August 23, 2006And You Think It’s Risky for You to Speak Out
For the first time this week, Joe Darby spoke publicly of the perils he faced as a result of reporting prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib to the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
I didn’t learn of this from mainstream media, which is currently preoccupied with JonBenet Ramsey’s accused murderer down to chronicling what the man ate on arrival in Boulder. I learned of this from a friend who forwarded an article about it, telling me it could be a great topic for my newsletter, although she wasn’t sure if I wanted to handle such a hot potato.
I don’t seek out hot potatoes, but I could hardly maintain the platform I do if I ran from them.
Darby slept with a loaded revolver under his pillow because he feared retribution for being the messenger of an unpopular truth.
90% of the soldiers he spoke with said he did the right thing by speaking out. In his hometown, 90% of his community opposed what he had done. Threats to his wife and mother and fear for his own life forced him to move. But Darby remains steadfast in his decision. He said he would do it again because it was the right thing to do, and it needed to be done.
Whether personal, professional or political, the measure of appropriateness of speaking up is not popular opinion. Those who depend on a cover of silence will not give up lightly when someone blows that cover. Whether it’s asking your partner to pull their weight or telling the boss their friend is skimming the till or exposing institutional corruption, the price of speaking out can be enormous.
My Risky Conversation survey determined that 50% who spoke up about issues experienced negative backlash. I wish I had asked if, like Joe Darby, they would do it again anyway.
I tell you about Joe Darby because he is a man who Spoke Strong. By handling this hot potato I risk being a target of criticism and verbal abuse, but I won’t have to sleep with a loaded gun under my pillow. People like Joe Darby put the minor risks we all take for speaking out in their proper perspective. Speaking out does not come with guarantees…except the guarantee that you will be at peace with your own conscience.
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Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. William Penn
Comment by Dorothy Savok — August 23, 2006 @ 4:03 pm
I lost a job in a college disabilities dept. because after two years I began to see practices that were unethical. I thought I had a close friendship with my boss, and believed that she had honest respect for the quality of work. I always had excellent reviews. One day, I was asked my opinion and gave it honestly. Dodging phone calls, asking to me lie, ongoing failure to meet deadlines, accepting “gifts” from students, etc. — gave the appearance of irresponsibility, I cautioned (watering down my true concerns). From that day on, I was the the target of harassment until I finally resigned two months later. I was devastated — a single parent with a mortgage to make. If I had to do it all over, I would handle it differently and document what I found, before ever saying anything — even to my very friendly boss.
Comment by Regina — August 26, 2006 @ 9:44 am
Hi Meryl
Along with this item, you also listed reasons for speaking out. I thought this was a great list and went to your web site to find it, but it appears to have gone. Is there any chance of getting this list from you?
Love
Catherine
Comment by Catherine O'Driscoll — August 31, 2006 @ 2:34 am