The upbraided captain and the call of duty - Montreal Gazette

There seems no end recently to opportunities to reflect on why it is always better – personally, nationally and internationally – to behave responsibly.

In the United States in the years leading up to the 2008 economic meltdown, moneylenders and borrowers threw caution to the wind. People with no income, job or assets took on huge mortgages. Mortgage-lenders cared nothing for the quality of the loans. When the bubble burst, down went the economy.

European countries like Greece, Slovakia and, now, Italy spent as if there was no tomorrow. It was only when they were standing on the edge of disaster that they came, or were forced to come, to their senses.

But the Italians, no sooner rid of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, his Bunga Bunga parties and his mismanagement of the economy, barely had time to catch their breath before the Costa Concordia hit a rock off the Tuscany coast this week.

The temptation to draw a parallel between the irresponsibility of Berlusconi and that of the ship captain, Francesco Schettino, has proved overwhelming for most Italians. The ship of state and a 13-storey pleasure palace were both driven onto a rocky coastline by men apparently unworthy of trust.

Happily for Italians, a hero has emerged from the wreckage: coast guard Capt. Gregorio De Falco, who tried to order Schettino back onto the cruise ship to organize the evacuation of more than 4,000 people.

Schettino did not get back onto the boat. He said he couldn't. In a recording heard around the world, De Falco blasted him for failing his duty. Under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, overseeing an evacuation is part of a captain's duties. Captain and crew by convention, if not by law, are responsible for co-ordinating their evacuation plan.

The metaphor of the smashed boat, bodies still trapped inside and tanks of oil threatening to spoil pristine waters, is too apt to ignore.

A ship's captain, like a country's leader, must try to live up to the great responsibilities with which he or she has been entrusted, not flee from them. In flight lies disaster.

This time, Italians must clean up the mess. But another time, it could be us, or another country. We should not underestimate the importance of being conscientious in carrying out our duties, whatever they are.