For the Greater Good

This was the headline for a review copy published in The Straits Times today (Oct 25) by Thomas Mooney.

It essentially raises an old argument of morals by individuals and Governments, and how these have or have not been influenced by the uncertain times we live in.

The example cited in copy was simple and yet very real in today's world where the specter of terrorism remains undiminished. The scenario goes like this: a large bomb has been planted set to go off in a few hours. The suspected ringleader has been arrested and refuses to tell where the bomb is. Do nothing and thousands will surely die. Do the authorities use force to get the information before it's too late?

The knee-jerk reaction for many would be is simple - screw the UN resolution against torture, throw the arguments for upholding human rights out of the friggin' window and focus on the bigger picture of saving innocent lives. Pain inflicted on one person who after all is out to make a statement in blood of others, is nothing compared to the innocent lives wiped out by inaction or a misplaced sense of morality.

It is a moral dilemma for sure but countries are often faced with. Publicly no one would admit to the use of backroom tactics but still they happen all the time, justified in the name of "for the greater good". And so perhaps it should be - acts of necessity confined to the shadows. Yes there must be checks and balances to prevent abuse of power and privilege but there must also be a swift and decisive mechanism for action when the countdown to disaster is well underway.

Being seen as politically correct does not mean that decisions made on this soapbox are right or will protect the well being of the community for which was Government was elected. There are laws governing action by the authorities ... and then there are necessities of purpose in which the ends justify the means. Waiting for executive decisions which far too often come too late, means surrendering that tiny window of opportunity to avert what will certainly be a tragedy.

Doing the right thing is never as easy as it sounds. Oftentimes you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. Such is the fickleness of public opinion and the luxury of hindsight. There will always be some who stand on hallowed moral ground furiously touting their only solution that "there must be some other way".

Singapore regularly comes in for foreign abuse every time the subject of human rights, detention without trail, death to drug traffickers and so on, appear on the media radar. But we have stood our ground, reasoned when our critics were willing to reason, and we were tough enough to go it alone when common sense and necessity clashed headlong with the kangaroo court of public opinion.

Torture can often be justified especially when dealing with terrorists and organised crime but publicly trying to define moral principles is often, an exercise in futility.