That is a powerful statement and is often heard during one's lifetime. This particular time it was shouted by a usually calm Congressman at his Republican colleagues as an evacuation was in progress during the Jan. 6 rebellion. One can argue all day long and well into the next day as to the verity of this statement, but what it implies is important for us to understand.
We, society today, appear to have forgotten the concept of individual responsibility. We take comfort and aid, encouragement, from the words of others, from mob gatherings, and excuse our behavior with the accusation or excuse of being overwhelmed by the force of others or losing control in the moment, whatever excuse works. We excuse our behavior and words with the pitiful excuse that "everyone does it or is doing it", totally absolving ourselves of any and all individual responsibility. We wimp out.
I heard another phrase yesterday which makes a powerful statement and requires us to understand where we are today in our social behavior, what we have forgotten, what we need to stress. Whether it be gun control, where Biden has said that it is "just a start", or Republican dominated state legislatures passing retro restrictive voting laws, or DeSantis pushing against any and all safety regulations, it is the 'we' and the 'I' that is responsible, for without the individuals supporting these things, it would never happen. At times that is good and at other times not so good!
When an individual makes poor choices, comes to a bad decision, that individual is responsible for what follows, whether it is legally so or not. That is what we have so conveniently forgotten. Never mind the 'law'. There are times when the law is immoral, legal or not. An individual has to take a stand such as during the time of slavery here or the Holocaust in Europe or the return of Jim Crow laws here.
Escobar, from Texas, stated that we need a "compassionate system that does justice to our values". That must come from individuals who will push for that, taking individual responsibility for improving society, not laying the blame for society's ills on 'them' or 'they'. When Cruz or Hawley try to block every single appointment of Biden's simply to strangle the transfer of power, maintaining the outrageous statements of election results being doubtful, that is the individual going wrong, going amiss, and bollixing society at the same time, with purposeful and malicious intent. Thus, "it is because of you" would be an apt statement here.
As with most things in life, there are two sides here. "It is because of you" can be praise given to a deserving person or it can be an accusation of guilt and responsibility. Which one it will be is up to the individual. We must acknowledge, like it or not, that our actions are ours and not the fault of others. True, they might be influenced by others, but the final act is ours, and ours alone.
"It is because of you". Powerful. Praise or indictment. Our choice, the individual's choice, and no 'herd immunity' here. If enough individuals say stop, or refuse to join the mob, the mob will dissolve. Simple and clear as can be. Difficult at times, but it is the individual who stood up for the right or, conversely, the individual who chose poorly, that led to changes in society. Each individual must choose.
"It is because of you."
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