The Moral Dilemma Thread

[Kepler]

Interesting moral dilemma.

I am a high school senior, and will be applying to colleges and for scholarships soon. I am having a disagreement with my parents regarding one possible scholarship. I am eligible, because of an ancestor that was a Confederate, to apply for scholarship money from an organization that promotes the “grand history” of the Confederacy. I can’t stomach their beliefs, and I do not want to apply for their scholarship, nor use their money to go to college. My parents think any money is good money, and that getting one of these scholarships doesn’t say anything about me as a person, but I completely disagree. I think it would imply that I was proud of my Confederate ancestors, which I am not, and that I support this organization, which I don’t. Am I being “too PC” or are my parents wrong in not considering the source of this possible money?

Do you take the money? Is your decision different if the amount is small as opposed to a full ride? Is it different if you don't have to do anything, or you have to write an essay, or you have to make a public appearance in support of the organization?

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

Take the money. No dilemma. No guarantee you get the scholarship anyways.

 

[Twitch Boy]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

Interesting moral dilemma.



Do you take the money? Is your decision different if the amount is small as opposed to a full ride? Is it different if you don't have to do anything, or you have to write an essay, or you have to make a public appearance in support of the organization?

The practical solution would be to go to the media. "College student turns down Confederate scholarship" would pick up steam in the news cycle pretty quickly. If it blows up big enough someone will throw a few bucks his way to offset it.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

Take the money with the knowledge and understanding that their money has the potential to go towards fueling their inevitable end as people wise up and the Confederate Battle Flag dies the death it deserved 150 years prior.

 

[geezer]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

Interesting moral dilemma.



Do you take the money? Is your decision different if the amount is small as opposed to a full ride? Is it different if you don't have to do anything, or you have to write an essay, or you have to make a public appearance in support of the organization?

Taking the money is a double win in a situation like this. You're enriching yourself, and you're also taking away their money (which might have otherwise funded something objectionable).

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

I think it largely depends on the type of person you are.

If things bother you, in this case they might far into the future...and if you're a straight A student, you probably have nothing financial to worry about in the long run. In those cases, I'd probably pass. For me, it would have been the wrong decision. I had a lucrative part time job during college...and that's not who I am.

 

[burd]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

It depends on what you are required to attest to or support in order to qualify. If you have to express support for something you do not support, it would be unethical to accept the money. If you simply apply based upon your academic record and financial need, apply. If you receive the scholarship, give them your thanks and continue to advocate against any policies they represent that you disagree with. In fact, you would be in an even better position to challenge them. If you do not have to misrepresent yourself and get the scholarship, you have the additional satisfaction of keeping money out of the hands of a potential future leader who adheres to their beliefs.

And be sure you live at the library, in any case, just as I like to imagine my kids did.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

It depends on what you are required to attest to or support in order to qualify. If you have to express support for something you do not support, it would be unethical to accept the money. If you simply apply based upon your academic record and financial need, apply. If you receive the scholarship, give them your thanks and continue to advocate against any policies they represent that you disagree with. In fact, you would be in an even better position to challenge them. If you do not have to misrepresent yourself and get the scholarship, you have the additional satisfaction of keeping money out of the hands of a potential future leader who adheres to their beliefs.

And be sure you live at the library, in any case, just as I like to imagine my kids did.

I agree with this. My only addition would be that if you really really are uncomfortable with having any association with the entity issuing the scholarship, then you might want to just take a pass and redouble your efforts to find other scholarships. Peace of mind is a valuable commodity and if this really disrupts that in a significant way, the money is not worth it.

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

Peace of mind is a valuable commodity and if this really disrupts that in a significant way, the money is not worth it.

This is good advice.

But I can imagine situations in which the "peace of mind" rule would lead me to take the money. If it was a full ride, my parents would feel the pinch, and I had no other options for scholarships, I would feel better relieving them of that responsibility and taking one for the team.

Not to mention that these organizations are by definition run by people who aren't that bright, and one could have a little fun being their ambassador. "Why, yes, high school students who I have been sent to talk to today. Let me tell you all about The Cause..."

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

This is good advice.

But I can imagine situations in which the "peace of mind" rule would lead me to take the money. If it was a full ride, my parents would feel the pinch, and I had no other options for scholarships, I would feel better relieving them of that responsibility and taking one for the team.

Not to mention that these organizations are by definition run by people who aren't that bright, and one could have a little fun being their ambassador. "Why, yes, high school students who I have been sent to talk to today. Let me tell you all about the The Cause..."

Agreed. There can be a number of angles to come at this regarding peace of mind.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

It depends on what you are required to attest to or support in order to qualify. If you have to express support for something you do not support, it would be unethical to accept the money. If you simply apply based upon your academic record and financial need, apply. If you receive the scholarship, give them your thanks and continue to advocate against any policies they represent that you disagree with. In fact, you would be in an even better position to challenge them. If you do not have to misrepresent yourself and get the scholarship, you have the additional satisfaction of keeping money out of the hands of a potential future leader who adheres to their beliefs.

And be sure you live at the library, in any case, just as I like to imagine my kids did.

This is about right. If I could take the money quietly, I'd do it. The tricky part is that I bet it would show up on your transcript, which many employers will run when you get offered your first "real" job after graduating. So you may not be able to leave that scholarship off your resume when you attend the university career fair.

 

[SJHovey]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

All I can say is thank goodness I won't be around in 150 years when my beliefs, actions and morals are judged not by the time in which I lived, but those of 150 years from now, especially by my ungrateful descendants.

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

All I can say is thank goodness I won't be around in 150 years when my beliefs, actions and morals are judged not by the time in which I lived, but those of 150 years from now, especially by my ungrateful descendants.

Nah. If you own human beings, you should see it coming...

 

[joecct]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

JUDAS

Now if I help you, it matters that you see
These sordid kinda things are coming hard to me.
It's taken me some time to work out what to do.
I weighed the whole thing out before I came to you.
I have no thought at all about my own reward.
I really didn't come here of my own accord.
Just don't say I'm ... d@mned for all time.
I came because I had to; I'm the one who saw.
Jesus can't control it like he did before.
And furthermore I know that Jesus thinks so too.
Jesus wouldn't mind that I was here with you.
I have no thought at all about my own reward.
I really didn't come here of my own accord.
Just don't say I'm ... d@mned for all time.
Annas, you're a friend, a worldly man and wise.
Caiaphas, my friend, I know you sympathise.
Why are we the prophets? Why are we the ones
Who see the sad solution - know what must be done?
I have no thought at all about my own reward.
I really didn't come here of my own accord.
Just don't say I'm dàmned for all time.

ANNAS


Cut the protesting, forget the excuses.
We want information. Get up of the floor.

CAIAPHAS

We have the papers we need to arrest him.
You know his movements. We know the law.

ANNAS

Your help in this matter won't go unrewarded.

CAIAPHAS

We'll pay you in silver, cash on the nail.
We just need to know where the soldiers can find him.

ANNAS

With no crowd around him.

CAIAPHAS

Then we can't fail.

JUDAS

I don't want your blood money!

CAIAPHAS

Oh, that doesn't matter, our expenses are good.

JUDAS

I don't need your blood money!

ANNAS

But you might as well take it. We think that you should.

CAIAPHAS

Think of the things you could do with that money,
Choose any charity - give to the poor.
We've noted your motives.
We've noted your feelings.
This isn't blood money - it's a ...

ANNAS

A fee.

CAIAPHAS

A fee nothing more.

JUDAS

On Thursday night you'll find him where you want him.
Far from the crowds, in the Garden of Gethsemane.

CHOIR

Well done Judas. Good old Judas.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

I'm a bit with SJHovey.....

Let's take the original "dilemma" and rephrase it just slightly.

"Dear Prudence,

My uncle is a member of a society that just adores ancient Athens. In their clubhouse, they have busts of Sophocles, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Aristophanes, they sponsor performances of Athenian plays and debates about Athenian philosophy. He wants to nominate me for a scholarship they offer.

However, the ancient Athenians owned slaves, and I am opposed to slavery. The ancient Athenians treated women badly, according to some accounts even worse than male slaves, and I am a strong proponent of women's rights.

No matter how much acclaim they give to these top-of-society male luminaries, how can I in good conscience possibly accept this scholarship money when I am so acutely aware of the seedy underbelly of Athenian society?"

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

All I can say is thank goodness I won't be around in 150 years when my beliefs, actions and morals are judged not by the time in which I lived, but those of 150 years from now, especially by my ungrateful descendants.

It is inevitable. I've read articles written on this phenomenon. It's a way for the current generation to feel better about themselves and think they are better and more advanced than previous generations (who aren't there to point out the ways the current generation may be worse than previous generations). It's always easy to tell yourself you're better than someone who isn't there to defend themselves.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

All I can say is thank goodness I won't be around in 150 years when my beliefs, actions and morals are judged not by the time in which I lived, but those of 150 years from now, especially by my ungrateful descendants.

I friend who loathes Christopher Columbus, stating that all the actions he took he did in the name of evil. When he first visited The New World, brought back goods and promises of return trips which brought back natives, none of it could be assigned as how discoveries were done back then, it was all in the name of evil.

I happen to think of Columbus as more a man of his time, surely flawed and certainly no saint. He acted as European men were expected to act as explorers in charge of the journey. Now we see movements launched against him as an invader and conqueror, and an enslaver, as though it was unique to him and his crew. He was a man of his time, some 523 years past now. Things have changed and we should recognize that. (This comes to mind as Columbus Day arrives in 13 days to provide me with an extended weekend - ah, Federal Reserve holidays!)

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

It is inevitable. I've read articles written on this phenomenon. It's a way for the current generation to feel better about themselves and think they are better and more advanced than previous generations (who aren't there to point out the ways the current generation may be worse than previous generations). It's always easy to tell yourself you're better than someone who isn't there to defend themselves.

You of all people should defend absolute moral standards. That's what your whole gig is about.

But I guess you've just dissolved into the feel good sea of cultural relativism. "No, no, I can't judge someone by my standards -- after all, different time, different place. I'm OK, you're OK."

 

[Kepler]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

JUDAS.

Quoting from Andrew Lloyd Weber? Come now -- you can do better.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: The Moral Dilemma Thread

You of all people should defend absolute moral standards. That's what your whole gig is about.

But I guess you've just dissolved into the feel good sea of cultural relativism. "No, no, I can't judge someone by my standards -- after all, different time, different place. I'm OK, you're OK."

"She was just an old-timer. That's the way people talked back then. It didn't mean they were racists...but my grandmother did refer to a broken beer bottle once as a n***** knife."