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Writer's pictureBrian W Arbuckle

Personal Responsibility


There’s a cute meme floating around that states “they are trying to divide us.” Or, another: “the media is trying to divide us.”


It’s all done with good intentions. But the reality? It undermines personal responsibility. It seeks to abdicate us from the consequences of our actions. It helps us sleep better at night because "it’s not our fault.”


I see comments all over social media where we are calling each other sheep. Or snowflakes. Or worse. “Demonrats, socialists, communists…” and “racists, misogynists, etc.” No one - not the media, not social media, not some shadow group, forced you to call your fellow man those words (and much worse).


You made that decision.


And before you start with the idiotic “they did it first…” comeback…what are you, five? The so-called party of “personal responsibility” now wants to blame other people for their actions?


And then I read the below article. This congressman is getting death-threats for voting for the INFRASTRUCTURE deal. Death threats for voting for infrastructure. What world are we living in that death threats should bubble-up based on a vote for infrastructure?!?



During the election cycle, several people were sharing stories about Democrats being part of a satanic group…kidnapping children and whatnot. Hell, Tom Hanks getting his citizenship in Greece was somehow ‘proof’ that he was part of this satanic-cabal.


What the actual fuck.


Guess what? I’ve voted both parties. Democrat and Republican. Come knock on my door and tell me I’m a Satanic-baby-snatcher. No? Why? Because you’re a coward. It’s far easier to jump on social media and call people you don’t know “sheeps” or Satanists.


And yes, I’m leveling significant blame at Republicans here because y’all claim to sit atop moral superiority, yet, a congressman votes for an infrastructure deal and you want to call in death threats? How’s that moral superiority working out for you?!


Those of you in Kansas City spend the entire winter and spring bitching about potholes all around town but then call an Infrastructure bill “communistic.” I literally cannot with you “critical thinkers.”


Oh. Wait. “THE RIOTS.” Or how about “her emails?!?” Again, stop with this “but they started it” nonsense. You can’t claim moral superiority whilst acting like a five-year-old.

No one forced you to act this way. You made that decision. I get it, you feel powerless and overwhelmed at the enormity of it all…and it’s just easier to jump on social media and rage.


But what changes? Nothing!


Dear critical thinkers, let me run this scenario by you. You’ve now learned that I have voted democrat in the past. You jump on social media and call me a ‘sheep’ or socialist/communist/Marxist (I literally cannot with some of you; you don’t even know what these words mean, but I digress); do you think I see that message and think:


OHMYGOSH! I MUST change my vote right now because Bobby-Sue called me names!

It's all you. You are dividing us. You make that decision with every insult you hurl at someone because of the party they voted for.


Politicians pander to whatever keeps them in power…why are politics so dirty today?


Because we allow them to be. We’re more interested in zingers and “winning” than moving our country forward. Together. Compromise is now a dirty word. Maybe it's no surprise that 50% of marriages end in divorce. We've lost the ability to compromise.


Democrat, Republican…doesn’t matter. We all live in this country and have a vision of what she can be. We have different ideas of how to get there…but that doesn’t make differing ideas “evil.”


And that’s where my real frustration is coming from…the broad-stroke that if I don’t vote on the same party line as you…I’m evil. If I try to understand where you are coming from, I'm a 'flip-flopper.'


Or a Satanist.


Or a racist.


The problem isn’t “the media.” Nor social media.


It’s you.


Either own it and fix it or keep pointing fingers, blaming others…and be responsible for continued division.


It’s ultimately our decision. You want “personal responsibility?” Fine. Earn it. Own it. Act like it. Have healthy debate about issues, policies and ideals.


But the minute you start hurling mud, you’re no better than the person who started it. You lose the right to claim moral superiority. You lose the right to pound your chest about personal responsibility.


You don’t get to post about your wonderful time at Sunday School while dialing in death-threats.


Step 1: Recognize, accept and own that we are the cause of division

Step 2: It’s up to each of us to stitch us back together using compassion, understanding, compromise and empathy.

Step 3: Demand more from our politicians.


It's up to us. The choice is yours.

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