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What Is The My Lai Massacre A Military Crime Of Obedience By Ian Parker

1189 Words5 Pages

Ian Parker, author of “Obedience”, provides accurate depictions of the immediate and long-term effects of Dr. Stanley Milgram’s Experiment. In addition, he includes that under complex situations, individuals are easily induced to react through a destructive manner (Parker103). Americans commonly underestimate the influences of a situation; however, Parker thoroughly delineates the consequences behind blind obedience (Parker 104). Herbert C. Kelman and V. Lee Hamilton, authors of “The My Lai Massacre: A Military Crime of Obedience” construe the atrocity of blind obedience committed by the United States Military. In March of 1968, crimes of obedience occurred due to an elusive order commanded by a higher ranked officer (Kelman&Hamilton 131). Military …show more content…

In comparison, Lt. William Calley maintained his actions within My Lai were entirely in response to superior orders and did not endure any remorse by carrying out directed orders (Kelman& Hamilton 136-137). As to why Dawson and Downey instinctively followed an unethical command to inflict pain on Pfc. Santiago, Kelman and Hamilton convey that the structure that authority contributes to the situation effects the reactions to the explicit or implicit orders (Kelman& Hamilton 140).The Uniform Code of Military Justice, UCMJ, might refute Kelman and Hamilton by providing that military personnel must follow the lawful orders of his superior officer; in addition, it includes they have the obligation to disobey unlawful orders when in direct violation of the UCMJ ("A Duty to Disobey..."). If Dawson and Downey had the right to follow code and disobey the unlawful order of authorizing Santiago with a Code Red, then why would they follow through with the command? Ian Parker provides when there is a slight channel for disobedience, individuals tend to be more vulnerable to fascism and react in a destructive manner.

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