blog # 27

Abuse of power is an offense on human kind in which the abuser takes advantage of a weaker individual.  Sometimes the indiviual (or individuals) are powerless or defenseless against their assault.  In the popular sci-fi series written by Joss Whedon, called Firefly, Joss Whedon does a good job of showing the viewer that the effects of a power trip when one person with a cocky attitude is left in charge.  When the captain of the ship is away on a mission, an arrogant character (Jane) is left on the ship and feels that he was left in charge.  When the mission goes south, he attempts to force the ship and the crew to leave the captain, and example of an abuse of power.  This is an abuse of power because the crew could never leave the two crewmembers, but Jane was willing to force them to leave.  In real life, abuse of power is all around, in work places, schools, hospitals, and even prison; anywhere that an aggressor remains unmonitored for an extended period of time is grounds for things to get out of control.  For example, the prison guards at Abu Ghraib abuses their powers when they took it into their own hands to punish the prisoners through means of unhumane torture, humiliation and neglect.  It is important to examine these actions so that these actions can be prevented in the future.

blog # 27

Abuse of power is an offense on human kind in which the abuser takes advantage of a weaker individual.  Sometimes the indiviual (or individuals) are powerless or defenseless against their assault.  In the popular sci-fi series written by Joss Whedon, called Firefly, Joss Whedon does a good job of showing the viewer that the effects of a power trip when one person with a cocky attitude is left in charge.  When the captain of the ship is away on a mission, an arrogant character (Jane) is left on the ship and feels that he was left in charge.  When the mission goes south, he attempts to force the ship and the crew to leave the captain, and example of an abuse of power.  This is an abuse of power because the crew could never leave the two crewmembers, but Jane was willing to force them to leave.  In real life, abuse of power is all around, in work places, schools, hospitals, and even prison; anywhere that an aggressor remains unmonitored for an extended period of time is grounds for things to get out of control.  For example, the prison guards at Abu Ghraib abuses their powers when they took it into their own hands to punish the prisoners through means of unhumane torture, humiliation and neglect.  It is important to examine these actions so that these actions can be prevented in the future.

blog # 26

When considering how Jane reacted to his new authority, there is a tie that can be seen between his actions and the actions of the prison guards of Abu Ghraib.  It is important to see resemblance so that we can stop the actions of the prison guards in the future.  If people are aware of the actions of past prison guards, they may feel that actions such as torture, humiliation and physical abuse are wrong, no matter if the person is a prisoner.  The best way to learn from mistakes is by analyzing them.  In Jane’s case, he became angry and bossy, almost forcing the crew to abandon their captain and head warrior.  If he had not been knocked out by Simon, he would have completely overruled the crew and become a tyrant.  In the case of the prison guards at Abu Ghraib, they were left for months on end without outside interference, and therefore, there actions weren’t kept on track.  Their actions become more and more torturous and humiliating, and the prison guards came to interpret these actions as acceptable.  There is evidence to support this because the prison guards were photographed with thumbs up and other casual poses in front of these acts, and their faces showed that none of the prison guards were uncomfortable with their actions.  Unfortunately, there was no “Simon” there to stop their tyrannous power, and that is how they remain un-checked.  It is important to analyze these things because it is important to realize that people makes mistakes and that they need consequences for their actions.

blog # 25

The Stanford Prison Experiment.  1999-2009.  Web. 22 April 2011.

Hersh, Seymour M..  “American soldiers brutalized Iraqis. How far up does the responsibility go?”  The New Yorker.  May 2004.  Web.

Jane’s attitude that he had while he thought he was in power is similar to the actions performed by prison guards everyday in prisons across the world.  More specifically, the prison in Baghdad, Iraq know as the Baghdad Central Prison, or more commonly known as Abu Ghraib.  The prison guards at this prison were prosecuted for doing inhumane acts towards the prisoners held at the prison.  According to the Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted in the summer of 1971, there is evidence to show that prison guards, when wearing a uniform and having authority over prisoners, feel stripped of their identity and feel no responsibility for their actions.  This might explain why some of the Abu Ghraib prison guards may have acted in the way they did.  But can that excuse them from their actions? Should the government not press charges simply because of the evidence from this experiment? The prisoners should be held liable for their actions, no matter what any experiment says.  People must remember that the experiment was cut short after only six days and that is not sufficient evidence enough to release people from committing atrocious crimes.  The prison guards at Abu Ghraib were aware of their actions and were intentionally torturing the detainees.  “Homosexual acts are against Islamic law and it is humiliating for men to be naked in front of other men,” (Hersh).  The prson guards must have known that those actions were considered torture rather than just humialiation, and that is what makes their actions unforgiveable.

blog # 24

Seeing as I’m hoping to change my topic, and also because I am pending a response from my professor, I thought I’d just start my new topic tonight so that I wouldn’t get even more behind…

Initially, Mal and Zoe are not supposed to be left on the planet for long.  They were supposed to get on the train and finish the deal quickly so they can get the goods back to Niska in time.  But when the plan goes south, they are forced to stay on the planet for a little longer than they expected.  It’s obvious that Jane enjoys the power because he mentioned “I’m in charge, and I’ll make the rules,” more than once.  When the plan goes south, and they are all in danger of angering Niska, its Jane who thinks he has the authority to order the crew into doing whatever he pleases.  Jane says “Now I’m in rutting charge here and I’m telling you how it works.  We’ve waited long enough.  Let’s get this bird in the air.”  He says all this when Mal and Zoe don’t come back from their heist.  When in command, Jane does things tat normally would be allowed.  But since he has no higher authority to tell him no, he feels free to act as he wants to.  The same is true for prison guards, more infamously, the prison guards at Abu Grahib and Guantanamo Bay.  The prison guards there are in a position of power and are stripped away from their identity, which is a recipe for disaster.  

blog # 23

When the scene begins, the crew does not know what they are stealing.  They get the assignment from Niska and don’t ask any questions because they are so desperate for money that any job is better than no job.  But when they learn to true nature of the job they were given, they decide that no amount of money is worth the weight they would carry on their conscience.  When they are faced with this decision, the chose to take the medicine back to the planet village, and this is what differentiates Mal and Zoe from Niska.  Both have the option to do the right and wrong thing, but it’s their choices that make them who they are and shows what they stand for.  For Mal, although he is a smuggler, running from the law and hiding fugitives on his ship, he still has a heart of gold and we know this by his actions.  He seems likes a bad guy, but when he is faced with moral dilemmas, he always chooses the option that is the right thing.  When it comes to Niska, he does the same thing as Mal, he smuggles, runs from the law, and hides fugitives on his ship, but Niska also takes pleasure from harming people and intentionally inflicts pain on people.  Both people live a rebellious life, but Mal doesn’t let his rebellious life warp his morals.  That is the main difference between good and evil on Firefly and in daily life.

blog # 22

The sun is almost blinding as it gleams off the hard metal shell of the  Firefly, a ship that is primarily used for smuggling goods between planets.  Its many engines slow as the ship lightly lands on the hot, sandy earth.  One can almost see the heat waves radiating off the ground.  A whole crew jumps off the ship as soon as it lands, hoping they didn’t run into anyone looking for a fight.  Thankfully, they found no one and they can now do their job with ease.  The ship’s captain, Mal, scopes out the land and makes a plan.   As he tells the crew what the plan is, he recruits one of the crewman to help.  Zoe, a former warrior, looks like someone you don’t want to run into when she’s having a bad day.  The crew starts the plan.  Mal and Zoe walk off towards a small settlement just over the hill.  They are going to a train station and buy a ticket.  Once on the train, they find a seat and don’t make a fuss so as to not draw attention.  As soon as the train starts to move, they stand up inconspicuously and walk through the cabins, heading to the back of the train.  When they reach a certain cabin, they are unexpectedly met by an entire cabin filled with Alliance soldiers.  The Alliance is the big, juggernaut of a government who controls the main planets.  Mal and Zoe fought in a war of Independence a few years back against the Alliance and lost, but still remain faithful to the cause.  When they see the Alliance soldiers, it seems as if any normal person would call of the mission.  But Mal is different and chooses to continue.  When they get to the second-to-last cabin, Mal and Zoe throw a fogger and sneak into the last cabin, a storage cabin.  Once there, they open the ceiling and unexpectedly, the ship is waiting for them with a big, long hook protruding out of it.  They hook is lowered into the train and Mal and Zoe attach the goods to the hook and it seems like they can’t also go with the ship.  So they improvise and just let it go and sneak back into the passenger cabin so that they don’t get caught.  The soldiers sweep the cabin and realize something is gone.  Everyone on the train is questioned, including Zoe and Mal.  Obviously, they act cool under pressure and no one suspects a thing.  But as they get to talking to the mayor of the city, they learn that what they stole for a crime lord are medications that are much needed for the masses of sick people that they are surrounded by.  When Mal and Zoe get back to the ship, they decide to take back the goods, even if it meant angering Niska, the crime lord.  When Mal and Zoe are taking the goods back, they run into the mayor.  For a second, it is thought that the mayor isn’t going to forgive them for stealing the goods but then returning them.  But all is okay because they are forgiven.  In the end, Mal and Zoe return safely to their ship and all is forgiven by the mayor.  But the same can not be said about the crime lord.