MrsObvious's Blog

What a head shakingly sad story about John Edwards who admits he became drunk with attention and had an affair even as his wife battled incurable cancer. This is the same politician who shook his finger at Bill Clinton and condemned him for his actions while in the White House. This is the same policitician whose primary appeal was his devotion to his family and his purported morality.

We see this happen time and time again. Not only to politicians, but to men of God, CEO's, low level managers in huge corporations. It's almost as if the human being can't withstand the influence of having power: any kind of power... no matter how insignificant, or no matter how great.  Is it the society we live in....are we, as a society, without a moral compass in this day and age? What has happened to us, to our civility, our credibility, our inherent moral beliefs? Some of the more pious among us would lay it all at the feet of those who don't go to church, or preach their belief often or loud enough. I don't feel that's the answer as it seems the clergy is just as guilty of moral turpitude as the unwashed masses.  Some people lay it at the feet of the media who seems to sensationalize sex, glamor, relationships and instant gratification.

People get divorced at the drop of a hat and don't even bother to remain together and struggle through issues together. They want the instant gratification that is flashed in front of them all the time and go forth in their quest for personal happiness as they allow their marriage and children to fend for themselves as they pursue the holy grail of 'happiness'.

CEO's drain their companies of assets and profits and then claim ignorance of accounting practices as they jingle the keys to their  multiple homes in their pockets. Volunteers drain the funds of local soccer clubs or youth groups and blame it all on some type of addiction of one sort or another.

Have we, as a society, allowed the lessons of 'consequences based on actions' to totally escape us? Has the government interfered too much and made business responsible for our own carelessness and moments of utter stupidity? Why else would there be a warning on your steam iron about 'Caution! Do not wear clothing while ironing as it may cause serious burns.' Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Have the defense lawyers created too many Twinkie Defenses that have allowed us to shrug off responsibility for our actions and blame it on something else rather than ourselves?

I admire John Edwards for taking responsibility for his extramarital affair. I do not admire his attempts to lie his way out of it, however I do understand it. There used to be a time when we could claim integrity, responsibility and character strength as personal attributes of internal and spiritual strength, but those words are seldom heard this day and age.

The more powerful we become, the weaker we become as an individual, and less willing to accept responsibility for our own actions. Our moral compass becomes clouded with potential instant gratification and the knowledge that no matter what we do, someone will agree it really wasn't our fault and that everything will be okay.  I don't know how to bring it back. I don't know how to stop it. But I do know that it deeply bothers me.