Sol

Here's a link: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...montini19.html Interesting column regarding a couple of hit and run cases in my neck of the woods. One not so long ago and one within the last few days. Interesting parallels relating to the two. One a lawyer, the other a Roman Catholic bishop. Two persons who are professionally defined with codes of ethics. One who definitely should embody the highest morals and moral behavior. Yet both of them make a decision not to stop after hitting a person with their car, a decision to leave the scene, a decision not to render aid to a fellow human being.

Calzaer

I really don't think there's much of a difference between a lawyer and an RCC bishop. And the "code of ethics" of both are pretty threadbare in practice. Frankly, I'd be more surprised if the hit-and-run driver was a construction worker or a nightclub bouncer. These days, I pretty much EXPECT lawyers and priests (and politicians) to do those things more than anyone else.

Nowhere357

I agree. Not to say that there are no good lawyers etc, because there are. But why, as groups, are these people of such poor quality as humans?

HelenM

Do you think it's reasonable for Christians to EXPECT atheists to be evil, lack character, etc?

Are you sure that you want to set the example for others of judging people based on some stereotype of a group they belong to, rather than as individuals?

Helen

brighid

I agree that people from all walks of life make mistakes, including priests and lawyers. I don't think either have the market on immoral/unethical behavior. I am also not convinced that either did said things because of his profession, but rather it indicates a personal lack of moral fortitude on the part of these individuals. Every person who is a lawyer and every man that is a Catholic priest is not bad/unethical/evil because some members of their profession are.

Brighid

abe smith

Yes, bravo, Helen. I thought Bright Folk Like Us here at EyeEye are more sophisticated than to do that kind of lowclass stereo-typing. Gots to Set A Good Example to the polloi, Brothers, Sisters, and Others....

sweep

I totally agree, and it Is reasonable- as a race we look for salient features in individuals that have posed a threat in the past. It is unreasonable to suppose that all those sharing the same characteristics will be a potential threat. Your reasons reflect a deeper understanding of people, helen.

The fact is we make judgements based on appearance. The generalisations we make allow us to negotiate our environment comfortably. We trust 'the police', and we think we know 'the police' by the way 'the police' dress. We cannot estimate another persons behavioural repertory by any other means than appearance judgements.

But thats obvious, isn't it. sorry for ranting.

Calzaer

You're right. I'm sure there are plenty of decent people in the KKK and the Nation of Islam. And I'm sure there are honest personal injury lawyers and I'm sure there are Catholic bishops who don't believe that sleeping with one woman is an excommunicable offense while sleeping with 10 four-year-old boys warrants a move to a new parish.

Why should I assume everyone I meet is going to be the EXCEPTION to my experiences rather than the rule?

Also note: Key Word - Experiences.

sweep

because, as a rule, Priests are supposed to bless and heal. Similarly, as a rule, the KKK stand for the oppression of those with black skin. Those people are guilty of what we all are.

so, lets say someone claims to be an italian plumber called mario: he looks like a plumber, and has a big grin on his face. Then he burgles your house. You could argue from this, that (a) all plumbers are burglars or (b) this was an ExCeptional plumber

similarly, a small girl skipping and holding balloons approaches the mayor of shittleton. He greets her warmly and all the people clap, and the journalist take photos so that the mayor maintains solid public relation. Then *boom*, the scene turns into a bloodbath; the little girl was concealing a bomb in her basket.

As a rule, little girls with balloons don't carry explosives, and we can safely assert that problems aren't going to arise when encountering cute children. you shouldn't and have no reason to make any exceptions here.

HelenM

Did someone suggest that?

Why is it necessary to make any kind of assumptions about people you've never met? Unless you have reasons that are more specific than bad experiences with others of a group the person belongs to, why not simply wait and see what the person is like, instead of assuming anything?

Helen