of war, rape, stealing, and abduction based on hate with an authoritarian conscience. They are an irrational authority as they lie, cheat, steal and cannot be trusted..
It's not surprising that those with an authoritarian conscience and irrational authority based tendencies are involved with campus disobedience . These individuals are verbally and physically aggressive toward Jewish students. Some in the crowd of those camping at Hamilton Hall and other University locations have breached police barricades ; harassed Jewish students with physical punches, verbal threats , anti semitic trash talk ; assaulted an Israeli student who up posters of hostages that were abducted ; have trespassed ; have resisted arrest with encampment . They have distributed anti Israel and pro-Hamas materials; responded to calls from Hamas for mass mobilization in the West; have provided material support via public relations and propaganda for terrorism in violation of US law ; have praised the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah "End of Israel , the final solution of the Jewish people;” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. “ It's clear ,there are some ties between Hamas and groups helping to organize and stoke anti-Israel demonstrations on campuses throughout the US. A recent lawsuit was filed against American Muslims for Palestine, National Students for Justice in Palestine and affiliated groups is just one example..
Negotiating peace with a terrorist group whose mission is to annihilate you is an irrational hypocrisy contradiction. Those that support Hamas agree with terror, hate and have anti-Semitic beliefs . How are Jewish students responsible for actions of an Israeli military cabinet? How many of these acting out lawbreaking individuals are informed and have in depth knowledge of the complex issues in the Middle East ? Breaking the law does not either translate into applying reason, judgment and conviction nor with the capacity to penetrate the surface in order to more fully understand all the elements in play. It's easy to be misinformed, join the crowd and become a mob. These violent, hateful, anti-Semitic actions are divisive and separate the country. Individuals with an authoritarian conscience, tendencies push and reinforce chaos for their own selfish toxic narcissism. Humans have a mixture and degree of both consciences For example, early on, one is taught not to kill but later on joins the military.
PS
Note, there was not one violent , law breaking ,hate speech student unrest on a college campus in our country when Pres. Saddam Hussein, of Irrag waged war against Iran; when Pres. Assad of Syria waged war against his citizens; when Russia attacked Ukraine; when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7; and when Iran missiles and drones attacked Israel.There are many reasons and different outcomes for displaying the motivation of disobedience which pertain to individuals with either a humanistic or an authoritarian conscience tendencies
Reference
Fromm, Erich. Man For Himself and Inquiry Into the Psychology of Ethics.
No comments:
Post a Comment