On The Waterfront: Whistleblower vs. Stool Pigeon

In the movie, "On The Waterfront", the dockworkers are rendered helpless by the "powerful" mob. They have power only because they use fear and force to hurt those who speak out or challenge their authority in any way. Their leader, Johnny Friendly, is very corrupted. His "second in command" is Charlie, Terry's older brother. To them, and to everyone else who is in with the mob, someone who speaks up is a "stool pigeon". They could not afford for even one person to stand up for what they believe is right because it would lead to the end of their existence. I believe that this is because they know what they are doing is wrong in society's mind. To those who cannot be influenced by the mob, like Edy and her father, the priest, Doogan, and Joey, standing up to the mob would be considered a noble deed. Every worker knows that what is being done to them is unfair, yet they feel as though they can do nothing. They know that Johnny Friendly would take his revenge and have them killed one way or another. A person who dared go through with their intentions and stand up for the dockworkers would be a brave and courageous person. Terry is on the fence for most of the movie and has trouble deciding where stands on the issue. However, once his brother Charlie is killed, he decides that he has to stand up to the mob and Johnny Friendly no matter what the consequence.
I believe a stool pigeon or a tattletale is someone who tells on others for a personal gain of some sort. They might do it as revenge or to advance their own personal causes somehow. These type of people in my mind are "bad" and do not have a good sense of what is right and wrong. On the otherhand, I believe that a whistleblower or ethical crusader is someone who risks some personal aspect of their own life, be it safety, reputation, etc., to stand up for what they believe in. They sacrifice something of their own for the benefit of a larger whole, in this case, the dockworkers. I believe that speaking out about what you believe in is always okay with one exception. If your motives are not pure, meaning you are doing something for the benefit of a small group of people or even just yourself, it is wrong. With that said, I believe it that if you know something wrong is going on and yet you do nothing about it because you don't want to put yourself out there and take a risk, you are equally to blame as someone with the wrong motives. Both types of people are selfish and to be named as a whistleblower, being selfless is key.

Robert Kennedy: His Life Post 3 - Ethical Crusader or Ethical Coward?

Robert Kennedy was appointed Attorney General in 1960. During this time, the civil rights movement was underway, with Martin Luther King Jr. in charge. During RFK's time as Attorney General, he focused on trying to create equality for all Americans. He specifically fought for the rights of African Americans to equal schooling and voting rights. However, at the beginning of his "term" as Attorney General, civil rights was not one of his priorities. Even though it may not have been in the front of his mind, "RFK's conscience was pricked by the racial inequity"(127). At the same time however, "he...admired courage and respected men who stood up to him; indeed, he almost demanded it"(128). I find this very perplexing. How could RFK not take action and choose to not dedicate himself to this issue, yet still value someone standing up to him? He knew something was wrong, but it took him a while to muster up enough guts to actually do something about it. At least he finally did. When the Freedom Rider's bus was firebombed, no one would agree to rive it any longer. He called some of his political contacts in the south, but no one was "available". Finally, he stood up by calling the Greyhound Bus Company himself. When trying to find a driver, RFK told them, "...somebody better give us an answer to this question. I am - the Government is - going to be very much upset if this group does not get to continue this trip"(129). This conversation was recorded and soon leaked to the public, who then thought that it was Kennedy leading the Freedom Riders. In doing what he believed was the right thing to do, he sacrificed his reputation for the time being and his innocence. No longer could he sit on the sidelines and watch these injustices happen. He was in it for the long hall and he stuck with it. I believe that Robert Kennedy should be considered and IS considered an ethical crusader during his lifetime.

Prioity in Society or Family First?

Characters in the play each have their own set of beliefs and moral values. When Joe Keller decided to ship off the cracked plane parts to save his family business, he put his family before the society and country in which he lived in. This single act shaped his beliefs and moral values for the rest of his life. He willingly sacrificed his honesty and dignity to cover up his previous dishonorable act. His choices did not only affect him however. His wife, Kate, was forced to follow her husband's lead and put her family and husband before the society. She knows the truth, but does nothing about it and instead, interprets her reality as she wishes it was, even though it was not actually that way. Their son, Larry, was devestated when he realized that his father was behind the deaths of his fellow soldiers. He ultimately took his own life and that act identified where he stood ethically. In his mind, the society as a whole came before the prosperity of a single family, even if it was his own. Similarly, Chris, his younger brother and the Keller's second son, valued honesty and responsibility to the society and to youself above all. When he found out that his father had lied to everyone and blamed another human for his actions, Chris was devestated and ran away. The fact that he wouldn't forgive his father showed his devition to his own beliefs and his complete rejection of beliefs like his father's.
I believe that everyone owes something to their society and to fellow human beings. Everything should remain fair and no one should sabotage others for personal advancement. Everyone should be honest and responsible for themselves and never put others in danger. However, when society is going in the wrong direction and someone has a feeling that it is wrong, that person must stand up and say something. Kate intentionally lied to herself and others to cover up her husband but i believe that she should have released herself from the burden of hiding the truth and made her husband pay for his actions. With that said, I believe that for the majority of the time, people must put the society before themselves. For the relatively few times when society has been wrong and will be wrong in the future, people may put their personal beliefs ahead of the society's.