The Question of Responsibility

I wonder if there is anything like taking responsibility left anymore. Nearly everything these days seems to have such a fine, valid explanation that there just doesn't seem to be any one in particular left around to carry the blame. I don't think I've heard anyone step forward recently and say, "It was all my fault. I am the one to be blamed." No, it's always something else. Either 'Ward-robe malfunctioning' or 'Intelligence failure' or something equally fascinating. But, heaven forbid, it should ever get pinned on me. I'm only a fallible human being after all, helpless in face of social, political, economic and so many other currents. The best of these is the psychological current. That is completely beyond my scope. I may behave idiotically, I may even incite others to behave idiotically, but so what? Together we may kick-start a real riot, but, again, so what? Whatever I do, however I behave, whatever the results or repercussions of that, don't you know, after all, it is never my own doing - there is an insidious, whispering voice in my head. It's a historical voice, dating right back from the time of my difficult childhood - please note, I wasn't a difficult child, it was my childhood that was difficult - there is a great whole difference there and I don't want anybody to miss it - it could mean all the difference between being on the street and under State hospitality.

As long as we have that clear and while still on the topic, we should also consider the part others play in messing things up. Not to blame anyone in particular, but let's face it. Other people are always so inconsiderate, so unreasonable. They are forever going their own way, following their own beliefs, their own bents and inclinations, doing their own things. They just won't acknowledge that you might know what's good for them. They just won't walk along your route. It's really intolerable. How can they go on living like that, believing that, subscribing to that, eating that, wearing that, marrying that, voting for that, singing that, composing that, writing that....well, it's a rather long and unending list. People make living so very problematic. It's really their fault if things are so difficult. If they did as they were told, if they didn't insist on being so different, damn it, if they weren't so different, well, it would be all okay, wouldn't it? What a wonderful, homogeneous world this would be then. We would all be the same and there would be no one to be blamed.

But, of course, that's only wishful thinking and in reality people remain intractable. They never understand the larger picture. They remain overly concerned with their homes, their properties, their children, and just don't seem able to see how very expendable these things really are in the big scheme. We are living in important times, in the Age of Terror actually, and there are important things going on, a War on the Terror actually. A most imperative and necessary war, if you want to know, that is going to end all wars and troubles forever. Yes, I know that's what they said right before the First World War, but this time it's really, truly going to happen. Important people from the freest, most peace-loving nations of the world have honestly said so, and they're the ones that always know the best. So, anyway, people ought to be a bit more understanding. It's a war and in wars 'Things Happen'. Things like 'Collateral Damage', you know. Such things should be glossed over. If your home was invaded, your property destroyed and your children maimed - and you're 100% sure you're not a terrorist - well, just put it down to 'an honest mistake'. It was only 'friendly fire', it truly wasn't meant. The real target, if you must know, was the home of one of those terrorists and it was supposed to have been precisely bombed without any surrounding damage whatsoever - with Advanced Technology that's possible, you know - and, well, Advanced Technology sometimes fails too, you know, but how are we supposed to know that beforehand? And as for the armed personnel who made the blunder, they didn't know it either and anyway they were only following orders - so don't even think of questioning their consciences - they aren't supposed to have any down here on earth. In a nutshell, they are not responsible.

Nobody is. That's the beauty of this age.