"Obedience is as basic an element in the structure of social life as one can point to. Some system of authority is a requirement of all communal living, and it is only the person dwelling in isolation who is not forced to respond, with defiance or submission, to the commands of others. For many people, obedience is a deeply ingrained behavior tendency, indeed a potent impulse orverriding training in ethics, sympathy and moral conduct." Obedience to Authority, by Stanley Milgram, New York: Harper and Row, 1974, cited in When Killing is a Crime, by Tony Waters, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2007, page 188
Stanley Milgram, author of the above quote, did a famous experiment where he found that he could get 65% of his subjects to obey a white-lab-coat telling them to administer an electric shock to a third person, even when the subjects believed the shock was causing real pain or had the potential to kill the third person. It behooves us to ask ourselves where we would rate. Not where we would like to rate, but actually rate. The odds are against us.
The Bible has an important warning for us: "Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." I Cor 10.12 Ouch. I find that I can easily identify with Peter: Not I, Lord. My performance, however, may often match Peter's as well. Or, maybe a little less.
Questioning leadership in NTM was (is?) almost always seen as defiance. I have had the experience of asking questions of leadership, only to be challenged on my lack of trust in them. "Do you have a 'thing' about leadership?" This, from people who encouraged us to take our concerns to them, rather than discuss these things among ourselves or, worse yet, with those affectionately known as "outsiders." I am a slow learner, so it took multiple instances of rebuke to catch on that questions were not welcomed.
Yet, look what happens when questions are NOT asked! Read the testimonies of Tina Sayers and Tuti Hess (http://fandaeagles.com/2009/06/timeline-of-events/comment-page-1/#comment-12733) and weep. And, put yourself in their shoes; chances are, I would have reacted the same. Wouldn't you?
In fact, I may well have already done so. I recall one instance on the NTM field of Thailand where a family was quickly, quietly sent back to the States and we were all told, "Do not talk about this and do not ask any questions." You will not be surprised to learn that this was not talked about, and to the best of my knowledge, no questions were ever asked. Not even by me.
I used to hold this up as an example of what a fine field we had; we had enough trust in our leadership that, in spite of our various differences, we were obedient when it really mattered. Now, I admit, I am afraid to learn the truth. I fit right in with Prof. Milgram's 65%. What have we done? What am I a party to? As a follower, I think I didn't do very well.
When to speak up, when to be quiet. When to obey, when to walk out. No one is going to get it right every time. But, if we err, let's do it on the side of safety, kindness, openness, justice.
|