Malcolm was on his usual business in the streets of New York. A spin doctor at heart, he spent his morning painting Godfather Kimble, his city and his way of life in the best possible light. He'd already spoken off the record to a local journalist to gently nudge him away from reporting on the activities of the city's underworld using his vast vocabulary of profanity, and greased the palm of a local law enforcement operative who was a little too close to home. Getting a moment's peace, he decided to visit a local café.

While he waited for the waiter to bring along his coffee, Malcolm sat deep in thought. There was one issue that had been sticking out to him like a sore thumb in recent days and weeks. He drank his coffee, gathered his thoughts and made his way to a corner of Brooklyn familiar to mafiosi. When he arrived, he cleared his throat.

"Ladies and gents, the concept of hierarchy appears to be a pretty simple one. There is a pecking order, a food chain, whatever you might wish to call it. We start with those at the top, our beloved Godfathers; then their captains and upper structures; then those who have received their button; then those who are endeavouring to impress enough to receive it. Each level commands a greater degree of respect, and a greater degree of responsibility to ourselves and to our families."

"However, it appears to me that from recent discussions I have witnessed on these streets, the extent to which individuals within our way of life abide by that hierarchy is very much contested. I believe the reaction to a speech made by Anna not long ago, on the accountability of the Godfathers and others in positions of authority and demands for answers, is an excellent example of this."

"In addition, in a conversation I had on a street corner with someone not long ago, it was considered that no individual's life is worth more than another's, be they a lowly thug or a Godfather. "

"While the issue I speak of is in many ways very much related to the conversations I talk about, I wish to approach this from a different angle. Each of these aspects points to an opinion whereby the individual is afforded a greater amount of importance than the group as a whole. 

"So, there are two parts to the question I ask. The first is this: What do you consider your position to be within our way of life? Is there no happiness without order, or is hierarchy something to be respected but not necessarily rigidly?"

"The second aspect is interrelated to your thoughts on latter opinion. Of course, all of us want to work hard, but what role is there for the aspiration of the individual in a society such as ours? Can there even be individual aspiration?"

"My opinion is that, although I believe that it is absolutely imperative that we work to the best of our ability as individuals, we must not place as much emphasis as some do on individual liberty. If we were to attempt to take this world on by ourselves, we would meet our maker no sooner than we could blink. It is our hierarchy that keeps us safe, and we owe it to our leaders to channel our individual work into helping to building something great collectively. And then, who knows, the rewards might follow. But I'd be interested to hear the views of others on this subject."

Retiring into the crowd, Malcolm waited keenly for the thoughts of others.

Dizzi had been listening nearby. The conversations that were mentioned were ones she also spoke in and had thoughts on each one. She had taken particular notice of a view of hers being mentioned. She smiled sweetly as she once more began speaking up another topic that was near and dear her.

In answer to your first part, my position at this current time in our way of life is simply to do whatever I can to help my family. If that means tribute, then by golly I am going to make that money and send it up to my crew leader. My loyalty and work effort is to and dedicated to my crew leader  first and foremost, but at the same time I am an individual who can use her brain. I can think, speak and over all have my own experiences within these walls that don't necessarily have to be the exact same as my leaders. I mean we are two very different people. So in the hierarchy that you speak of, I am a regular joe doing regular joe things while enjoying getting into conversations about things such as truth, hierarchy and whatever else catches my particular interest.

On the second part of your question, I think there can be individual aspiration. For those people that want to be better than the ancestors that came before them, it would be an individual aspiration. Everyone has goals that they specifically want. They may not always match society, but its something they want. Sometimes people achieve them, and sometimes they don't.

I do think that the context in which you have placed a view I had shared in another conversation may have been misplaced in this speech. While I do still firmly believe that there is no life more important than another., I do recognize a hierarchy. This is why I would never chose to join a leader that I would have issues dying for. I still value my life very much either way but the thing is, if my leader remains living then my next of kin has a pretty good place to join and get their feet under them.

A hierarchy can be respected, and life can still be very much valued. It's all in the attitude and choices that you make as an individual. Loyalty is everything. If you are loyal you would give your life up for your leader, go down with the ship, et cetera. When you don't, is it safe to assume that your individual aspirations became more important than seeing your family remain intact? Perhaps that is another instance in which individual aspirations come into play as well.

Just some food for thought really.

Dizzi realized she had said a lot, so she stepped away a little bit in case someone else wanted to speak up as well.

Thanks for your thoughts, Dizzi.

Apologies if you think I've misquoted you. To clarify my point on that, I don't consider the acceptance of hierarchy and equal value of life to be mutually exclusive. However, I'm just making the point that to hold that view demonstrates a difference of opinion, to a degree, to someone who considers the hierarchical structure to be of the utmost importance.