Can this man Can this man be considered be considered

a patriotic a patriotic citizen too?citizen too?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehren_Watada

Obligation to the StateObligation to the State

Do we have a sense of obligation to Do we have a sense of obligation to those in power?those in power?• Stanley MilgramStanley Milgram

Sixty percentSixty percent of the "teachers" obeyed orders to of the "teachers" obeyed orders to punish the learner to the very end of the 450-volt punish the learner to the very end of the 450-volt scale!scale!

No subject stopped before reaching 300 volts!No subject stopped before reaching 300 volts!

1. Please continue. 2. The experiment requires you to

continue, please go on. 3. It is essential that you continue. 4. You have no choice, you must

continue.

"While I was a subject [participant] in 1964, though I "While I was a subject [participant] in 1964, though I believed that I was hurting someone, I was totally unaware believed that I was hurting someone, I was totally unaware of why I was doing so. Few people ever realize when they of why I was doing so. Few people ever realize when they

are acting according to their own beliefs and when they are are acting according to their own beliefs and when they are meekly submitting to authority. ... To permit myself to be meekly submitting to authority. ... To permit myself to be

drafted with the understanding that I am submitting to drafted with the understanding that I am submitting to authority's demand to do something very wrong would authority's demand to do something very wrong would

make me frightened of myself. ... I am fully prepared to go make me frightened of myself. ... I am fully prepared to go to jail if I am not granted to jail if I am not granted Conscientious Objector status. status. Indeed, it is the only course I could take to be faithful to Indeed, it is the only course I could take to be faithful to

what I believe. My only hope is that members of my board what I believe. My only hope is that members of my board act equally according to their conscience..."act equally according to their conscience..."

Letter to Milgram (during Vietnam War)Letter to Milgram (during Vietnam War)

Zinn’s Fundamental QuestionZinn’s Fundamental Question

Can a decent society exist if people humbly Can a decent society exist if people humbly obey all laws, even those that violate obey all laws, even those that violate

human rights? And when unjust laws and human rights? And when unjust laws and unjust policies become the rule, should not unjust policies become the rule, should not

the state “be overthrown”? (122)the state “be overthrown”? (122)

““Protest beyond the law is not a departure Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential from democracy; it is absolutely essential

to it” (123) – Agree or Disagree???to it” (123) – Agree or Disagree???

What does it mean to be What does it mean to be patriotic?patriotic?

““The men who fought in that war carried the burden The men who fought in that war carried the burden of being an American citizen. When they were of being an American citizen. When they were sent to war, they fought. I carried the burden, not sent to war, they fought. I carried the burden, not at all comparable, of being an American citizen at all comparable, of being an American citizen by opposing that war. But we were both doing our by opposing that war. But we were both doing our duty."duty."

Which person is acting as a Which person is acting as a better citizen?better citizen?

Person 1Person 1Looks at the law and feels Looks at the law and feels that you have to take the that you have to take the

good with the bad. good with the bad. Understands that to have an Understands that to have an orderly society we can not orderly society we can not pick and choose which laws pick and choose which laws

we like and dislike. Not we like and dislike. Not everything will always go our everything will always go our way but we need to keep the way but we need to keep the collective whole in mind first. collective whole in mind first.

This person supports the This person supports the government, even if on government, even if on

occasion might seem unfair.occasion might seem unfair.

Person 2Person 2Looks at the power structure Looks at the power structure

and feels that when laws and feels that when laws don’t bring justice, they don’t bring justice, they

should not be followed, but should not be followed, but instead be discarded for true instead be discarded for true

justice. Nothing is more justice. Nothing is more important than justice – it can important than justice – it can never be sacrificed – even if it never be sacrificed – even if it

puts the state at risk. puts the state at risk. Believes the state exists to Believes the state exists to

bring justice, not order. Does bring justice, not order. Does not believe in accepting not believe in accepting

punishment for unjust laws – punishment for unjust laws – the law is at fault, not him.the law is at fault, not him.

Important Question…Important Question…

Can a decent society exist if Can a decent society exist if people humbly obey all laws, people humbly obey all laws,

even those that violate human even those that violate human rights? And when unjust laws rights? And when unjust laws

and unjust policies become the and unjust policies become the rule, should not the state “be rule, should not the state “be

overthrown”?overthrown”?

Basic Concepts of DemocracyBasic Concepts of Democracy

Max WeberMax Weber

Rationalization – the process of Rationalization – the process of taking away the spontaneous and taking away the spontaneous and replacing with bureaucratic structurereplacing with bureaucratic structure• Will we sacrifice justice for orderWill we sacrifice justice for order• Pastor NeirmollerPastor Neirmoller

"First They Came for the Jews""First They Came for the Jews"by the Rev. Martin Niemöller by the Rev. Martin Niemöller

First they came for the Jews, and I did notFirst they came for the Jews, and I did notspeak out because I was not a Jew. Thenspeak out because I was not a Jew. Thenthey came for the Communists, and I didthey came for the Communists, and I did

not speak out because I was not anot speak out because I was not aCommunist. Then they came for the tradeCommunist. Then they came for the trade

unionists, and I did not speak out because I wasunionists, and I did not speak out because I wasnot a trade unionist. Then they came for me, andnot a trade unionist. Then they came for me, and

there was no one left to speak out for me. there was no one left to speak out for me.

Just a Few Thoughts from Zinn Just a Few Thoughts from Zinn - What do you think???- What do you think???

““Erasmus saw war as useful to Erasmus saw war as useful to governments…of a few” - page 68governments…of a few” - page 68

Democracy and Athens - people will Democracy and Athens - people will fight to preserve just a “bit of fight to preserve just a “bit of democracy at home” - page 73democracy at home” - page 73

Do the ends justify the means - Do the ends justify the means - should we be ruthless to simply bring should we be ruthless to simply bring justice - does anything go? justice - does anything go?

Does the same hold true for war???Does the same hold true for war??? Functions of War?Functions of War? Conflict Perspective and WarConflict Perspective and War Is war ever justified?Is war ever justified?

New Patriotism from NadarNew Patriotism from Nadar

Must once again be rooted in the Must once again be rooted in the individual’s own conscience and beliefsindividual’s own conscience and beliefs

Patriotism begins at home – citizen actionPatriotism begins at home – citizen action Unpatriotic to tear down the flag – what Unpatriotic to tear down the flag – what

about tearing down our countryabout tearing down our country• Pollution, etc…Pollution, etc…

Doesn’t have to be associated with Doesn’t have to be associated with militarymilitary