Guilt: A Texas (sized) Gusher

Rahm Emanuel’s now famous phrase, "You don't ever want a crisis to go to waste." comes to mind. A crisis always generates guilt. Guilt is as good as money. Guilt needs time to incubate. If I remember right, in the schoolyard nobody was spared if they happened to be a little different, or obviously weak. The bullies were merciless. Guilt (or shame) was something that was taught by rote. “Go and apologize!” took the place of ten Hail Mary’s. Once the pump is primed, guilt spews like a Texas gusher. I’ve heard reporters returning from Haiti say, they felt guilty coming home to a fully stocked refrigerator. Many have been moved to contribute significantly to charities that concern themselves primarily with Haiti relief.

No doubt, slavery was one of the great stains on our own history. To this day we are made to feel guilty about it. It has spawned a great industry – rivaled only by holocaust and ‘global warming’ advocates - that promotes guilt for purposes of extortion. (I support the existence of the State of Israel not because of the holocaust but because it is the right thing to do now.) Guilt is the cash currency that derives from disaster.

Extortion is not the only game in town. Preferential treatment and quotas are also in play. If carried to extreme, it can kill meritocracy itself and result in tyranny by an ‘aggrieved’ minority. This is what happened when we elected Barack Hussein Obama.

Those who play this game never tell the whole story; that those profiting from disaster – especially after so many years - should actually be the ones profoundly ashamed for allowing themselves to be treated better than others who might have contributed more than mere ancestral suffering. To my mind it would be highly insulting to receive special consideration on the basis of skin color alone, or having lived x number of years; or having red hair; etc. Such an empty gesture, anyone with eyes can see, would be bestowed without merit and, thus, would be essentially worthless and condescending. I would politely refuse to participate in a scheme by which I am used as a mere tool to quiet somebody else’s throbbing conscience. I would not dare to come between any sinner and his God in this way – especially if the sin was specifically contrived for some devious purpose.

Unfortunately there are those who play that game to the hilt. They persist because they can catch many fish. Satire directed at Obama is not acceptable because he’s black; satire directed at Bush is acceptable because he’s white. We have entire populations falling for the gig. Two years ago, America fell for it. Even now, that Obama has proven himself to be supremely inept, it is still unacceptable to ridicule him. Any criticism of his actions must always be couched in, “…but we like him personally.” I’d like to know just how many of those who say that, actually know him personally.