The "Blame Game"

I've been looking around at the world and things in general lately and I am growing increasingly anxious but also somewhat bored with the ongoing negativity and declining state of the world and society on the whole. Often being in the role of the "optimist" my usual "fine wine" mood has begun to sour over time because I feel that my fellow mankind has begun to lose touch with some of his better virtues; mainly honesty, character and responsibility and embraced a more sinister and cold view of his world shrouded in deceit, fault and lies.

It can be quite difficult to rise above the continued mudslides of bad news - especially when you seem to be buried under many, many layers of rubble. The line-up of almost-hourly "dump trucks" are fueled by lies and driven by blame. I find it quite interesting that with all of the worlds many problems there often seems to be a lack of intestinal fortitude shown by the somewhat hesitant players to step-up to the plate and admit that they are at fault or to blame for the woes we must all reap. Responsibility it seems has become something to be handed-off and the label of misfortune placed squarely upon someone other than themselves - a scapegoat to be sacrificed at their bidding or a fabricated alibi to cling neatly upon during rough or stormy times.

The "Blame Game" is something of a mind-numbing conscience soother for many. It allows the accused the luxury to point the icy finger of blame at someone or something rather than lay the burden of responsibility where it is rightly due. The "Blame Game" allows us to quickly point-out and exploit the faults and falls of our foes (sometimes even our own friends or relatives) and help to elevate or give our sagging egos a much needed boost in the right direction making us feel better than the unfortunate party to whom the microscopic eye of criticism and scrutiny has been placed upon.

It takes a good depth of character and certain amount of intestinal fortitude to look deep within oneself and place the burden of blame where it is rightly due. The lessons of honesty do not often come easily or cheaply. Sometimes, we may find it easier to spin a web of lies rather than face the shame or image tarnishing that may accompany our fall from grace. Far too often we are narrow in our focus and singular in our goal of self-preservation. Society has taught us to embrace the idea that we are innocent until proven guilty and if there is a chance to get away from the accusation or steer the burden of proof away from you toward someone else then by all means do it! It is not so much about shirking responsibility as much as it is about a shifting of the responsibility that burdens you less. We have all done it. We blamed the dog for eating our homework; we've blamed traffic for our being late to work; we've even blamed power outages for our alarm clocks not going off in the morning to wake us up. Our society encourages a shifting of the blame because the pathway to bliss is lined with innocence, ignorance and good intentions; we rarely have the courage to look deep within ourselves and take responsibility for our own shortcomings. And when presented with a chance to do so, we opt to choose blame or deceit as a best defense in order to steer ourselves clear of any further embarrassment.

An even greater lie comes from within ourselves in the form of denial - the greatest deception of them all. Even in the face of great inquisition, trickery and deception can be achieved, but at what cost? The taste of victories are often bittersweet when the true nature of the winnings have been brought to light and the real amount of emotional loses have been absorbed with the loss of love, faith and trust. Karma tends to be a thorn whose wound tends to fester and fate takes a back seat to all the many good things that could have, would have or should have been. The wound can grow worse over time until there is nothing more to be said or done. There are no amount of words to dull the pain - not all the sorry's lined up end to end and around the Earth can effectively heal the wound. (Words are as meaningless as they are hollow) The silence can last for days, weeks, months or even longer. The infection is catastrophic and it bears the capacity to bring even the most solid of relationships to its knees or cut clean through even the toughest of emotional armor.

I will admit that I have played the "Blame Game" before and placed the focus of scrutiny on someone other than myself. I have failed to stand-up and take the "hit" for something that I have done or failed to do. I have taken that walk down the "Liars Pathway"and speaking from experience, it is no Saturday picnic in the park. It is about as treacherous, dark and slippery a path that any person can tread upon. It takes nerves of steel and a will that is almost criminal to see yourself and the lie through to its fruition. There is always a chance that you'll be able to get away and escape into the realm of the innocent. Unfortunately, when lies beget even more lies eventually you become trapped within the tangled and jumbled web of deceit and lies you had created previously. If you ever thought that a lie could not hurt or that it's pathway would never be traced back to you, guess again. If you wronged someone or hurt them beyond all repose, you can bet dimes to dollars that they will never forget nor really ever truly forgive. Like the throwing of a rock into a pond, the effect of the initial shock and its ripples continue to resonate throughout our lives and the lives of whom the lie has most greatly affected.

I know what I have done - I know what I have not done and I have taken full responsibility for what has come to pass. Being honest doesn't dull the pain or make it any easier to bear, but it can assist in the healing process and allow the wounds to heal properly instead of going on for many years festering and infecting all the things which surround us. A pathway that is smooth and harmonious is far easier to travel and navigate that an emotional minefield where every step holds the possibility of instant hurt, chaos and amputation.

Personally, there really is nothing more to add in regards to the players who continue to play the "Blame Game."It is a field best suited for liars, deceivers, tricksters and players. I have spent my fair share of time on the field in the "action" and I can honestly say the time was not worth it. In the end the lessons learned do not equate to the amount of pain and suffering that have been caused in the wake of such a planned and ill-contrived disaster. I am remorseful for what has transpired and heartily sorry for my transgressions and trespasses. I have grown to recognize the traps and emotional minefields which have been set before me and I continue to use honesty as a collective shield with both my relations and myself. Denial can be just as addicting and soothing, but in the end, it leaves you just as lonely and remorseful.

You may ask, why the sudden change? Why the selfless act of consciousness? Why here? Why now? Well, I have taken a look around this great big world and I see far more hurt than there really needs to be. It saddens me to no end to see an overabundance of pain, death, famine, and despair reported more and more on a daily basis. What happened to all of the goodness that life used to encompass? Where did all of the love and compassion from our society move to? My change is one of choice, and with any HOPE, it can be a lasting one for many years to come. With even more HOPE, this change could spark a revolution that may endear us more to being keepers of faith and love rather than a jailer or destroyer of those entities.

I am resolved to being a fixer of problems and not a maker of even more problems....

I am in the business or relieving pain and not making more pain...

I am committed to being a part of the solution and NOT a part of the problem because there is a right way to do things and there is also a wrong way to do things...

I am doing what I feel is right of course, and by choice I am no longer taking part in the ongoing "Blame Game" - I have retired and have picked-up a new game - that game is one of hope, love, fidelity, zeal, compassion, brotherhood, unity and spirit.

That is a game and gift we call "life..."

(Wanna play?)