Upstanders, Whistle-Blowers, and Rescuers

Abstract

I will explore several ways people can be upstanders; reasons why people are not upstanders; and potential collective efforts that could make it easier or more likely that people become upstanders. I begin though with a story of stories — five stories actually — to make upstanding vivid, to honor courageous individuals and identify challenges for the rest of us, and to raise a question: does honoring upstanders and telling their stories increase the chances that others will follow in their paths, or suggest that only exceptional individuals with unusual qualities are upstanders? What would it take for the rest of us to stand up?