What's So Funny About Taking Responsibility?

I read online this evening that the House of Representatives has finished the first of its full-scale inquires on the government's response to Hurricane Katrina. It's a pretty scathing report.

The House labels it a "top-to-bottom" failure on both the local and the federal level. Not enough preparations. Lack of experience in FEMA. Not enough early involvement on behalf of President Bush. Ill-timed evacuation procedures. Little to no recognition of exactly what a category 4 or 5 storm of Katrina's might would do to the Gulf Coast. A disorganized American Red Cross. A lack of adequate warnings for ruptured levee systems.

Basically, the common theme here is an attempt to find blame. Figure out who was responsible for the tragedy of Katrina's destruction and death. Personally, I view this as not only an impossible endeavor, but a waste of time.

Playing the blame game can go on forever. People aren't naturally inclined to agree with sharp criticism of their actions. Take Michael Brown, the ex-FEMA director, for instance. Following his dismissal, he has launched an attack on the Homeland Security Department for allowing bureaucratics to impede relief and response efforts. Of course, they swiftly fire back at him, calling him a renegade and claiming that he failed to follow proper protocol. A White House spokesman comments on how Bush was not caught sleeping by Katrina, saying that he was fully involved in the preparation and response. Many Democrats claim the report doesn't go far enough in pinning the blame on somebody, and some are holding out for an independent commission bent on playing the same game.

I just finished watching an episode of Gargoyles in which the main theme is responsibility. Basically, a corporate owner takes Goliath the gargoyle prisoner after he's caught shadowing their air fortress. Several episodes earlier, the gargoyles were tricked by another corporate mongul (Xanatos) into stealing valuable data from his company, and in doing so, destroying their first air fortress. So he believes Goliath is out to do the same to the new model.

The owner, Halcyon Renard, hits Goliath with this. Goliath denies blame and lays it at Xanatos' feet. This enrages Renard; he comments that Goliath sounds "just like every employee he's ever fired. Not one ounce of integrity."

Renard believes Goliath's story, mind you. He has no doubt Xanatos set him up to destroy his fortress. But that's not the point. It doesn't matter how Goliath was duped into doing what he did. The point is, he did it. His actions caused grievous consequences and damage, inadvertent or not. He can't deny culpability. He must own up to it and be willing to make restitution. By the end, Goliath realizes that he must be willing to take responsibility for his actions even when it isn't easy. Denying that and looking elsewhere for a scapegoat to blame is a fool's errand, because he can play that game for years. And none of it will make amends for the damage that has been done.

I wish more of those in power would adopt this outlook.

Song of the Day: Big Daddy Weave - "Audience of One"

Verse of the Day: "Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight." - 1 Corinthians 3:18-19