LVII. The Enduring Legacy of Robin Hood

There are a couple of interesting civics and leadership issues from this week of world events, but I want to focus on one in particular.

Throughout history, certain criminals have captured the public imagination, not as villains but as heroes. These rebels become legendary for helping the less fortunate. Most everyone knows the story of Robin Hood, the noble outlaw who robs the rich to give to the poor. The story captured something in the DNA of humanity, which is the universal desire for justice and equality in the face of oppression.

In reality, historical figures like Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow achieved a similar status in American folklore. During the Great Depression, when many Americans felt betrayed by financial institutions and the government, Bonnie and Clyde's bank robberies struck a chord with the public. The depression of the 1930s brought many people to homelessness and even starvation. Bonnie & Clyde became symbols of defiance against a system that had gleefully abandoned the common people.

Another American outlaw who gained a measure of public admiration was John Dillinger. People viewed Dillinger as a modern-day Robin Hood. Although he engaged in bank robbery and other crimes, Dillinger shared some of his stolen money with the public. The public often cheered newsreels featuring Dillinger's exploits and booed the government agents pursuing him.

However, not all criminals who claim to act for the greater good find public support. Theodore Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, is a prime example. Despite his manifesto criticizing modern technology and industrialization, Kaczynski's campaign of terror, which resulted in three deaths and 23 injuries, failed to garner public sympathy. His methods were seen as too extreme and indiscriminate, targeting individuals rather than institutions.

Similarly, John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln, believed he was acting against a tyrant on behalf of a vanquished confederacy. However, he received widespread condemnation, and even those sympathetic to the Confederate cause offered him little support. Booth's crime was seen as an attack on the nation itself rather than a blow against injustice.

The key differences between criminals who become folk heroes and those universally condemned depend on several factors. First, the perceived target of their crimes plays a crucial role. Those who target institutions seen as oppressive or corrupt, such as banks during the Great Depression, are more likely to gain public support than those who attack individuals or symbols of national unity.

Second, the scale and nature of the crimes matter. While bank robberies and evasion of law enforcement might be romanticized, acts of terrorism or assassination cross a line for most of the public. The indiscriminate nature of the Unabomber's attacks, for instance, made it impossible for the public to view him as anything but a dangerous criminal.

Third, the criminal's perceived motivation and background can influence public opinion. Outlaws who are seen as driven to crime by circumstance or injustice, like Bonnie and Clyde during the economic hardships of the Great Depression, often receive more sympathy than those who appear to act out of personal ideology or mental instability.

Lastly, the broader social and economic context plays a significant role. During times of widespread hardship or perceived systemic injustice, the public may be more inclined to see certain criminals as champions of the common people. This was evident in the popularity of bank robbers during the Great Depression when distrust of financial institutions was at its peak. We’ve seen something similar tried recently when January 6th rioters were manipulated to act on behalf of a false narrative. However, when such acts are perceived as attacks on society itself or involve indiscriminate violence, public support evaporates, regardless of claimed motivations.

Which brings us to the killing of the United Healthcare CEO by a young assassin named Luigi Mangione.

Mangione doesn’t fit neatly into any of these prior examples, though he has garnered public sympathy and support for a heinous crime.

This leads to an interesting observation.

Our words and public displays of morality have a tendency to become irrelevant in the face of economic inequality.

Whether or not this is a wrong perception, there is a link between these killings and the belief that some freedom, some fairness was removed, and the killer is acting upon the injustice for the sake of all humanity.

How dangerous is this?

We can only measure it against the perceived threat it aims to address. After all, governments frequently invoke the specter of imminent danger to justify preemptive strikes against perceived enemies.

Was this killing of a healthcare CEO a preemptive strike?

In the social contract, individuals relinquish certain rights to act autonomously, trusting the system to safeguard their interests. Without such a contract, chaos would ensue. Yet when this contract falters, and the populace embraces extrajudicial actions, it signals a need for systemic review, lest better-dressed criminals take and keep control of government.

Paradoxically, two wrongs – a killing and the monetization of healthcare – may end up catalyzing a reevaluation of a corrupted system.

Instead of prayer, it ends up being crime that resets the moral compass.

Robin Hood rides again.

• Want to make your own movies? See what Hollywood is afraid of. The revolution of filmmaking by anyone, anywhere.

• If Australia did it, we can do it. Imagine the changes that would occur.

• To prepare yourself for this sacred time of year, to accept and enjoy each moment, remind yourself via this article.

This insightful read sheds light on the perspectives of the individuals named here. It's true that numerous soldiers, who served with dedication, have come to recognize the unnecessary nature of the Iraq war. However, the mistake of this piece lies in grouping all of Washington together, ignoring the nuances that differentiate people in government.

The solution isn't about targeting individuals within the system for removal; it's about electing better leaders. Unnecessary war marked Bush's presidency. Obama, while promising, fell short of holding Wall Street accountable after the 2008 crisis. Had he jailed a few wealthy individuals, it might have appeased working-class Americans and completely avoided what passes for leadership today. The absence of such actions created an opportunity for a skilled manipulator to exploit.

The issues we face today do not reside in our military or government but in the leaders we choose. Until Americans get better at their electoral choices, real change will remain elusive.

Let’s not forget our Ukrainian brothers and sisters still fighting for their freedom. From the Kyiv Independent, this Ukrainian Documentary Can You Hear Me? is opening in 10 European capitals. The film took over nine months to produce, involving multiple trips to the front line in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, as well as a 10-day trip to Sweden. In the documentary, Francis and Olena followed a group of military medics as they journey from the heat of battle in war-torn Ukraine to the forests of Sweden for a short mental health retreat.

I am captivated by initiatives like this. We are achieving what has been envisioned for ages by humanity's greatest thinkers. We are genuinely exploring the cosmos. As we travel through space and time, we have discovered ways to reach other celestial bodies. Ironically, even as we seek life beyond our world, we struggle to coexist peacefully here. I often feel it may require a groundbreaking discovery to awaken us from the trivial divisions we maintain. After all, we inhabit the same planet, no larger than a marble in the vastness of space.

Russia is a land known for creating chess champions. When I was there, a gentleman who worked where I stayed asked if I played chess. With the trap set, I said yes, though I didn’t say I was any good at it. Before I knew it, he had whipped out a chessboard and set up the pieces. He got so bored with playing me that he began to show me the moves I could make.

During this holiday season, if you get a moment to spend time with family, I highly recommend an activity that slows everything down, like doing a puzzle or a game of chess. Chess is a masterful game that takes time and strategy. Your brain must take in several options at each move of your opponent, and these champions show what it takes to master it. The reigning world champion and the young Indian champion played several games, and in the deciding match, after several draws, you can see the moment of realization. The pain and the anguish on one side and hiding the realization that victory has arrived on the other.

Watch it.

As we enjoy the holiday and prepare for a new year, remember to take a moment and take stock of your time. It has value above all else. So do something grand with your time. It can be simple or it can be bold, but enjoy it, each moment as much as possible. Live. Be alive.

And always work to be an excellent human.