Boston Legal 3 - Loyalty

Last Thursday (6/5/14), the guys got together for "Boston Legal 3" - possibly a tradition in the making.  J.P. hosted number three event which included reports from each of us on Global Trends and investments.  I decided to invest a small amount in each area (EPI and DDD) to track for the next 30 years :)

On the "lighter side", I brought a movie that I discovered researching the poem by Edgar Allan Poe - Eldorado (see blog 11/18/2010). We watched (in its entirety)  "Mountains of the Moon" a 1990 movie about the search for the source of the Nile.  It is amazing how well true stories and their drama can translate into a great movie experience.  I was "sparring" with J.P. in our ongoing debate about morality (and in particular Loyalty) when a scene in this movie created an "ethical debate between the two explorers.

The two friends and explorers Captain Richard Francis Burton and Lt. John Hanning Speke each have different personal reasons for searching for the Nile but agree to share the glory.  However there emerges both a dispute (about the true source) and a falling out by Lt. Speke presenting his view prematurely without a joint presentation. 

Rwenzori Mountains  Uganda

Scene:  Chapter 23    T: 2:00:36      LOYALTY
Lt. John Speke walking in the hallway leaving the Royal Geographical Society.  Isabel Arundell (Captain Richard
Burton's wife) confronts Lt. Speke in hallway.

Isabel:  Do you really  want this debate?

John:  Why Not?

Isabel: It's the last thing that Richard wants

John: Yes ...  I suppose he dreads the outcome.

Isabel: No...He knows you are incapable of assembling the proofs of your arguments
and that you will lose.

John:  I'm sorry.  I can't discuss this.  (putting her off as unworthy to discuss this further)

Isabel (emphatically):  No one - not even myself knows what you went through together. 
Those people [Royal Geographical Society] in there, they don't know and they don't care.
They need you as adversaries now and Richard doesn't.

John (visibly irritated): Then why is he here!

Isabel: He would cancel tomorrow. He knows no truth will emerge and in the absence of
truth he respects only one thing   ......   He respects LOYALTY.  

Isabel (as John walks away):  ....... John .....  he respects you.

I won't give away the ending but you are welcome to read the entire story on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hanning_Speke

 

Truth, Loyalty and Respect  -  A fitting trio :)