As I'm sure everyone did, I found the picture of the young girl extremely distressing and couldn't comprehend why anyone would chose not to help her situation let alone sit back and take pictures of her for there own professional gain. My boyfriend (playing devils advocate) forced me to see it from another point of view. Firstly if Kevin Carter had intervened then what? What would he have done? Taken her to the water, and then? I can't pretend to no anything about Sudan. I'm sure however there culture differs massively from our own. What might have happened to him if he touched that child? Where was the girls family? Why didn't the other people at the water come and help her? Maybe she was born to die there at that moment? I don't no what the answers are but the questions could go on forever.Personally I feel there is a line where professionalism can be pushed to one side and this is it. It would go against my nature not to want to help a vulnerable child. But am I saying that because it would make me feel better to save her or because it would help the child? I'd love to say hand on heart it would be all for her but a part of me believes that it might be a selfish act. 'I' couldn't live with the guilt of NOT helping.
At the end of the day whether we think its right or not that picture is still being spoken about 15 years on. Carter was a professional photographer, It was his job to take pictures of the shocking famine in Sudan and maybe ask us question ourselves and our own moral views on the situation. Sadly I no there are still many children out there right now who have the same fate. Our culture and our society dictates to us whats wrong and right, so should we expect other cultures to have the same morals?
In 2011/2012 I spent a year travelling the world. I spent a lot of time in countries which are referred to as '3rd world'. I remember once when in Mumbai being offered a trip into the slums. I didn't go as I felt it wasn't morally right to walk around taking pictures like it was some sort of zoo. I'm sure many tourists do it though and I'm sure its an eye opening experience, but is it right?
“whatever in any city is regarded as just and admirable is just and admirable in that city for as long as it is thought to be so”
'In other words, justice differs from state to state and indeed with the passage of time. Social changes have rendered certain types of conduct which were acceptable to being not so. These changes have also brought a rethink in previously unacceptable behavior becoming acceptable. These cultural variations in the notions of “good” can result in tensions and conflict.' *Reader 5 Professional Ethics
I feel the above quote by Plato's character of Theatetus follows on from this debate and clearly defines for me the idea of how ethics evolve. It also introduces the idea of conflict as a result of changing ethics which I find really interesting as ultimately the whole basis of having ethics in place is to have a 'good life/society'.
How individuals and religions define good is objective to them and whilst I don't practice any religion I do feel the basis of my morals to be Christian as I was born into a christian household.
The quote also made me reflect on the codes of practice/policy's in an educational setting and how they have evolved.
My dad used to get the cane if he miss behaved and even though he was naturally left handed he was forced to write with his right hand. Today teachers have to fill out a form if they touch a child to put a plaster on their knee. Staff have a duty of care to protect students and themselves.
The school holidays are currently based around christian festivals such Christmas and Easter, however as London and other cites become more multicultural will this change. At present my school will allow students off for religious holidays such as Eid, my boyfriends school closed for the day as their cohort is 98% Muslim. This summer Ramadan will fall at the same time as GCSE exams. Is it ethically right for students to have to sit the most important exams of their life's to date while their fasting?
My dad used to get the cane if he miss behaved and even though he was naturally left handed he was forced to write with his right hand. Today teachers have to fill out a form if they touch a child to put a plaster on their knee. Staff have a duty of care to protect students and themselves.
The school holidays are currently based around christian festivals such Christmas and Easter, however as London and other cites become more multicultural will this change. At present my school will allow students off for religious holidays such as Eid, my boyfriends school closed for the day as their cohort is 98% Muslim. This summer Ramadan will fall at the same time as GCSE exams. Is it ethically right for students to have to sit the most important exams of their life's to date while their fasting?
I'm still not 100% on my inquiry topic but this reader has certainly opened my eyes to codes of practice an professionalism I should be adhering to whilst conducting my research.
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