I am watching The Last King of Scotland, and it has me thinking. First, the adaptation of “Me and Bobby McGee” kind of freaked me out. More than that, though, I had the following conversation with myself while dishing ice cream (chocolate chip, thanks for asking):

Me: “I can’t believe how easily both the president and his physician are corrupted by power.”
Me 2: “But the president was raised by the British military. This life is all he knows, and the British are not known for their diplomacy regarding other races.”
Me: “What does that have to do with the president’s actions? Can he not see that his brutality is wrong? How is it that the Scottish doctor is able to slough off the advances of the British official’s words of imperialism and control?
Me 2: “The Scottish dislike the British. Great Britain ruled Scotland for many years. Haven’t you seen Braveheart?”
[I didn’t actually say that, but the sentiment was there.]

Me: “But what about free will? Is it impossible to think that the president would see the wrongs of his actions?”

Me 2: “This has nothing to do with free will. People don’t spontaneously decide to change their actions. It is not about ‘doing what’s right,’ but about following the associations one has made in light of previous occurrences. This is the root of all human actions. In reality, no one would walk away from Omelas.”

Me: “What?”

Me 2: “I dunno. Something we read in college. My point is that people act as they have been raised to act. That does not mean that they cannot change, and that some influences don’t weigh heavier on a person’s decisions than others. It just means that a person does not spontaneously do anything. It is all in light of previous actions and interactions with others.”

Me: “There is nothing new under the sun.”

Me 2: “Possibly, but what is cool about this is the fact that novel actions come from the synthesis of associations.”
[Note: I have paused the movie, so I’m not sure how it is going to end, but I assume things are not going to go well for the king erm, president who “knows when he will die.” That never works out to one’s benefit.]

Me: “This is a massive bowl of ice cream. How long have we been scooping? Why not just eat from the tub?”

Me 2: “Nevermind. My point is that if the president is ever going to be able to help his people it will be through the impact of the Scottish doctor. As a Scot he has heard of oppression, if not felt it (being wealthy, I believe). This could affect the president, but his training and such with the British military will not just roll over during one conversation. This is his life. It is all he knows. Unless his faith in the Scot is very powerful, he will not change. Both men believe they are doing the morally right thing, despite the fact that the king isn’t thinking too hard about it.”

Me: “I see. Wanna finish the movie?”

Me 2: “Better.”