Doing what I was told #
This has to be the worst bunch of words in the English language. Often said when someone does a horrible thing. Used through history at some of the lowest points in human civilisation.
I was brought up to believe in another set of words. They were “do the right thing no matter the consequences to yourself”. I have tried hard to live by that stance. I have walked walked away from and fought against “doing what I was told” when it was the wrong thing to do.
My parents generation lived through the consequences of a war which ended up with the biggest trial in history. They did not accept the words of “I did as I was ordered”. They made sure that actions had consequences and they said never again would “I did as I was told” be an excuse.
I just watched a film - “A Few Good Men” with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. Towards the end when the famous interaction between them takes place Nicholson admits to ordering the code red. The next few minutes plays out with the two soldiers who followed orders being dishonourably discharged from the marines and one of them says “We did nothing wrong!”. The other marine answers with “Yeah, we did. We’re supposed to fight for people who can’t fight for themselves, We were supposed to fight for Willy”. It is a powerful moment and it shines a light on the fact that doing what we are told to do by a company, organisation or someone in power is not always the right thing and we should always have the courage to question it and to then do the right thing.
The reason I talk about this is because a person who went against my advice and hurt my son is now working for another company that is looking after Tam. They have used just this excuse. “I only did as I was told”.
Well I implore everyone involved in the care of children with disabilities to think about this. Saying that they only “did as they were told” means they are complicate and accepting of hurting children. Doing what you are told when it is the wrong thing does not make it better, it makes it worse. Do you hear Hayley. DO YOU HEAR.
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