By: Kathryn Harvey
Moral lessons—good and bad—can often be found when you are least
expecting it. I recently re-watched the classic 1980’s movie
Ghostbusters II. In the movie, the Ghostbusters learn that there is
Psychomagnotheric Slime flowing under New York City, which is being
created by New Yorkers’ hate, anger, and negativity. When the
Ghostbusters tell the New York City’s mayor about this problem, the
mayor readily rejects the suggestion that he try to convince New
Yorkers to be nice to one another. The mayor responds, “Being
miserable and treating other people like dirt is every New Yorker’s
God-given right.”
This scene really struck me as true. New Yorkers frequently treat
strangers like dirt. On the subway, a rider often sees people
fighting, shoving, aggressively challenging, and ignoring the human
existence of other New Yorkers. Not only should we expect more of
ourselves, but we should expect even more of our political
representatives. Politicians embody the law. They are as our legal
representatives, who are charged with making and enforcing the law.
However in Ghostbusters II, not only does the mayor reject the morally
right choice to be nice to fellow human beings, but he endorses being
miserable and treating other people like dirt. The law should not sit
idly by as people casually exercise this morally wrong “God-given
right.”
