Jesus, an Upstander, and Me
By Helen Block 7, 2009
Jesus: 
Catholic Social Teaching
An Upstander:
Holocaust and Human Behavior
...And Me!:
Ethics
Catholic Social Teaching
Why is this Important?
Global Warming
Ethics
Being an Upstander
Why is this Important?
Why is this Important?
Darfur
Definition: 
"Standards of behavior that tell us how human beings ought to act in the many situations in which they find themselves" (Velasquez)
In other words...
Ethics is the set of behaviors acceptable for human beings in any situation
It tells us how to act and what is the right thing to do
polar bear photo courtesy of:
http://www.patriotroom.com/images/upload/ohnoglobalwarming.jpg
living darfur music video by Mattafix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdNqA0klEIk&feature=channel
biko music video by Peter Gabriel courtesy of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNQuJm67OzE
Velasquez, Manuel. "A Framework For Thinking Ethically." Markkula Center For Applied Ethics. May 2009. Santa Clara University. 26 May 2009. http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/decision/framework.html
Works Cited
The 5 Ethical Frameworks
Utilitarian: greatest balance of benefit over harm
Rights: respects the rights of all affected
Fairness: treats people equally, proportionately, and fairly
Common Good: contributes most to the quality of common life
Virtue: consistent with ideals and provides for the full development of humanity                   (Class Notes, 3/18/09)
Ethics guide our decision making process, so it is important to know your beliefs and ethics in order to make the right decisions.
Learning about ethics makes you think about how you would act in a certain situation. This helps you discern what you would ideally hope to do as well as what you would actually do in a given situation. You can then attempt to act on the ideals instead of the realities if you are ever faced with that situation.
Holocaust and Human Behavior Case Study
1. The human person is sacred.
2. The human person is social.
3. Every person has a right to life and the basic needs for life. Every person has a corresponding duty to protect the rights of others.
4. We put the needs of the least among us first.
5. Work has dignity; workers have rights to fair wages, property, and unions.
6. We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, called to solidarity as a human family.
7. We care for God's creation and protect Earth.
(Class Notes, 3/20/09)
Catholic Social Teaching is based on Jesus' message in the gospels with regards to the Reign of God. Jesus advocated the protection of human rights and told us that we all are called to care for one another. We are also called to protect Earth as it is also God's creation and gift to us.
Catholic Social Teaching is the basis for all of the teachings of the Catholic church that have to do with how we treat each other and the Earth. It is important to understand that the Catholic stand on certain topics is based on these 7 points. Also to be a true Catholic, we must embody these teachings because they are based on Jesus' teachings about God's reign.
Catholic Social Teaching explains how the Catholic Church calls us to be upstanders. #3 states that along with having basic rights, we are obligated to ensure others have the same rights. We also must ensure the rights of all life on earth, not just ourselves.
Obedience
Stanley Milgram: scientist who studied the effects of obedience on a person's decision making process and saw that people would do almost anything if an authority figure told them to. (class notes, 2/19/09)
Lucifer Effect: Philip Zimbardo's conclusions on the conditions that allow people to overstep their boundaries and commit horrific crimes. Two of the 7 steps have to do with obedience and conformity's role in allowing violence and rights violations.     (class notes, 2/20/09)

The Holocaust:
We mostly studied this with regards to Facing History, but it relates to our study of obedience as well because many Nazis did what they were told instead of standing up for their beliefs. 
The citizens were also bystanders because they said and did nothing about the horrible treatment of the Jews and other minority populations.
Gloria showed us that we can be upstanders too in her speech about life in a concentration camp and her personal battle to be an upstander in a difficult situation. She also had inspiring stories about civilians who were upstanders by trying to help her.
Learning about obedience allows us to understand its power over people and to consciously choose to follow our beliefs instead of blindly obeying someone else. We can learn from the mistakes of others to help us choose what we know to be right in the future.
Listening to Gloria's life story was memorable because despite the challenges she has endured, she continues to see life as an opportunity to do good. Having faced death, she knows how precious life is and is determined to make her life matter. Gloria is an inspiration to all of us and we will never forget her story. Learning from an upstander like Gloria makes us want to be upstanders as well.
#7 in the Catholic Social Teaching says "We care for God's creation and protect Earth."
Therefore, we must be upstanders considering the problem of global warming by doing our best to reduce consumption and advocating for a healthier and more earth-friendly lifestyle. We should support alternative energy and protect our environment through conservation and recycling.

Using what we learned about the power of obedience, I think I see the crisis in Darfur in a new light. Certainly there are many evil people doing horrible things, but there are millions of bystanders who are just obeying orders or don't want to get involved (like many Europeans during the Holocaust), and their crime is just as important and just as harmful to the victims. Our study of obedience taught me to listen to myself above all else, but our study of the Holocaust taught me to speak up when I see wrong. The genocide in Darfur shares many similarities to the Holocaust, so we have the tools and power to stop it if we are willing to stand up.
This song talks about the difficulties faced by Steve Biko, who was a leader in South Africa against Apartheid and was killed in 1977 for protesting the injustices and racism in the government. Biko was a perfect example of an upstander and illustrates one difficulty in speaking out: fear for your own safety. Despite this fear, Biko kept speaking up for the rights of Africans. This took courage and was obviously the ethical action because he was protecting the basic human rights of his fellow Africans (see the rights and fairness frameworks). A fellow leader against Apartheid, Nelson Mandela, faced similar difficulties but became the first black South African president after apartheid ended in 1994.
Each of the 5 Ethical Frameworks discuss the importance of being an upstander because they all ask us to make the right decision for us. The difficult part is beginning the process of becoming an upstander; overcoming obstacles and counteracting conformity so we can stand up for ourselves and our beliefs instead of blindly obeying others. I can be an upstander by following any of the 5 Ethical Frameworks when faced with a tough decision because I know that an ethical approach to decision-making is the only way to know whether I am doing the right thing for all involved.
See the nation through the people's eyes,
See tears that flow like rivers from the skies.
Where it seems there are only borderlines
Where others turn and sigh,
You shall rise (x2)

There's disaster in your past
Boundaries in your path
What do you desire when lift you higher?
You don't have to be extraordinary, just forgiving
Those who never heard your cries,
You shall rise (x2)
And look toward the skies.
Where others fail, you prevail in time.
You shall rise.
(You may never know,
If you lay low, lay low) (x4)
You shall rise (x3)

Sooner or later we must try... Living
(You may never know,
If you lay low, lay low) (x4)

See the nation through the people's eyes,
See tears that flow like rivers from the skies.
Where it seems there are only borderlines
Where others turn and sigh,
You shall rise (x4)

(You may never know,
If you lay low, lay low) [4x]

Sooner or later we must try... Living 
This image shows the effects of global warming on the polar ice caps. The polar bear shown is struggling to keep his balance and home in this changing environment. It is sad to see the consequences of our careless consumer culture on an innocent animal. The photo shows what can happen when we do not follow the Catholic Social Teaching and harm instead of help our fellow creatures on Earth.
Speak up if you want to see change
There are many social and economic divisions in Darfur; people see only differences between them and ignore the many similarities
There is a lot of sorrow right now in Darfur, but there is hope for a better future if we can fight for it and "rise from the ashes".
Forgiveness is key to permanently solving the problems in Darfur
I know I am called to be an upstander in this world. After college, I hope to work at a nonprofit organization to help others, far and near, and help our environment. I do not know what issue I am most passionate about, but I do know that my life must have a larger purpose and must leave a positive mark on our world. Biko's story is inspirational, along with the many other upstanders we have learned about this year. I hope one day to join their ranks and maybe someone in a religion class somewhere will someday learn about me. I know difficulties lie ahead, but nothing worth having, or doing, comes easily. This class has taught me so much about what being an upstander truly means, a lesson I plan on using for the rest of my life.