What we are in the dark

In the Frank Miller story 'The Dark Knight Returns', the Batman is faced with a terrible choice. The Joker, having returned and unleashed a terrible spree of murder, is at the Dark Knight's mercy. The Batman must choose whether to take this chance to end the Joker's influence, in a situation where no one will ever know what transpired.

Sometimes however, decisions are made in the dark due to the presence of people rather than their absence.

In the Doctor Who series three two-part finale, 'The Sound of Drums' & 'Last of the Time Lords', the Doctor's companion Martha walks the Earth to spread a message of hope and lay the groundwork for revolution in the Master's dominion. But Martha's decision was taken not just when no one may ever know. It was taken when no one would ever punish the failure to step up to, or complete, the task.

The real test of character comes when we are left alone to choose; when no one can see and no one may ever know - even more so when we must choose to overcome the prevailing behaviour just to act

And these kind of stories are not confined to fantasy.

Consider Hugh Thompson Jr & his helicopter crew, the only American servicemen ever to be awarded medals for threatening to fire upon their own troops - when they stood up against the violence of the My Lai massacre.

Consider also the White Rose; for their dedicated advocacy of peace and opposition to injustice in the face of tyranny and certain death upon capture - who opposed the Nazi ideology of hate, knowing that no one would likely ever know what they achieved and no one would ever blame them if they didn't take the risk.

The UK's Tory access selling scandal is all about what goes on behind closed doors - along the corridors of power where (mostly) men of inscrutable power hold (allegedly) innuendo-laden dinner conversations that decide the fate of nations.

It is there that the need for ethics is most pressing.

Once more the Prime Minister has been forced to instigate special new measures of transparency and impartial adjudication. But the possible existence of a culture of unadjudicated, unscrutinised and inscrutable 'corridors of power' does not just demand transparency and oversight.

The Batman can be criticised for the secrecy and corruption inherent to his actions; for an ethical code that drives him outside of and above the law - where he makes decisions that affect many on his own, according to his own interpretations and perspectives.

In the real world we must avoid handing singular individuals such immense power over others. The damage done is two fold. It not only creates the potential for massive corruption, but also robs individuals of the personal accountability that creates the codes of ethics and self-awareness that is so sorely needed when those individuals graduate to positions of responsibility.