I was watching a movie “Last Knights” and about 26 minutes in Morgan Freeman (as Bartok) is brought before the emperor to answer for a crime of attacking a minister, (Geza Mote). The real crime, however, was that he refused to pay a bribe to this minister. In the trial he makes a speech, a case against corruption and corrupt leaders, that I think all in our current generation should know or, in this case, read. Note that the speech, while minimally edited in part, retains its original meaning.
In a rousing rhetoric he says:
"What has just been said of me is true. I offer no argument nor dispute, these simple facts but they hardly begin to cover the scope of my true crimes. Honour requires more than admission, so I offer a full confession and the whole truth.
For far too long I’ve failed to recognize my own… Hypocrisy. I ignored my own cowardice, conveniently hiding behind a position of political compromise; and for what? To retain the meager wealth and rank that men desire. So I come before you a condemned man, by having finally stood up to injustice. My shame and regret… is that I failed to do so before it arrived in my own court.
We supply the armies, we build the roads, we employ the nation. Still, we remain silent while our coffers are emptied, and our freedoms, eroded. There will be times when we’re powerless to injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.
This man, Geza Mote (the corrupt official), is a cancer, growing and the only proper thing to do is to cut it out. You all know what I speak of. Each one of you has been subjected to his extortion. But my words are not in judgement of my fellow noblemen, they are a warning. I urge you to consider what you’re doing. For, we are helping this man (the corrupt official, minister, president, civil servant) to forge the very chains that bind us. Which brings me to the confession of my true crime, so that I may redeem my honor.
My crime… is only that I failed to (remove) Geza Mote (the corrupt leader) when I had the chance"
At this point, the room starts bustling with whispers of people who have become so used to corruption, they deem the suggestion to remove the corrupt person, a grave crime, even a blasphemy.
Finally, the emperor (who later reveals that the corruption serves his purpose also) rules that he (Bartok) should be executed. Bartok’s commander springs to his defense upon hearing the emperor’s ruling but is quickly called to stand down. Geza Mote, summoning all his cruelty, suggests that Bartok should meet his fate at the edge of his own commander’s sword.
Protesting, the commander goes to his master and is given one last statement that should resonate with all so well. The statement is:
“Remember this Raiden, the wounds of honor are self-inflicted”.
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