On Tyranny - Lesson 5: Remember Professional Ethics

 Lesson 5 is another easy one: remember professional ethics. Snyder points out that all kinds of atrocities were committed by all kinds of professionals during the Nazi regime in Germany. Doctors and scientists performed medical experiments on unwilling participants, businessmen exploited cheap labor from concentration camps, lawyers and judges sentenced innocent people to death without trials. 

Professional ethics flew out the window when the Nazis took over. "Just following orders" became the norm at the expense of morality. Snyder contends that maintaining one's commitment to their professional ethics is a form of rebellion against authoritarian rule. If nothing else, it would serve as a setback for new leaders, and set an example for others in their own industries. 

One field in particular comes to mind for me: education. Teachers have to teach the truth. Even now, that can be a tricky minefield to navigate. Our education system has long been under attack, and with leaders aspiring to close the Department of Education, it's crucial that teachers maintain their professional ethics by refusing to teach falsehoods and propaganda. They need to teach kids how to think critically, rather than how to fall in line and obey mindlessly. 

Doctors shouldn't divulge women's medical information for the sake of her persecution. Local politicians should serve their communities, not the ruling power. Bankers shouldn't discriminate. There are some ethical standards that many fail to maintain even without authoritarian rule commanding them. Still, those of us willing to fight for our democracy should stand strong for the ethical standards in our professions, and let that ethical strength serve as a line of defense against dictatorial rule.