As Natural As Breathing.

When one seeks or gains a position of authority and one finds it virtuous and necessary to follow the orders of one's superior(s), how far would one go? If one were ordered to stop breathing, could one do it? Would one do it? Or would one understand that their own death would be the result, and therefore not submit?

Sounds like a ridiculous question to ask although it enable one to understand the importance of one's personal responsibility to exercise conscience.

The importance of understanding and doing what is right should come as natural as breathing. If someone ordered you to go against what is right, then saying "No" should come just as natural. If one ever finds them self using the excuse "I'm just following my orders" to condone or justify any wrong-doing committed on their part, then think again.

To do what is right, one must know the right action to take. Right? Sometimes that fine line that separates "right action" from "wrong action" can become skewed based on one's culture or belief system, but I've come to understand morality to be absolutely objective.

Some make the claim that morality is relative to one's perspective.
If we're being honest with ourselves, we can recognize that claim to be absolutely untrue in reality. Can one believe slavery was, is, or ever will be right? What about theft? Is it right to steal? Does one have a Right to steal? Can anyone ever be given the Right to steal? Would that be right? What about assault? Or murder? I can go on and on listing the different offenses one could commit against another that can never be right, or a Right.

What about self defense? Is everyone not endowed with that inalienable Right from birth, despite their physical geographic location or cultural beliefs? To understand right from wrong and to then do what is right is not only a "Right", but one's responsibility as well. The same goes for all of one's inalienable "Rights".

Be responsible. Acquire the ability to respond "No" when ordered to commit any wrong action. It would behoove one to do so because one will be held accountable for the actions one takes...always.