The NY Times' "On This Day" feature reminds us that on March 16, 1968 the "My Lai Massacre" had occurred, see: http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0316.html#article
One problem with looking at a single news article like this is that it cannot tell one what happened as a result of the event or other relevant contextual factors which were not known at the time of the event.. A Wikipedia entry (standard disclaimers apply) provides more details about the event, who was involved, and the aftermath, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai By the way, the U.S. Military codeword for the My Lai hamlet was "Pinkville". I point this out only to say that Oliver Stone appears to preparing a movie on the subject titled "Pinkville" even though he covered somewhat similar material in "Platoon". Alhtough Stanley Milgram has commented on the My Lai massacre I'm not aware of many other psychological analyses of what happened and why at My Lai. Clearly, "obedience to authority" had to play a big role (Lt. Calley's defense of "I was only following orders", as made clear in the Wikipedia entry, was no defense when provided at Nuremberg or the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunials). There are also issues of conformity (Asch), diffusion of responsibility in groups (Latane & Darley), and the power of roles and the situations (Zimbardo). However, there is the question of why, in face of these factors, certain people like Hugh Thompson Jr, a helicopter pilot, refused to participate in the killings and saved villagers. Quoting from the Wikipedia article: |Thompson then saw a group of civilians (again consisting of |children, women and old men) at a bunker being approached |by ground personnel. Thompson landed and told his crew that |if the U.S. soldiers shot at the Vietnamese while he was trying |to get them out of the bunker that they were to open fire at |these soldiers. Thompson later testified that he spoke with a |lieutenant (identified as Stephen Brooks of the 2nd Platoon) |and told him there were women and children in the bunker, |and asked if the lieutenant would help get them out. According |to Thompson, "he [the lieutenant] said the only way to get them |out was with a hand grenade". Thompson testified that he then |told Brooks to "just hold your men right where they are, and |I'll get the kids out". He found 12 to 16 people in the bunker, |coaxed them out and led them to the helicopter, standing with |them while they were flown out in two groups. | |Returning to My Lai, Thompson and other air crew members |noticed several large groups of bodies. Spotting some survivors |in the ditch Thompson landed again and one of the crew members |entered the ditch. The crew member returned with a bloodied but |apparently unharmed child who was flown to safety. The child |was thought to be a girl, but later investigation found that it was |a 4-year-old boy. Thompson then reported what he had seen to |his company commander, Major Frederic W. Watke, using terms |such as "murder" and "needless and unnecessary killings". |Thompson's reports were confirmed by other pilots and air crew.[22] | |For their actions Thompson was awarded the Distinguished Flying |Cross and his crew were awarded Bronze Star medals. In 1998, |their medals were replaced by the Soldier's Medal, "the highest the |US Army can award for bravery not involving direct conflict with |the enemy." The medal citations said they were being awarded "for |heroism above and beyond the call of duty while saving the lives |of at least 10 Vietnamese civilians during the unlawful massacre of |non-combatants by American forces at My Lai".[23] The veterans |also made contact with the survivors of My Lai. Does anyone know of an up-to-date analysis of the My Lai event that uses contemporary psychological theory? Also, to what extent is the My Lai event referred to in contemporary textbooks like introduction to psychology, social psychology, etc.? -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=1316 or send a blank email to leave-1316-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
