Personal Ethics & The Future Of The World

Actress Meg Ryan hosts this well-produced but slightly muddled introduction to ethical thinking on a global scale. Aimed at young people, the tape features excellent animated bridging sequences highlighting the five ideals for ethical living (self-respect, respect for reality, respect for community, respect for life, and respect for the future). While the ideals are fine, the examples used to flesh out the concepts are uneven, at best. First up, we meet Chris Parker, a rap artist with "self-respect," who talks quite a bit but doesn't say much. We're told that Chris writes intelligent but controversial rap music--but we only hear about 10 seconds worth, and see someone bashing a television screen. What's communicated here? Beats me. The second ideal, "respect for reality," uses the Chernobyl incident as the basis for discussion, and asks what viewers would do if told to conduct an experiment that they knew could potentially kill many people. Again, what? This is a slightly skewed take on Chernobyl (the workers were morally obligated to walk away from their jobs?) And, in the section on "respect for life," the program allows that Captain Joseph Singleton was legally correct in leaving the bridge of the Exxon Valdez for a little R & R, but ethically he was wrong. Somehow, the widely established fact that Singleton was, in fact, inebriated during the time in question, is not even mentioned here. Good concepts; poor examples. However, the laudable effort to inspire people, and young people in particular, to take responsibility for their actions and understand that some of those actions can have global consequences, is enough to recommend the program with reservations. In a classroom situation, where an instructor guides the presentation, this program would be an excellent discussion starter. (Available from: Varied Directions International, 69 Elm St., Camden, ME 04843.)