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I was watching a story on how ISIS became a threat (CNN) and they had a quote from President Obama from about 7 years ago where he called ISIS the JV team dressed up in Lakers uniforms pretending to be Kobe Bryant. Move forward about 5 years and in an interview he is asked if he underestimated their power. President Obama spends a good flustered moment trying to blame his National Security Advisers for giving him bad intelligence.
No, Harry S. Truman you are NOT, Barrack. It hit me like a sucker punch at that moment, the biggest problem with this President is the same problem in society. Lack of accountability and responsibility.
Obama blames the other guy. In this case, bad intelligence even though his retired advisers indicate he failed to properly address their warnings at the time. Everyone in bad situations seems to have taken an "it's not my fault" pill. Nobody is at fault for their actions or decisions because someone made them do it.
"It's not my fault, the cop was bullying me."
"It's not my fault, I was abused as a child and I killed/rapped someone."
"It's not my fault, I had a bad day at work."
"It's not my fault, I grew up in the ghetto."
"It's not my fault, the ______ man is caused this." (Insert any race you want here.)
"It's not my fault, look at the mess the world is in."
"It's not my fault.." has become the rallying cry of a generation of Americans to misbehave and break the law. It has become the excuse of rapist and murders. It is the reason people protest the unfair circumstances and bigotry they experience while become hateful bigots themselves. It is the excuse that seemingly absolved everyone of everything. It is as if these bad things are unique or special. The problem is we ALL have things in life that happen to us that are not fair or right and we don't all seek to blame society for robbing a store or beating up a cop or getting hooked on drugs.
Let's step back a moment and examine Ben Carson who grew up in the ghetto of Detroit with a single mother and a missing father. His friends were in gangs, a lot were on drugs and many died young. By societies standards, if Dr. Carson had gone that way, it wouldn't be his fault. He didn't go that way however because he had a mother who believed in him and he found belief in himself. It is his fault that he went to college and medical school. It is his fault that he became a successful surgeon and head of neurosurgery at John Hopkins. It is his fault that he has scholarship programs set up for inner city kids. It is his fault that he is a successful author. It is his fault that he is now running for POTUS. It is exactly his fault that he is the honorable man that he is today. This isn't a pitch for his campaign, just a reality check. Dr Carson had a choice and he chose to go the path less traveled. He chose to pull himself up by the bootstraps and overcome. He chose education.
But that's not society. Everyone today wants something for nothing. Free money and a free ride. People just don't seem to understand, nothing is free, even freedom itself. There is no free in life. Everything requires sacrifice. Everyone pays a price.
Do you know how many friends have told me their son isn't going to college because he aspires to be the next great white rapper? Reality check, aside from Eminem is there a decent white rapper? (I don't listen to that kind of music but my husband does and I couldn't tell you a soul.) I don't know much about rap music once Slim Shady and Vanilla Ice are removed from the equation but it seems to me the theme is about inequality, unfairness, and of course women. Now, tell me what an 18 year old white boy from a middle class area knows about that stuff (girls aren't women, BTW). These boys all end up bartenders and waiters because nobody is going to buy a record about the hard life in Allen, TX.
We have problems. There are bigots running wild in all the races and inflaming hate. There are people who need jobs and hope. There is rampant drug abuse. Women are becoming victims of sexual violence in places they should be safe; home and school in record numbers. Domestic and foreign terrorism is frightening and real. All of these problems result in a lack of hope for the future and for the next generations.
We need hope and we need people to stop making excuses. We all have a sad story, trauma, struggle, but not all of us give in to the pain. Some of us said "The buck stops here. I have a choice. I can let this beat me or I can rise above. I can take the easy way or the hard road. I can be a victim or I can make something of myself." Will it be easy? Nope. Will it be worth it? Yes!
God gave us life and then He gave us free will. We can live in denial and blame our circumstances, friends, parents, teachers, police, or someone who hates us because of our race. Heck, we can even blame our National Security Advisers if we want to, but the truth is, we have the choice. We have free will. We are not all victims and it does a disservice to all actual victims who find a way to rise above when anyone blames bad behavior on victimization.
Americans need to grow up. Americans need to take responsibility. Americans need to stop blaming others. It can start with the President admitting he screwed up with ISIS and race relations and discounting the military and police. It should start there. Harry Truman would do it. Barrack Obama never will.
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This country is more divided than I can recall in my 45 years. History will tell us that things like Pearl Harbor and 9-11 bring us together. We have a sense of pride and patriotism. We, as a nation, refuse to surrender. If we are attacked again what will happen? Do you know? I can't even fathom right now this nation pulling together as fractured as it seems. I can't imagine the catastrophic event that would be required to shake this country up and make us understand again that United we STAND but divided we FALL. We are simply, that divided.
Yes, I blame the President for a lot of these problems. In the history of the USA, nobody has had the chance to UNITED this country the way Mr. Obama has. Nobody has ever had the ability to stand in the middle between the Caucasian race and the African American race and say, I am you. Nobody has had the unique circumstance of being both before. Nobody has ever had that chance and nobody has ever failed as miserably as Obama.
I wish I could see into the future and know what is to come. I wish I could say "it will be okay." I wish there was an easy answer, a quick fix, and a better understanding of how to heal. The truth is, nobody in the forefront of our problems has a clue what to do and this, more than ISIS, is the worst threat facing the US today. This will be our greatest victory in history or our most catastrophic collapse. This, more so than any moment in the past from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the fall of the Twin Towers, will be our day of reckoning.
But first we have to take responsibility for ourselves. First we have to remember we are ALL Americans. First we have to accept that there is only one race of people in this country, the American Race. First we have to become color blind and see individuals. First we have to stop making excuses. First we have to accept that injustice happens to everyone, everywhere. First we have to understand that LIFE is NEVER FAIR. First we have to stand up and say "It is my fault and I will do better." First we have to be adults.
*I know this is a strange pre-Thanksgiving Day post. I did not intend to write another blog this week. I am praying for this country in a way I never have before. I ask that if you pray, you pray for the USA too. If you don't pray, I ask you to consider starting now. This will be my final wish tomorrow before I thank GOD that we are at peace, for now.