Today in class you guys discussed pity and how we're able to feel empathy for those despite them being in the wrong. I couldn't think of an example during class but afterwards I thought of one based on a current event. I don't know if any of you heard from the news, but Teresa Guidice - a cast member from The Real Housewives of New Jersey - and her husband Joe Guidice have been sentenced to 15 months and 3.5 years in jail respectively after pleading guilty to multiple federal fraud charges, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and lying on mortgage and loan applications. Allegedly since 2004 they have been taking out false loans to amass a wealth of over $13 million in stolen money, in which the Federal Government caught notice of after the couple constantly flaunted their rich lifestyle and many possessions on the hit Bravo TV show. While the general public consensus is that they do deserve jail time, many people feel sympathy for them because their four young daughters will be without both parents for the next 4 - 5 years (they received staggered sentences). Also, it is believed that external influences, such as the pressure to maintain this lifestyle to impress the viewers of the show and Teresa's supposed lack of knowledge of the content of the documents she was signing off for her husband contributed to their crimes. Also, Joe Guidice who isn't an American citizen (he's originally from Italy) can possibly be deported after he serves his time. Many people feel bad for that possibility because it will only further tear the parents away from the children, whether he deserves it or not.
Sorry if this tangent was too long, but I just thought this was a good example on an ongoing situation in which a lot of people feel bad for wrongdoers and are able to look past their negative actions because of the situations surrounding it.
I think the sympathy is more with the daughter rather than her fraudulent parents. Like you said, she will be without both parents, so I feel badly for her. I suppose it boils down to who is viewing the person. When Osama Bin Laden was killed, much of the Middle East was upset over their loss, however the US was overjoyed because of our victory. The point is I think that it is up to whomever is deciding whether or not somebody is in the wrong. Maybe it's just me but I find it hard to sympathize with those who has done wrong. The other side of it is the classic, is it ok to steal food to support your family? It all is a matter of perspective to me. Who was the crime committed against? How severe war it? What punishment is involved? I have a hard time placing a single rule for this topic because I think it's very much a case by case basis.
ReplyDeleteI can't help but want to bring this back around to what we walked about in class. It all depends on from whose perspective you're looking at the situation. If we look at the Peloponnesian War and the situation with Plataia, we see a struggle to decide who to feel pity for. The Plataens because their city was invaded and they were rampaged by the Lacaedemonians for years? But they killed the Thebans after saying that they wouldn't. The Thebans because their people got killed? But they invaded Plataia and then spoke against Plataia at the Lacaedemonian trial. The Lacedemonians? But they're the ones that physically initiated the war, ruined Plataia and sentenced the Plataians to death for something they didn't do. It's a circle. Like Ford said, it's a matter of perspective. I don't think it's hard to sympathize with someone who has done "wrong" if their intentions were good or in specific circumstances. However with the case of the Guidice's I agree that I find no sympathy with Teresa and Joe, but instead with their daughters.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to these ideas, I feel like the way people construe things is especially important. In Brian's example, so much of the situation was shaped by the media, and we as a society are so largely engrossed in a source that has so much control on our perception (personally I think it can be a bit disheartening that it's so). I agree that in The Peoloponnesian War, the pity that we feel as readers makes us conflicted. Lastly, I think it is interesting that Thucydides was an Athenian, so in writing the The Peloponnesian War did he at all present a skewed story that would affect who we pity?
ReplyDeleteGrace makes a good point regarding Thucydides. It calls to question his entire recount of the war, impacting the reader's view. As humans, we tend to pity those facing death, pleading for their lives. It is our human nature to be saddened by such events. We forget about the actions taken by these people that lead them to plead. It is difficult for us to call for death, therefore it is difficult for us to see death occur. I think this changes our perspective on certain situations because it causes us to allow certain events/actions to slide without due punishment. Our pity allows people lesser consequences than deserved.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good example. The fact that their actions effect their children give the people a reason to feel pity but I personally feel that pity should only be for those who deserve pity. The couple did what they had to do while not thinking of the consequences and most importantly their children. They were very irresponsible so they don't deserve pity and their children will grow to understand how their parents did not think of them when they made these horrible decisions.
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