Civil courage

I talk to many witnesses about what they've seen and what they've heard. Within the "cone of silence" they are effusive. But because my questions are usually raised about some case, my question eventually becomes: Would you be willing to give that as your testimony in this case?

Oh, the dissembling then.

Do I know how vindictive the dean can be? Yes, I know. Do I know that next year will be the year for a promotion attempt? No, I didn't know that—good luck. Do I know that there's a grant application in? No, and grant money is hard to find these days. Do I know what happened to so-and-so when she complained...?

Once, in a while, however, the reply is a simple, "Of course."

It's that occasional reply that sustains me for months.

Not long ago an elected officer reminded me of the phrase "civil courage." And, following that I found Gesine Schwan's useful definition:

...civil courage [is] an attitude and behavior that relies on an individual decision motivated and legitimated by the fundamental value of human dignity for whose protection the courageous individual behaves in a nonconformist manner and takes a personal risk.

Once, in a while. ▪

The lion and the calf will lay down together,
but the calf won't get much sleep.
—Woody Allen (b. 1935)