Post by emilysi112 on Dec 4, 2012 22:08:35 GMT -5
Emily Simpson
American Voices Essay
A Shameful Extramarital
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
People constantly strive to gain power, but ironically the power they so desperately desire leads to corruption and sin. Recently, the former Director of the CIA, David Petraeus, was discovered to be engaging in an extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. Shortly after the affair was discovered by a FBI investigation, Petraeus resigned and publicly admitted his infidelity on November 9, 2012. People naturally do not wish to admit misdeeds, because it brings scrutiny and shame from others, just as Americans were reacting with shock and disappointment as a result of the scandal. Especially when power is threatened by the truth, it can be hard to voluntarily relinquish authority. Power comes at the expense of internal injustice as a result of the shameful acts of abused power. The Petraeus scandal directly relates to admission of wrongdoing as a result of corrupted power and whether it is better to keep lying to preserve power and respect, as opposed to confessing outright.
When David Petraeus chose to engage in an extramarital affair, he was putting his job as the Director of the CIA on the line. Possibly, the power of his position corrupted him and he believed he was larger than his own mistakes. Shortly after the affair was discovered by a FBI investigation, Petraeus resigned from his much respected position, arising the question; is it better to admit guilt outright, rather than hiding sins and maintain power? Obviously he did the morally correct thing, but if he truly only cared about preserving his power, Petraeus could have denied having the affair. He could have continued the lies much like Danforth and the court in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Danforth had to decide between maintaining power and fueling the tyranny of consensus that was the Salem witch trials, or end the accusations and risk losing his authority and respect. Danforth fed the tyranny of consensus until the very end, instead of denouncing a possible wrong as to not make the court look weak and unstable. Danforth chose to not question the tyranny of consensus, in fear of losing his power in the court and in Salem. Perhaps Petraeus had a similar fear during his affair, but differently from Danforth, Petraeus chose to announce it publicly and maintain some dignity. After power had corrupted them both, each of these men found it difficult to choose between admitting to their mistakes or maintaining the power and respect in their societies.
However, is it the scandals and events that cause resignations and admissions of guilt? The real source of a man’s corruption and the repenting decision he must make, lie in the power he receives in the first place; allowing him to think he is above sins and remorse. This power is a man’s greatest adversary, because power corrupts leading to sin, and afterwards, is when one must make a choice to confess to their guilt or save their power and destroy themselves. This is what led to the end of David Petraeus’s career and the continuation of Danforth’s tyranny of consensus.
Word Count: 543
Works Consulted:
www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/us/david-petraeus-seen-as-an-invincible-cia-director-self-destructs.html?pagewanted=all
www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/abraham_lincoln.html
American Voices Essay
A Shameful Extramarital
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln
People constantly strive to gain power, but ironically the power they so desperately desire leads to corruption and sin. Recently, the former Director of the CIA, David Petraeus, was discovered to be engaging in an extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. Shortly after the affair was discovered by a FBI investigation, Petraeus resigned and publicly admitted his infidelity on November 9, 2012. People naturally do not wish to admit misdeeds, because it brings scrutiny and shame from others, just as Americans were reacting with shock and disappointment as a result of the scandal. Especially when power is threatened by the truth, it can be hard to voluntarily relinquish authority. Power comes at the expense of internal injustice as a result of the shameful acts of abused power. The Petraeus scandal directly relates to admission of wrongdoing as a result of corrupted power and whether it is better to keep lying to preserve power and respect, as opposed to confessing outright.
When David Petraeus chose to engage in an extramarital affair, he was putting his job as the Director of the CIA on the line. Possibly, the power of his position corrupted him and he believed he was larger than his own mistakes. Shortly after the affair was discovered by a FBI investigation, Petraeus resigned from his much respected position, arising the question; is it better to admit guilt outright, rather than hiding sins and maintain power? Obviously he did the morally correct thing, but if he truly only cared about preserving his power, Petraeus could have denied having the affair. He could have continued the lies much like Danforth and the court in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Danforth had to decide between maintaining power and fueling the tyranny of consensus that was the Salem witch trials, or end the accusations and risk losing his authority and respect. Danforth fed the tyranny of consensus until the very end, instead of denouncing a possible wrong as to not make the court look weak and unstable. Danforth chose to not question the tyranny of consensus, in fear of losing his power in the court and in Salem. Perhaps Petraeus had a similar fear during his affair, but differently from Danforth, Petraeus chose to announce it publicly and maintain some dignity. After power had corrupted them both, each of these men found it difficult to choose between admitting to their mistakes or maintaining the power and respect in their societies.
However, is it the scandals and events that cause resignations and admissions of guilt? The real source of a man’s corruption and the repenting decision he must make, lie in the power he receives in the first place; allowing him to think he is above sins and remorse. This power is a man’s greatest adversary, because power corrupts leading to sin, and afterwards, is when one must make a choice to confess to their guilt or save their power and destroy themselves. This is what led to the end of David Petraeus’s career and the continuation of Danforth’s tyranny of consensus.
Word Count: 543
Works Consulted:
www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/us/david-petraeus-seen-as-an-invincible-cia-director-self-destructs.html?pagewanted=all
www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/abraham_lincoln.html