Personal Responsibility - What's That?

The other day I saw a bumper sticker that read, "Accept responsibility for one's own actions. It's not that complicated." Unfortunately, in today's society, the idea of personal responsibility has been put on a back shelf. Instead of taking responsibility for our own actions, we like to play the blame game. It's not my fault I gained ten pounds, it is the fault of the company that makes the cream cheese that I slather all over my morning bagel. Yes, officer, my drivers license is expired, but it's not my fault, the lines at the DMV are so long and I don't have time to wait. Or, I know that smoking can cause cancer, but I only smoke a couple of cigarettes a day and it's not my fault I can't quit, I am addicted.

General Motors made poor decisions, mismanaged funds, and spent money it didn't have, but is it their fault they were falling into bankruptcy? Of course not. You bought a home with no money down and no back ups in case your status changed and now your home is going in to foreclosure. A sad story, but is it the bank's fault who loaned you the money? No, it's your fault for buying something you could not afford. Michael Jackson was a self-proclaimed drug addict, but it couldn't possibly be his fault that he died from an overdose. Surely, it is the fault of someone else, the doctors who provided the drugs, his family who didn't provide support or maybe the moon wasn't in proper alignment with Jupiter that July afternoon. If we keep playing the blame game, keep pointing fingers at someone or something else for our problems, nothing will change. Take responsibility for the choices you make in life. Take responsibility and move forward, because at the end of the day, the only way you can make your life better is to accept responsibility for your actions and be careful to make better choices the next time around.

Racism at the Valley Swim Club

I am not only appalled and shocked at the discriminatory attitude of the Valley Swim Club in Philadelphia, but I am saddened by the racist attitude that persists in this country. I am not so naive that I don't recognize that discrimination is alive and well, but to be so blatantly ignorant as to discriminate against children who were on a recreational outing is unforgivably outrageous. To turn them away and ban them from the club is discrimination at it's worst and at the end of the day, the Valley Swim Club and it's members should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

Misplaced Hero Worship

I have a hard time understanding why we insist on putting sports heroes, entertainment personalities and so-called celebrities up on a pedestal. What have these people done that they deserve to be idolized? I agree that Michael Jackson was a great talent, a great entertainer. I don't agree that the United States House of Representatives should have a moment of silence for him. To me it trivializes the deaths of all the men and women who have given their lives for this country and did not get a moment of silence dedicated to them.

I will always be grateful to Michael Jackson for his music, but at the end of the day does that make him worthy of our adoration? I think not.