Marco Rubio and Rod Dreher and the obvious

Who is to blame for Trump?   Who is to blame for the meltdown we're watching?  In a nutshell, it's us.  Rubio explains as well as anyone has:



Bravo.  He's not ready yet.  Not yet.  Give him another four to eight years and, assuming all things equal and a party left to nominate him, he could be that leader we've been waiting for.  But he nails it for today.

Rod Dreher also puts a rather Christian spin on it.  Takeaway quote:

As it was in the 14th century, is now, and ever shall be. Human nature does not change. Yes, American institutions have failed. A lot of this stuff really is Somebody Else’s Fault. Big business. Big government. The Republicans, the Democrats. The media. The leaders. The followers. The blacks, the whites, the men, the women, Hispanics, gays, Christians, Jews, Muslims, academics, workers, and on and on.

Yep,  It's almost impossible to believe that such a statement would pass the censors today.  But it's true.  There's not a one of us who hasn't been part of the problem somehow.  And the biggest problem of all is that group that will inevitably nod yes to the statement, and then proceed to blame them over there.

It's us.  As Rod says, the Orthodox are now in their season of Lent, as Catholics are starting to look at the end of the tunnel.  But we're all in it now, and there is no better time to repent and realize that we have all played a part.  Not in some hollow, shallow, meaningless word drool that says 'I'm responsible', but then goes on with the usual partisan rhetoric about it being them.  But realizing when we say we're all responsible, we mean we, us, our guys, are the ones who are responsible.  And that means all sides, including the Right, the Left, and that popular Post-Modern 'I'm not part of a Tribe' tribe.

The sooner we admit it, and actually act and live as if we mean it, the quicker we might be able to stop the train from going over the cliff.  If not for ourselves, then at least for our posterity.

“Out of every crisis, every tribulation, every disaster, mankind rises with some share of greater knowledge, of higher decency, of purer purpose. Today we shall have come through a period of loose thinking, descending morals, an era of selfishness, among individual men and women and among Nations. Blame not Governments alone for this. Blame ourselves in equal share. Let us be frank in acknowledgment of the truth that many amongst us have made obeisance to Mammon, that the profits of speculation, the easy road without toil, have lured us from the old barricades. To return to higher standards we must abandon the false prophets and seek new leaders of our own choosing.”      FDR’s 1932 Inaugural

How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers. Your silver has become dross, Your drink diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels And companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe And chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, Nor does the widow's plea come before them.  Isaiah 1.21-23 

Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.  And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."  Luke 13.1-5 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.   2 Chronicles 2.14

By "my people", I'm increasingly convinced the Lord means me.