I'm upset. Who can I blame?

Just a few weeks ago our world came to a halt. Most things were shut down and we were confined to our houses. Now, things are starting to open back up but with masks and restrictions. Some people say none of this was necessary; yet thousands have died.

The time we are living in is confusing and upsetting. We want the confusion to clear up; we want to no longer be upset.

What to do when life is conflicted and complicated? Make it simple. Decide who or what is to blame. Blame that person or thing. Feel relief and superiority. Separate yourself from the complication and conflict. Judge those who wrestle with the nuances and details as politically correct, pansies, or whatever you call someone you dismiss. 

Then other people can become non-persons. Non-persons can be enemies. Enemies  are only to be disregarded or destroyed. Then destroying or disregarding them feels like the right thing, even a heroic thing. Then evil is done in the name of doing good. 

The alternative is less simple. It requires that you look for information and you work for understanding. Also, you pay attention to yourself. You notice when you quickly dismiss another person or a whole category of people. Instead, you can choose to value relationship and compassion as higher values. 

We should not look to blame, despite the human temptation to do so. There is always blame enough to go around. If we are people who value others at least as highly as we value ourselves, then blame is too simple a path to take.

What will you do?