johnmdemarco posted on June 04, 2010 20:24
For whatever reasons, I tend to be among the last to jump on the bandwagon for something—whether it is a popular technology fad, the latest fashion, the hottest new movie, and so forth.
And I usually apply the same reluctance when the population either falls in love with—or expresses united disdain for—a public figure who continues to make the news for any number of reasons. One example from the past couple of years is Jon and Kate, the reality show mega-parents whose fall from marital bliss was documented via tabloid trash-ism for all (who cared) to see. I was aware of this only from the incessant headlines, and never bothered to learn enough about the particulars to form an opinion lest I get drawn into the pointless debate around which spouse was the prime evildoer.
I am having the same reaction to the “Let’s All Hate BP” bandwagon.
As I stated here in late May, I am as discouraged by the massive oil deluge as much as anyone. Each day the video and pictures from the Gulf become more horrifying. Who knows when this nightmare of an environmental disaster will come to an end, and what the repercussions will be across multiple areas for years to come.
And I don’t doubt that BP dropped the ball in any number of safety areas. And I also don’t doubt that many other oil companies are guilty of the same sloppiness, and that BP was simply unlucky enough to have an accident; and that plenty of government officials are part and parcel of the whole charade of mixed motives and economic incentives wrapped up in this herculean industry.
What amuses me is the savage emotion that so many Americans are invoking against BP in a subconscious effort to slow the process of stopping and healing their own internal character leaks.
What the heck does that mean, and should you be offended? Let me unpack it a bit.
Based on my observations of human nature across four decades, the more energy someone spends critiquing another person, entity or movement, the less they have to focus on exploring their own growth opportunities. It is one thing to correctly call for a higher level of responsibility or functioning from a group that impacts people or nature on a large scale. It is quite another to become obsessed with assigning blame, to where one almost loses their identity in their hatred, desire for vengeance or sought-after downfall of another.
We Americans seem to struggle with holding things in dynamic tension, and usually choose the road most traveled of going to extremes. It is hard for us to properly see difficult situations as they are, and take appropriate action, without becoming fully wound up in our emotions. Our default maneuver is to vilify, hamstring, destroy—while conveniently ignoring the tendencies within us that can and do cause discomfort or harm to others. We justify or rationalize our behavior by comparison: “After all, I didn’t cause a massive oil spill.”
It would be so easy for me to jump on the bandwagon. But in the end BP would keep making its billions and I would be the loser, for wasting so much time spewing anger toward a distant group rather than productively seeing what I can do with my own lifestyle to curb dependence upon oil and speak my mind at the polls. I would miss the chance to diligently explore my character each day to fully see ways in which I, too, cut corners or seek the easy way out. I might not pollute a body of water the size of the Gulf with my carelessness, but I pollute the consciousness of those around me if I am not intentional with my words and deeds.
There is a better bandwagon to jump on besides “I Hate BP.” It’s called personal awareness and responsibility, and it enables us to hold ourselves and others to the same standard and help facilitate a more hopeful planet.