Blame – The Cathartic Verb

Before beginning in earnest, I must admit that I am guilty of lambasting others and blaming them for events that I, myself, have also undertaken. 

I admit that I can pass judgement on others whilst completely negating to remember, in the moment, that I too am guilty of the unfolding offence that has suddenly triggered my judgemental brain. Hypocritical and pious of me. Who should I blame for this?

 

Personal examples of me feeling aggrieved by the actions of others…

 

-Traffic! How I hate traffic (despite myself being a part of the traffic myself).

 

-Having to wait in a queue is an irritant. Even worse when the queue has formed before I merged myself into it. All of these people causing me to have to wait in line!

 

-Litter! Guilty. I do not make a habit of dropping litter. Actually, I am vehemently opposed to the dropping of litter. Have I done it though in my lifetime? Yes. Sorry.

 

-People that break speed limits whilst driving a vehicle. Sorry. I have done this and am not proud of it, yet will be honest and accept that this was my fault. Nobody forced me to break the law. I made a choice to do as such. 

 

-*This is a LONG admission!... Being part of a crowd and the mob mentality. Football is my favourite team sport. I have shouted obscenities at footballers and opposing fans as part of collective chants/songs. Blamed the referee! Sworn at the referee! 

It makes little to no sense as to why this occurs and why I have paid money to be a part of it. To shout at elite athletes who earn more money on a week than I can in a decade. 

My feeling is that it gives a sense of solidarity, community and togetherness. All of this whilst spitting vitriol at others who are doing the same back at me in the name of solidarity, community and togetherness! 

 

Us versus Them. 

Tribal? Primitive 

Civic Pride?

Simply nonsensical, verbal thuggery 

 

This makes less and less sense when this rhetoric is amplified in a ‘local derby game.’ 

This is when I have partaken in ‘singing’ obscenities at fans from a rival {local} football team who probably live in my locality. 

Likely my friends, colleagues and also great folks. I would never greet them with aggressive, shrill swearing as they buy crisps in our local shop. Nor they me. 

Collectively we then blame the referee! Maybe blame the weather or the pitch. 

Probably important to note that I have never partaken in, or condoned, ANY form of racism, homophobia or ANY hate crimes! 

*So, I’ve sworn at others, as part of a collective crowd/mob, yet I will find it crass when I see/hear others doing as such on Match of the Day (or similar). 

 

Back to Blame! 

 

I blame myself for my own actions. Own my actions. Accept the blame that I, just now,  levelled at myself. Bad decisions, made by myself, are my decisions and I’m to blame for formulating them. 

After formulating my decisions, I then duly acted upon them. I blame me for this. 

 

Nope, this is not a martyrdom blog where all readers get to bask within my cleanly, honest narcissism. It has just had a long introduction! Sorry! I am to blame for this...

 

Parliament is brimming with blame

 

I went to a Roman Catholic Primary School. Then to a Roman Catholic Highschool. Then to a Roman Catholic Sixth Form Centre. 

I tried the magic word on many occasions.

It worked to an extent, yet the priests always insisted on something more!

Something more to show them how sorry I was for dropping litter or being grumpy for having to queue for lunch. More than a saying a word. More than a pathetic and bullshit apology to hoodwink the teacher/priest.

 

Sorry was never enough. Nor should it be. 

 

It is a just a word and a supposed, poised sentiment. You yourself know if you regret an action and you know if you want to let others know about your regret.

 

Just read through the above (courtesy edit). It may just be me and the stigma attached to the legacy of Catholicism that I feel I must insist that no priests, at school, were abusive to me.  

I said they wanted more than ‘sorry’ being uttered. They did. They wanted me to be honest and own my apology. They heaped meaning upon the importance of words. Otherwise it is just a hollow, husk of a word. 

To this day, Lenny Bruce & the eclectic mixture of lay-teachers, priests & parental morals have instilled a concrete doctrine in my life. 

What schools did our MP’s go to? Who raised them? What the actual fuck do they see the world around them as? They are never to blame and will almost always blame others. This has to be one of the worst traits that a human can possess.

Imagine having no integrity and that actually being your redeeming feature!

It would be easy to cite tractor porn, Partgate/s or the many other scandals that continually ooze out of The Commons. No need to. The scandals and blaming others will continue in new and interesting forms. 

To focus on just one would be missing the bigger picture. This larger picture is that blaming others and being a fraud is the cornerstone of Westminster. The blueprints for creating an MP. 

YES, there are undoubtedly some MP’s who do not fit the mould. I will not name who I believe them to be. However, even these few stragglers will undoubtedly claim expenses whilst their constituents struggle. So, even the most noble MP is no Saint!

Perhaps this is a blessing too though! Being a Saint is hardly cause to be Sainted! Saints may well actually make for splendid MPs!...

Saint Augustine was a thief! Pears are what he stole. He also had a concubine. Very Tory!

BEST TORY SAINT AWARD is handed to Saint Matthew the tax collector. He taxed imports and exports based upon his own judgement. He did this for Rome; betraying his fellow countrymen. Saint Matthew would make an excellent Brexit minister. 

 

Seems bizarre that the point I have been trying to make here is that honesty should be a prerequisite in Parliament. 

It should be law! 

If your job is to make rules for the UK then it should quickly not be your job if you are found to be telling blatant lies in the Commons. Issues on subjective matters, that don’t have just one undeniable answer/outcome, should be debated and done so without childish sneering at the opposition. However, matters that have an undeniable answer should NOT be up for question or debate. 

These must be owned by whoever oversees them. No blaming others. Own it and have some decency, decorum and integrity. 

For example, if you attended an illegal party. Accept it. Apologise. Move on (if the electorate will allow). 

Who knows? If you use the ‘magic word’ of sorry and it is genuine then you can be proud to be an MP. Even if your apology is not accepted, you showed honour in being honest. It sets the tone for the nation that you represent. 

This has been a very idealistic entry!

If Parliament sinks any lower into the abyss of utter falsehoods then it will make it more and more difficult to find the reset button down the line. When trust is lost it is almost impossible to find again. 

Not blaming others. This is leading by example and not being a hypocrite. You will not be seen as a Saint, but that said, would you want to be?