Our system relies and functions best with integrity and when that integrity is challenged through bad actors we have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure such integrity is restored. While all systems, including local justice systems, will have spots and areas that need improvement we want to avoid such situations where wholesale corruption, civil rights violations and extremism have become embedded. We also do not want such phenomenon to reflect negatively on the vast majority of people doing the right thing with honor and integrity. Nor should we ignore the broader context that created an environment ripe for such behaviors. As a community of servants we should be unified in saying no to those who intentionally shame the trust in their positions for political, racial, religious or ideological reasons. Injustice as a Threat to Human Rights and Law
A Hypothetical Example of Racial, Religious, Ideological Extremism Mixed with Corruption:
This is a hypothetical example for learning purposes only so take with a grain of salt. A person (s) with connections to a "clan" that included a couple of officials started hate based rumors/narrative in order intimidate the targets as well as encourage blind monkeys to sway social opinion to reject, mistreat and ostracize the targets. Hate chatter continues on today continuing to create problems. Beyond racial/religions purity (any race or religion can be used) they also sought to profit financially off exploiting such victims. The method worked and they kept the proceeds. A well worn tool that can be puled out at any time in the future if the need arises.
The clan and their co-conspirators manipulated the elderly, endangered children, engaged in hate narrative spreading, blocked employment opportunities, tried to restrict freedom of targets to engage fully in society, threats/attempts at violence and were able to create a coordinated cleansing campaign that is typically seen in third world nations. Discussions of armed militias and over concerns of nationalistic "patriotic worthiness" of other groups deemed as out-group (any race or religion) became apparent.
Because these behaviors were coordinated and strategic in silencing criticism, a number of other victims also came when they became aware of the brutality but were similarly retaliated against through instant street justice. Secretive target lists were created for coordination to suppress dissent. These bad actors became a threat to the community and to the system itself. Horrific stories of rape, stalking, violence, threats, corruption, etc. bubbled forward and leaked out onto the public stage. There was no recourse locally and no way to reign in the embedded highly trained extremist group. Corruption as Injustice
Studying Moral and Legal Collapse:
This hypothetical example was used to highlight a complete break down of moral order and legal structure but also the environment that made it possible. Typically, when such incidence rise there are checks and balances. However, due to the rural environment, close affiliation/coordination, perceptions of racial-religious superiority (any race or religion in this example) and social connections there were few to no mechanisms to correct. Even some officials were afraid to challenge "the clan".
It is paramount that all institutions uphold social contracts that people expect out of such systems and their use of societal tax resources. Thinking about, understanding, and studying when systems go awry is important in developing stronger wider system resilience against corrupting influences. It also helps maintain integrity of institutional purpose, national oaths, social contracts, and leadership quality. What is Inclusive Justice Research?
Moral Outrage:
Moral outrage occurs because of the ease in which a few bad apples were able to corrupt the bunch and thus making the stench of rot too overpowering to ignore. The entire basket needed to be thrown out which was a waste of valuable resources. Where such failures occur it is essential for the future to maintain a sense of moral authority/conscious to ensure it never happens again. Examples such as this help us explore possible risks, causes, and solutions to ensure the wider interests of society are served. The Dynamics of Moral Outrage
A Few Questions to Ponder:
-How might appropriate checks and balances of power ensure how the corruption of one system doesn't infect the other systems?
-How might a level of reform be needed in any institution that engaged in and protected such behaviors.
-How might one turn a negative situation such as this into something positive for the community and a diverse nation?
-How do we support public servants to ensure we recruit the best, pay them well, maintain system integrity, support public perception, and protect the work environment by removing bad actors?
-What would it take to correct the wrong? Is there any will to correct the wrong?
-Are wider national issues that allowed such systems flourish and are we too slow in adapting and improving such systems?
-Could a nepotism rule and independent wrongdoing reporting email/phone line make a difference in minimizing retaliation?
-Would not fixing the issue be a liable danger for future victims and/or disrespectful of past victims? Would it be disrespectful of good men and women who have sacrificed to do the right thing?
-If the perpetrators are rewarded what might that say about the commitment of the system to higher values? Would that factor into institutional trust polls?
-How might our choices in such situations come to define us as a people? How does it define you and your values?
-Is this a precursor to a future or a lesson to ensure never gets repeated again?
*This hypothetical example for learning purposes only is part of a thought experiment so take with a grain of salt.
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