Large Crises and Ethics
Discuss the ethical questions that arise following large crises (like 9/11) and the resulting limitations often placed on rights and freedoms of citizens. What impacts have been seen after such large-scale events?
Large Crises and Ethics
Large crises stir ethical and emotional responses from the citizens that are different according to the context of each citizen. Large crises like 9/11 and the bombing in 1993 directly impact the experiences and sparks the emotions of residents, workers and investors as well as the victim of those violent crimes. Most people were left asking, “What’s next?” The large crisis brings fear among the workers and investors while most importantly scaring away customers for fear of being a victim of such attacks.
Generally, ethical questions are asked in the events of these crises. In the incident of 9/11, the ethical questions raised include; How could anyone hate people that much? Why does someone plan a crime with someone else as a victim? What is the role and strategies of the government through its intelligence operations in protecting us as ordinary citizens? Had the general public done anything to deserve the attack, or was it an act of unadulterated evil?
In most large crises, there are resulting limitations that affect the rights and freedoms of citizens. Large crises like the 9/11 and 1993 bombing disrupt the physical, social and economic environments for citizens. The citizens fear for their lives and therefore limit their freedom and rights to stay safe. When flights are canceled, and buses trips postponed the freedom and right to movement is limited. Due to security concerns, the citizens are expected to stop enjoying their freedoms and rights to stay safe from crises.
Large-scale events always bring about economic, social, and environmental impacts. Economic impacts, like in 9/11, results in the loss of jobs, which was witnessed in the first three months. Heavy losses are experienced financially. In the 9/11 crisis, finance and air transportation sectors, 60 percent of the jobs were lost. These sectors saw an initial fall for more than 10 percent in days in the U.S stock markets. It is also important to note that countries like the United States increased their spending of defense, which led the country into a debt crisis. In the economic front, it is notable that the gas and oil prices increased as there were fears that oil transport from the middle east would be affected. The small business and enterprises that worked in the vicinity of the world trade center on the 9/11 crisis experienced major losses. Most of them shut down, and others got destroyed. Environmental impacts come about through the exposure to the high alkalinity of WTC dust to ordinary citizens that cause an increased risk of asthma, persistent cough and bronchial hyperreactivity.
The social impacts were clear in the United States as the views of the people changed, and hatred and discrimination against the Muslims and Arabs sparked a debate as others sought to learn more about Islam. People were concerned about the welfare of victims and donations that come in terms of money and blood in the aftermath of the 9/11 events. There was an urge to spend time with loved ones and more efforts put on helping others that are in need. In conclusion, most organizations and individuals reflect on their processes and plans set to deal with the effect of such large-scale crises. The response to large crises should be responsible and must engage the ethical issues that are sensitive and affects facts that are uncomfortable for others.
References
Howie, L., & Campbell, P. (2017). Crisis and Terror in the Age of Anxiety: 9/11, the Global Financial Crisis and ISIS. Springer.
Ingram, C. (2019). Counter-Narrative Ethics: Don DeLillo’s Post-9/11 Novels. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction, 60(5), 585-599.
Ryus, C., & Baruch, J. (2018). The duty of mind: ethical capacity in a time of crisis. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 12(5), 657-662.
