tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276625069258118388.post896372676111648982..comments2023-09-08T17:06:00.295+07:00Comments on Confessions of an ELF in Indonesia: The Stoning of Soraya MJuliannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03705513185308466455noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276625069258118388.post-63558656630590077662010-10-13T21:40:15.027+07:002010-10-13T21:40:15.027+07:00Wow, powerful stuff. I have read "the Lotter...Wow, powerful stuff. I have read "the Lottery" but not seen this movie. I don't think I can now. Your post and Henry's also reminded me of "Red Scarf Girl." It's sometimes so hard to watch and read things like this, because you are always screaming at the characters in your mind, "How can you not stand up and fight for what's right?"<br /><br />I too am both worried and excited about Aceh. Being in Sulawesi Utara, I am in the vast majority as a Christian, and the Muslims that are here, are so very moderate. It will be an eye awakening experience for me, I'm sure.Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13579118684547210015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276625069258118388.post-77295167077289837132010-10-12T23:39:16.782+07:002010-10-12T23:39:16.782+07:00Interesting connection to the Milgram Experiment, ...Interesting connection to the Milgram Experiment, Henry! Yet another theory can be seen in Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery". Have you ever read that? We read it in school and I remember my teacher saying the stoning in that story happened just because it was the tradition. And no one thought to question tradition.Juliannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03705513185308466455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276625069258118388.post-84492959585695209072010-10-12T07:33:57.477+07:002010-10-12T07:33:57.477+07:00Participation in Soraya’s stoning sounds much like...Participation in Soraya’s stoning sounds much like the psychological study known as the Milgram Experiment (http://bit.ly/aAbEUG). The experiment requires a teacher (the test subject) to ask a student (actually an actor) a series of questions and “electro-shock” the student whenever they answer incorrectly. Each wrong answer increases the alleged voltage to painful, dangerous and then deadly levels. <br /><br />The experiment tests an individual’s willingness to follow orders in direct conflict with their morality. The results showed a high percentage of people were willing to inflict serious harm on a fellow human being so long as an authority figure told them it was acceptable. <br /><br />These experiments were originally used to help understand how so many soldiers and citizens of Nazi Germany could participate in mass murder with few objections. This study, if believed, partially explains how prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib, and the rolling blackouts Enron inflicted on California to raise electric costs started almost innocuously then snowballed into horrific situations. Authority figures assured their subordinates what they were doing was permissible or even the right thing to do. <br /><br />Soraya’s fellow townsfolk may have been equally swept up by events. They live in an isolated community controlled by authority figures who maintain power for personal gain. It quickly becomes dangerous even fatal for an objector to stand against the mob incensed to protect autocratic law. <br /><br />Meanwhile today in Iran, two German journalists were arrested for not having proper reporting credentials from the Iranian government. (http://bit.ly/dwvsem) The journalists sought to interview a man whose mother is accused of adultery. Just a reminder there are two different ways to ensure the world is not rocked by a repeat of Soraya’s brutal murder.HMCIVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01575397277220833264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276625069258118388.post-86473319434070482992010-10-10T19:15:56.203+07:002010-10-10T19:15:56.203+07:00You're welcome, Jackie! However, I guess shoul...You're welcome, Jackie! However, I guess should add that I was just a participant in this event; this was not one of my classes. The discussion was moderated by one of the CRCS students. I might be asked to lead a few movie discussions next semester, though. We'll see!Juliannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03705513185308466455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7276625069258118388.post-61759609742041765172010-10-10T15:57:23.418+07:002010-10-10T15:57:23.418+07:00I've wanted to watch this movie for so long no...I've wanted to watch this movie for so long now. Thank you for posting. What a great context to watch the movie in. It sounds like it was great impetus for thought and discussion with your students.JJGishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01095275107718291372noreply@blogger.com