Today I watched the live coverage of Lord Justice Leveson
as he published his long-awaited report on the press.
In his speech he pointed out that the investigation
started with the hacking of Milly Dowler's voicemail and expanded to cover
politicians, the press and the police.
There isn't one guilty party here; large
sections of the industry and many outside it have been tarnished by this
scandal. And Lord Leveson claimed those who had broken the rules had “wreaked
havoc" on the lives of innocent people.
Sometimes in life we cut corners or engage in practices
that are the norm at the time; often we just go along with things without
thinking about the consequences. I'm not saying I've ever hacked the phone of a
missing child, but sometimes just by staying silent we propagate certain
behaviours.
Remember the MPs expenses scandal, for example. I imagine
it was initially a case of someone buying a spot of lunch for a friend on their
expenses rather than forking out for it themselves. Who’s to ever know? Others
followed suit. It’s what everyone does, so why shouldn't I? Still others kept
quiet about it; not actually doing it themselves but keeping schtum to protect those
that did. Before long people were putting up duck houses and building moats
around their houses.
A more sinister example is the Jimmy Savile scandal. It
is now thought as many as 300 people were sexually abused by the former TV
presenter; including victims as young as eight. Obviously, Savile's behaviour
is reprehensible, that needs no discussion. But what of those who knew what was
going on and facilitated it or even got involved themselves? We’ll probably
never know just how sordid the whole situation was.
It might just be a small thing to start off with: an
employee ‘borrowing’ stationary and eventually embezzling company funds; harassment
of a colleague that results in a nervous breakdown or suicide attempt; or a
friend’s casual interest in hardcore pornography that draws them into a
situation where domestic violence occurs.
I can't help thinking it would be better to make a
stand before things got out of hand. Think Winterbourne View, Baby P and the
Shannon Matthews case; why were these situations allowed to take place? Because
no one stepped in and said: “Enough is enough.”
I guess what I'm trying to say is that we have a
responsibility to do things the right way: to avoid shortcuts and unlawful
practices; to stand up against endemic actions and behaviours that we consider
to be wrong; and to be prepared to ‘go public’ (by telling the relevant party) as
soon as a dangerous pattern appears to be emerging.
Unlike those involved in the phone hacking scandal,
we may not be hauled up in front of a panel to explain our actions (or
inaction), but I believe that one day we will all have to give an account.
Romans 14:12 says: “So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God”, and 1 Corinthians 4:5 says: “Therefore do not
pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to
light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the
heart.”
You might think that what you’re doing isn't hurting anyone, or that it is insignificant. But whether you’re the ringleader or you’re simply turning a blind eye, it’s time to get serious. Let’s get a handle on the scandal before it even becomes one.
PS I'm really glad the News of the World has finally gone.
Read more from Joy in the next issue of Liberti magazine.
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