Are You a "Bystander"?

While cleaning my mailbox today, I came across this year-old mail from a "friend" - well, we had communicated on mails, talked a couple of times on phone, and had even met once accidentally. This young MBA from IIM/A was working with Ashoka:Innovators for the Public, and we had got in touch because of my interest in Social Entrepreneurship.

His announcement came out-of-the-blue...

"...I am leaving Ashoka to work in the grassroots in Assam. The situation in my home state is terrible, and I do not wish to remain a mute spectator to this devastation. I am not yet sure what I'll exactly do, but I plan to travel extensively to figure out how best I could contribute to making some positive difference."

Reading his mail again, reminded me of the reverse stance many/most of us get quagmired into.

I had once written about this Logic of Inaction, and his mail stimulated me to make this quiz for myself (you may also like to take it):

Am I aware that something seems wrong in a situation around me? YES / NO

Do I actively deny taking responsibility - however, remote - of my own part in purpetuating/creating the problem or preventing its resolution? YES / NO

Do I claim that, given my "circumstances", I could not have acted otherwise? YES / NO

Do I discount my own autonomy and power to influence the situation? YES / NO

Realising that such a candid and conscious admission to an otherwise unconscious stance of negation is difficult - actually impossible - to make to oneself, I also created a checklist of typical statements that one makes (to oneself and to others) to justify one's Bystander Stance.

"Oh, this is none of my business."

"The situation is actually far more complex than it seems."

"Well, I do not have all the information/am not qualified to deal with this/ make a comment."

"I don't want to get burned again."

"I want to remain neutral/ am neutral on this issue."

"I'm only telling the truth as I see it."

"I'm just following orders/ doing my duty."

"What difference will my individual contribution/effort make to such a large/complex issue?"

"Who is to be blamed? They brought it upon themselves."

"I don't want to rock the boat."
etc. etc....

So...? Are you a Bystander?