Blame Less

In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, I turn to our country’s leaders for comfort, hope, and inspiration. As I listened to the President during recent press conferences I felt a discomfort that developed into sadness and then anger. In almost every press conference he identifies someone to blame or to criticize, He has become our Blamer-In-Chief, a role that is harmful to us and what we need.

-He blamed the Democrats and the media for creating a hoax about the virus.

-He blamed the Chinese government for not letting the world know about the virus sooner.

-Next came the governors, for not being sufficiently grateful for what he and his administration were doing for them.

-He blames prior administrations for not preparing adequately for this pandemic.

-Reporters are often targets of his blaming, particularly when he doesn’t like the questions they ask or the media outlets they represent.

-More recently he blames the hospital staff, implying that they are over-stocking or reselling protective equipment.

The virus is to blame and is the only enemy. We must share resources and learn from each other, and this requires cooperation from many sources, including foreign governments, media, governors, and health care workers- all the people our President has found blameworthy. Blame serves to divide us, leads to distrust among those who should be allies, and appeals to the worst in us.

Like most people, I have done my share of blaming others. Some were personal, like my parents for their perceived failings; and some professional, like work colleagues for lack of cooperation. While blaming provided short-term relief of pain, it was unproductive. It took time away from working on the issue that was causing the pain. In some cases, I realized this soon enough to ask for forgiveness or turn my focus to the needed tasks. Please Mr. President… blame less, and work to unite us and not divide us during this painful time… and afterwards.

Analysis of what happened so that we can do better in the future will be needed, and that can come later. But this is no time for blaming… or else we will be left with fewer to blame as this pandemic rages on… just ourselves.