What America needs most: personal responsibility
By Madeline Crabb
America has become a nation of whining, sniveling, belly-aching, finger-pointing, excuse-making, and justifying, grumblers and complainers. Absurd, you say? Not. And as for me, I am sick and tired of it. Be honest...don't you agree? Or does the statement describe you?
Hey, don't get mad at me. I just deliver the message.
This message is the second in a series of what's wrong with America, and thus Americans, and what we need most. So, what does America need most? We need personal responsibility.
It's amazing! There is a demand for change from nearly every area of society. But it's always someone else who needs to change. It's as if a case of "mass amnesia" has swept across the nation. Nobody is responsible for their personal behavior. Every action is justified by blaming someone else, or some circumstance. We are no longer responsible for anything we do. Maybe the devil made me do it...or my mother/father were mean to me...or maybe some awful kid in school laughed at me...or maybe it's because my mom always liked my brother or sister more than me... Or what about parents making excuses for their kids' bad behavior? Oh, my child can't do this or that because of a teacher, coach...or maybe the rules just aren't fair for everybody... or maybe it's because "they" don't understand how special my kid is... or my kid can't behave because of whatever...and on and on and on it goes. ENOUGH ALREADY!
We need to stop blaming others for our problems or bad behavior, and take personal responsibility.
by Madeline Crabb
"Man In The Mirror"
Michael Jackson
I'm Gonna Make A Change, For Once In My Life It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference Gonna Make It Right . . .
As I, Turn Up The Collar On My Favourite Winter Coat This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street, With Not Enough To Eat Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See Their Needs A Summer's Disregard, A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul They Follow Each Other On The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere To Go That's Why I Want You To Know
I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish Kind Of Love It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No Home, Not A Nickel To Loan Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not Alone?
A Widow Deeply Scarred, Somebody's Broken Heart And A Washed-Out Dream
They Follow The Pattern Of The Wind, Ya' See Cause They Got No Place To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With Me
(Chorus)
Michael Jackson
I'm Gonna Make A Change, For Once In My Life It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference Gonna Make It Right . . .
As I, Turn Up The Collar On My Favourite Winter Coat This Wind Is Blowin' My Mind
I See The Kids In The Street, With Not Enough To Eat Who Am I, To Be Blind?
Pretending Not To See Their Needs A Summer's Disregard, A Broken Bottle Top
And A One Man's Soul They Follow Each Other On The Wind Ya' Know
'Cause They Got Nowhere To Go That's Why I Want You To Know
I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer If You Wanna Make The World
A Better Place Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change
I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish Kind Of Love It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No Home, Not A Nickel To Loan Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not Alone?
A Widow Deeply Scarred, Somebody's Broken Heart And A Washed-Out Dream
They Follow The Pattern Of The Wind, Ya' See Cause They Got No Place To Be
That's Why I'm Starting With Me
(Chorus)