One of the most clichéd of sayings has to be “I blame the Government”. It is commonplace from newspaper column to public house, to attribute all the nation’s ills to this or that policy. Some blame the left wing, others the right. But I believe there is a more fundamental truth in effect here- we get the leaders that we deserve. The vast majority of people, if not all, are decent human beings. Where we fail is that we tend towards being lazy and cowardly. A lack of participation in society means a lack of good ideas. If we were all able to share our “pearls of wisdom” freely with others, and openly listen so as to receive sound advice in return, no problem would be beyond solution. Achieving this requires considerable effort, whether by picking up a pen, telephone or by sheer hard manual graft. It might bring instant gratification to sit in front of the TV drinking beer, but it doesn’t bring the fulfillment of organizing or participating in a genuine social event.We similarly fail in our efforts to stand up against injustice. What we call “Evil” occurs when we do not correct the behavior of the foolish and deluded as it is taking place. Adolph Hitler is often blamed for the genocide of WW2, but I believe this is an unfair judgement. He was one “lunatic” amongst millions. It was the “ordinary” politicians and citizens who were unwilling to put him in his place through their selfishness and fear. “Only obeying orders” was a frankly pathetic excuse for those staffing the gas chambers.Of these two charges I am guilty myself. Everybody can change the world for the better, but the only way we can do so is by starting with the person in the mirror.
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