Today, responsibility was the theme for postings on two different blogs that I read on a semi-regular basis. The first posting was on La Shawn Barber’s Place and addressed a woman’s personal responsibility for her sexual activity exposing her to the possibility of AIDS–Simple Girls Guide For Avoiding AIDS. It was in part a response to the “it’s all Bush’s fault” mantra.
FYI: It is not President Bushs or his administrations fault that you have AIDS. Your choices, including some level of reckless behavior, led to your infection. In other words, the fault lies within yourself. Outdated concept, I know, but bear with me.
La Shawn goes on to give women advice on how to avoid AIDS, advice that is directly tied to personal responsibility.
Then I read the new posting at Eject! Eject! Eject! (his posting schedule is irregular but what he says is extremely well thought out). After a survey of the state of his blog and his publishing efforts he addresses the one thing he really fears, which is the cyclical nature of human civilization and how civilizations fail when they abandon personal responsibility.
But the only thing I genuinely fear is the cyclic nature of civilization. I fear the consequences of abandoning personal responsibility. I fear the self-hatred and nihilism that grows among the pampered, the narcissistic and the uninformed. These are things to be feared greatly. They have brought down entire civilizations and led to dark ages that have cost this species very dearly. I think we stand at such a point today, and this election — win or lose — will not determine the outcome…although it might give us some indication of how sick or healthy we are at this pivotal moment in history.
I know there are those who will disagree with this assessment, but I believe that agree or disagree with his policies, President Bush is the one during this election cycle who believes in personal responsibility and is willing to do what he believes is right no matter what the cost to him politically or personally. I do not see that in John Kerry or the current Democratic leadership. This is not a policy assessment, it is a character assessment, an appraisal of which of the two men wanting to be president demonstrates the willingness to accept personal responsibility for what they say and do.
I too fear for our country and the larger world. I too see a dearth of personal responsibility and the moral and ethical fortitude necessary to accept the obligations and responsibilities that your choices demand. I am most worried because I see that deficiency in myself, someone who actually cares about these things. If I, who care, don’t measure up, what hope is there for those who give little thought to these issues, and civilization as a whole?
It is time to add something to the prayer, study, and repentance list. What do you think?
I too fear the moral decay brought on by refusing to be personally accountable.
You nailed it again. Bush thinks according to the leading of the Holy Spirt, which is contrary to the world, and baffling to the world. We should not be surprised that so many are leaning toward Kerry because he tells them what “tickles their ears.”
I have ‘beaten the drum’ of personal responsibility to my family and friends for years and am STILL alone! Kerry wants to tax the richer elements of society more heavily and give handouts to the rest. Not that the richer folks/businesses don’t have some responsibility to the ‘lesser’ folk (whoever they are!), but I believe in the old saying: ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him one meal. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime’. This applies to so much more than just feeding the physical body. At some point it is so much better for a person to be able to say, ‘I did this! With God’s help!’.