Why Whistleblowers are so necessary

In todays “mad” world it is vital for honesty, integrity and moral behaviour to be paramount. But is it?

One wonders at the conditions that apply which impel someone to expose corrupt, illicit, negligent, abusive or exploitative behaviour. This could be government or corporate policies or an individual’s activities. And one wonders at the response to such exposure which is always initially denial and ultimately a very severe and harsh form of retribution against the person who ‘blew the whistle’ which led to the exposure.

The thing is that no one likes to be presented with an image of themselves which differs from their own, internal, picture of whom or what they think they are – everyone likes to think of themselves as a ‘good person’. If and when someone is caught out and exposed by a whistle-blower they see themselves reflected, as it were, in a mirror, in their ‘true colours’ and they are shocked and enter a state of denial. How many times have those so exposed said the words “I have done nothing wrong”? They will fight tooth and nail to preserve their image of themselves and to avoid appearing diminished in their own eyes or in the eyes of others. They fight to maintain a level of trust because everyone, particularly in business or government, must be seen as trustworthy - if anyone is untrustworthy it is always someone else or another government or another business – it is always the ‘other’. Admitting responsibility for illegal activities is always difficult and not many have the strength of character to admit to such activity.  At its core then, this is an issue relating to morality, to values and to ethics because no one is trustworthy who is not also ethical. 

The French mathematician and humanist, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) in his ‘Pensees’ wrote, “There is no greater unhappiness than when a person starts to fear the truth lest it denounce him.” 

There is great insight in these words and this is the basis of the reason why whistle-blowing is so dangerous to the ‘blower’ and so necessary for the guilty party so as to relieve them of their unhappiness. It is necessary for the perpetrator to be exposed because their actions, if undetected, have a toxic effect which manifests itself by not only creating stress but also by alienating them from their community. It is as if something secret and unseen has to now be viewed. Any such exposure has a cathartic effect by lifting a burden and ‘cleansing’ them of their guilt. The alternative is fear and fear begets anger and hatred and those who are fearful and consumed by hate lose their powers of reason and in such a state seldom exercise sound judgement. A person’s ability to determine ‘right’ from ‘wrong’ is suspended and everything and anything appears to be acceptable, which defers the moment of exposure. 

Any activities that are exploitative, corrupt, illicit, negligent or abusive give rise to feelings of guilt and create a profound unease of conscience. Peace of mind will be the first casualty in such situations and any person caught up in these activities is unlikely to sleep easily at night! What many forget in today’s unedifying stampede for money and positions of influence is that men (as in mankind) have done these things and that we are all of mankind, furthermore we all share in the multi-various proclivities of mankind. Even if, from a purely legal stand point, any one individual may not be an accessory to any questionable activities or behaviour, thanks to our human nature and the consciousness that binds us all to each other, we are all guilty – we are all of mankind. We are all diminished by such unwarranted behaviour. 

This is why whistle-blowers are so important.  A whistle-blower’s courage, clarity of mind and singleness of purpose brings us lesser mortals up short and the proverbial ‘scales’ fall from our eyes. We are then able to see the extent and the ramifications of the questionable activity or behaviour that has been going on around us. 

Every activity is a cause for some effect. And every effect impinges on everyone in some way or another. Remember the ‘six degrees of separation’? Knowing six people is said (mathematically) to give us a link through someone to everyone in the world. This link is why, when an uplifting or inspirational event is reported in the media it has an immediate global impact and we all feel the effect. Likewise when some ghastly tragedy is reported we all feel appalled and cast down. This is the principal reason why we must treat all people in an ethical way because we are all interconnected – it is in our genes. To do anything else is to invite chaos and great unhappiness.

It was the British philosopher and statesman, Edmund Burke (1729-1797) who made the much quoted statement that - 

“All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.”  

The following short tale has, over the centuries, warned those who may wish to harm, exploit or abuse others or to engage in corrupt activities of the likely outcome of their activities: 

Aesop’s fable (CLXIX)

The vine and the goat

“There was once a vine teeming with ripe fruit and tender shoots and looking forward to the day when it would provide a bountiful vintage. Suddenly a wanton goat appeared and gnawed its bark and nibbled its young leaves.

            ‘You have no right to harm me like this’, said the vine. ‘But I won’t have to wait long for my just revenge. Even if you crop my leaves and cut me down to my root, I shall provide the wine to pour over you when you are brought as a sacrifice to the altar.’”

            *Though it may be late, retribution arrives in the end*

Chinese ethics and plagiarism

It is interesting – I have just finished a month of intense studying and writing to lodge two psychology assignments within the due time. This is why I did not “blog” for the whole month of September. Actually I missed the opportunity of writing my thoughts that some, maybe a few, possibly only one may actually read!! I find writing a good outlet for my frustrations and any tensions.

What is really interesting and what I want to write about is ethics and the pernicious and apparently increasing academic crime of plagiarism. One of my recently completed assignments had to be submitted to the ‘anti-plagiarism’ process using the very useful web site called “Turnitin”. This checks the submitted work against a massive data base of previously published journals and books and tells you how much of the work submitted is original or plagiarised. Anything over 10% plagiarism is not acceptable and must be reworked and resubmitted. Mine rated at 5% without reworking, which I was quite pleased with.

This reworking is actually not that difficult it means that the original work that you have referred to must be reworded, in your own words (with appropriate citation or reference). This is as it should be and shows that you understand the topic sufficiently well to be able to write about it without using the original author’s actual words. Again, this is as it should be. Imagine if you were the original author and you read about your ideas and original work, in your words, but claimed as original by someone else? How would you feel? Very annoyed I suggest. Again, imagine, if you will, the consequences of plagiarism and academic cheating if you were treated by an alleged medical doctor who had fake qualifications? How would you feel? Apart from showing a lack of respect, it is cheating and considered to be intellectual theft and is rightly condemned by all.

What brought about this train of thought was an article on the very subject, in the Friday 8th October edition of the Australian Financial Review (AFR), entitled “China fails to rein in fakes”. This is an interesting article because it highlights what seems to be a growing trend in China, something being encouraged by the government there, the feeling, “I must get ahead at any cost.” This attitude applies to individuals, businesses and the government as well. There is a tragic incident, quoted in the AFR, about Chinese airline pilots who faked their flying hours and experience which resulted in an accident in which 26 people lost their lives. I can understand that the Chinese Government wants to trumpet the greatness of China and believe me somewhere in the vast throng of 1.2 billion people there will be some really great and noble individuals. But they will not become great by cheating.

Then there is the statement made by a masters student from Tsinghua University, Lu Xiaoda, that plagiarism is ok and that it is not that students are incapable of the work – copying someone else’s work saves time!! How does he know they can do the work unless they actually do it? Take also the reported case of Xiao Chuanguo a well known Chinese urologist. He was so incensed that two investigative journalists found out that he had been cheating about his skills that he arranged for them to be savagely attacked and beaten up. When confronted by the police he confessed. His reason for this attack was vengeance for the revelations which blocked his appointment to the prestigious Chinese Academy of Social Science! (What a nice man he must be). Yet his university employer, Huazhong University, has not removed him from his position. This case I find quite astonishing. To me both the man himself and his university are worthless.

With greatness comes power and with power comes responsibility – this is something the Chinese have to learn and learn quickly. Responsibility means owning up to ones obligations, accepting ones faults (no one is without faults!) and dealing fairly with all. This is where ethics comes in. A country, a business or an individual must treat others as they would like to be treated. To do otherwise is to attract consequences that may not be pleasant. It is the same as making a cane for others to use to beat you with. And given the opportunity they will, Oh, they will.

The article in the AFR states quite correctly that unless this practice of plagiarism in China is stamped out, Chinese academics will be marginalised by the rest of the world, and their work considered as worthless because no one will be sure of its accuracy or its true worth. So who suffers? China! Its reputation will be in tatters and its people diminished. That is no way to greatness!!