In the movie On The Water Front all of the working people know that what the mob is doing is wrong, and they want to see the mob gone, yet they withhold the information they do know in fear that they will be thought of as a "stool pigeon" and end in their demise. All of the characters, apart from Doogan and the reverend, were to scared to stand up to the mob and become moral crusaders in fear that they would be "tattle tales". All the characters think that anyone who stands up to the mob is a brave person, but unfortunately they know that the mob will become angry and "get rid" of them. The truth is that these people who did stand up to the mob, and attempted to make a difference in every one's lives were moral crusaders, but they were thought of as tattle tales. Most of the characters in On the Water Front know what the right thing to do is, but they won't stand up to the mob because although they know what the crusader is doing is right and brave, they are to scared to take action in fear that the mob will think they are a tattle tale.
I believe that the smart people are those who stand up for what is right. Although they may stand alone they are strong and they have a cause that they believe in, and are willing to make sacrifices so that change will occur. In real life a tattle tale is someone who tells someone of a higher authority any little detail that can have some importance, but usually doesn't. A moral crusader is someone who shares information that will help and make a difference in theirs or others lives. Tattle tales are usually small minded, scared people who have no back bone and are only doing what they are doing so that they have safety provided to them. Where as a zealot is someone who is brave, and knows what the right thing to do is and takes action so that the situation will get better, rather than going along with everyone else.The cause that these brave citizens are fighting for is usually something of importance to them and others. Although we might think it's easy to stand up to others, in the situation that the characters in On the Water Front face is a very tough and scary decision. These citizens are forced to choose between a better tomorrow while possibly giving up their life, or just standing in the background and watching the same terrible things happen over and over again. The effects that the moral crusaders have to deal with are serious and real, but if they are willing to risk that so that them and others can have a better life, then we should all support them and help them so that their journey can be easier.
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3 comments:
I agree that standing up to the mob was a frightening proposition for many of the waterfront workers. The workers watched day after day as they were oppressed by the mob, so I wonder if they ever considered rising up against the mob together- since the mob couldn't take down all of the workers.
I think that if you are a moral crusader you're journey won't be easy because you're going against the majority. That was an interesting point to bring up, one that we probably don't think about because if you're just a tattle tale you are doing it and secret and no one knows. A moral crusader would stand in front of everyone and say what they think is right.
Standing up to the mob I'm sure would be very scary and life-threatening and that is why the wwaterfront workers didn't do it. The workers were oppressed by the mob but they risked death if they poke out about it. I think the Terry was a moral crusader going againdt the majority of his society but he did it to protect the innocent. I think Kate also brings up an interesting point about why Terry wasn't a tattle because he did it openly.
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