Your Pro Citizen Newsletter 36 - Ethics in a Crisis (Guest Author), Weekly Discount Code

Morality Amongst Disaster

By Carl Roebling

 This article is based on a conversation that I had some time ago, and keeps coming back to mind. For the purposes of this writing I am going to call the guy I was talking to “Joe”. Think about Joe like one of those guys that you know, but not well enough to call a friend. He’s a good man with a good family, but had some questionable ideas about what to do in the event of a disaster.

The conversation was revolving around disasters and how people are preparing, and should prepare, for them. That was when Joe expressed his ideas about looting what he needed when things go bad. While it wasn’t a particularly fleshed out plan, he had taken mental notes about what kind of equipment was where and some thoughts on how to get it. He justified this by saying he wouldn’t be stealing from people, rather it would be from “faceless” stores and corporations.

In Joe’s mind, stealing had become a moral good as long as the conditions were bad and the victims were faceless. But that’s not how it works does it? Not only was Joe’s thinking morally questionable, it was extremely short sighted. If you steal a truckload of supplies on day one of a disaster, you can gain a significant short term advantage. But how long will that advantage last? Can you fit a year’s supply (or more) of food, medical supplies, ammunition, and fuel for a family of four in the back of your pick-up? You’ve got one heck of a truck if you can. The truth is you will have to work with, and depend upon, other people if the disaster continues for any length of time. How will they feel if they know you’re a thief? How will they feel if they think they were cheated out of those supplies? How much do you think they’ll trust you even if you treat them well.

Furthermore, what if the disaster resolves itself (maybe unexpectedly) in the short term? There will be people responsible for finding those who acted with malice during the disaster. Where will you be then?

While many of us do, one does not have to look to religion for moral guidance. We know that murder and stealing are bad because we don’t want that to happen to ourselves or our families. We know that treating others with dignity is right because we see how it can destroy families and friendships… and we want to be treated right too (kind of a theme there). While it wasn’t the first time I heard this, I had a battalion commander who frequently said, “Do what’s right even when no one is looking.” One doesn’t have to pray to realize the value in that.

While I hold the Bible’s teachings close to my heart, I have found that many people turn away when scripture is mentioned. Sometimes people, like Joe, are good but not ready, or willing, to hear the actual words of verse. That is why I used more secular language, logic, and examples… it all means the same thing in the end. You’re just speaking a different language to convey the meaning.

While I do not think I made any profound impact upon Joe’s life, he did recognize the validity of what I was saying and he went home with some thoughts. I believe that’s a step in the right direction.

I would never think to tell you how to conduct your life, after all who am I to say such things when I fall short at times. You must make your own decisions based on the circumstances in front of you. But one thing I think I can say is that actions speak loudest, and people are listening. I simply ask that if you feel some form of commonality with Joe, take some time to think about the actions you might take.

 by guest author Carl Roebling. Carl is a former Army noncommissioned officer and Combat Engineer turned Tanker. He earned a Masters degree in History and has served as an analyst to the US military for over thirteen frustrating years.

The Slippery Slope of Situational Ethics

by Jack Morris

Carl makes some great points with this week’s article. While it is simple to counter the argument with the “that is easy to say when your kids aren’t starving.” Very true, none of us know for sure until we are put in the midst of it. The problem with not addressing this during good times and deciding who we want to be as individuals and groups mid-crisis is it opens us up to some bad ideas. Situational ethics are a just that…situational. It means your actions would be judged differently under challenging circumstances. Is it ethical to steal from your neighbor’s garden if it meant your kids could eat? Realizing they have put effort into growing their own food and preparing to store it over the winter for their family. But your kids are hungry. What would you do? Would it be ok to break into Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s local grocery that had a few scarce supplies in stock? How about the Wal-Mart at the edge of town, is it off limits for looting if it is for a legitimate purpose?

Maybe your other neighbor is being coerced into reporting you for some made up crime to keep themselves out of trouble. Would they lie about you or your family to save their own hide? (this was commonplace in Stasi era East Germany) Do they get an ethical and moral pass since they wouldn’t do this to you in a normal situation (there’s that word again) and they only told lies and sold you out “for a good reason”?

We hear the lone wolf or marauder “preppers” chest thump and talk about how they will simply go and take from others if SHTF. Yes, some of them may have success at the outset, but it will catch up to them. It is fairly easy to condemn their approach. What about bigger questions like captured criminals or enemy prisoners? This is really down the rabbit hole I know, but it warrants discussion and a bit of thought. What if there were no rules? True WROL. No system or legal repercussions for what you or your group chooses to do. What is moral? What makes tactical sense? The Army figured out a long time ago it wasn’t as much of a moral issue as it was a practical one with regard to shooting prisoners or surrendering enemy. Allowing a combatant an “out” is a smart strategic move. The willingness to quit is exponentially higher from an enemy who knows he will be treated humanely and not killed outright by the Army. Let the practice of shooting prisoners become commonplace and you will produce an enemy with greater resolve to fight it out vs throwing their hands up. If you are a group leader this challenge becomes much larger as you manage your group’s actions.
Three very different situations and extreme conditions to consider. When is it acceptable to become amoral? Yes, this is way down the hypothetical trail, but in this community these are the big ideas we should think about and discuss.

CM-8, The Modern Minuteman is coming soon!

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