The Blame Game

Every year, some university has a list of words or terms it wants eliminated from our daily vocabulary. A few years ago, it was "state of the art." Likely, you've seen them.

I have a candidate for next year: "BLAME." Why not get rid of the word if we're not going to use it? There is no blame any more. Nobody is responsible for what he/she does. It's always someone or something else's fault.

I'm fat because of fast food places or television commercials. I missed that ball because it was the wrong color. I failed that test because the teacher didn't ask the right questions. You name it...except don't blame anyone.

Hey, even our President doesn't want to foist "blame" on anyone for the Chris Day airline mishap. Nope, making someone accountable might, well, ruin their holiday season. We certainly wouldn't want to make anybody responsible or accountable, would we?

So, how are we to know who not to let make decisions any more? How are we to know who not to put in charge? It's not the burglar's fault; he was abused as a child. OK, then it's all right to let him watch our house when we're away. After all, it's not his fault if he takes anything.

I've written this before. There is no shame. There are somethings I have been and still am very ashamed of doing. I suck it up and still go out there in front of people, humiliated. I wonder if they know that or if they don't even realize it because, after all, my missteps weren't my fault???? Aren't people embarrassed any longer? What, then, is to govern people's behavior? More and more laws aren't always the answer. Maybe for things like murder that's the case, but what about burping in public? Talking on the cell phone while driving, endangering others' lives? If no behaviors are shameful, then why not just do them?

Ah, sometimes (like right now) I wonder, "What's the use?"