The legendary comedian Flip Wilson coined this phrase as his character Geraldine. It was his go to laugh line but actually this was the very first lie in recorded history.When God asked Eve why she ate the forbidden fruit, Eve told God the serpent or the devil made her do it. An when God asked Adam he said the woman you gave me made me do it. Whether you believe that Adam and Eve were actual people or this is just a story the blame game is a basic human trait.
This was followed by condemnation and banishment. Innocence was lost and sin entered the world. God could have created obedient humans but instead He gave us freewill. We have a choice to do anything we want, but there are consequences to our choices.
I know the Adam and Eve story is laughed at by many but the basic principles are lived out everyday religious or not. Breaking a connection with God is easy, it is a simple choice, but repairing this connection is also a choice.
Like all humans I hate to take responsibility for my actions. I want to take credit for good things and shirk responsibility or blame for the bad things. I know I just described a politician but that is another story.
I witnessed a change over the decades. Years ago blaming other people, circumstances or society still had a stigma. Most people knew it was wrong because personal responsibility was connected to our personal pride or sense of honor. We knew this was America and we were all in it together.
On television, in the movies, at school and at home we were encouraged to support the police, respect veterans and honor our elders. Personal responsibility, civic duty and acceptance of others was expected proper behavior. As children not following this behavior was frowned on by teachers and parents.
Individually blaming others is a mark of poor character but in a group it can have more serious consequences. On a group level blaming other groups for the wrongs they themselves have committed has always been wrong but it has become accepted behavior today.
When I first heard a President use the line "but ______ did it first" and it was acceptable by the media as a valid argument, I remembered telling my dad when my brother and I were fighting, "but he hit me first". Well that never worked with my dad my brother and I both got the same punishment for fighting.
Another one was, "I'm a victim of those people, my life isn't fair" or "they have more then me, it isn't fair". Today listening to a news broadcast, political speech or community leader these and more are their go to arguments.
Today victim status is powerful because they can't be criticized for blaming others for their actions. The devil made me do it was a laugh line but total acceptance of shirking personal responsibility it is a poison on our future as a functioning society.
We were given freewill to make any choice we want but along with freedom comes responsibility. Authority comes with duty or what I like to call a charge. As a policeman they have authority and a duty. If they abuse authority and shirk their duty they are wrong. If the citizen expects them to fulfill their duty we must respect their authority.
Today there is a focus on bad cops as their should be but it has stigmatized the good cops. The open encouragement to disrespect all police has caused division and in some cases riots. Where is the leadership, where are the calming voices, where are the adults?
The fundamental values have been ignored and belittled. All of the norms have become old fashioned. There is not a person, law or program that will fix this it is a return to the very basics we once learned in kindergarten, keep your hands to yourself, say please and thank you, share, wash your hands, tell the truth and don't blame others.
