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SCAPEGOATS 'R' US
NMB, Florida November 6, 2001 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
SCAPEGOATS 'R' US
When I taught History I frequently had recourse to a sketch I drew on the
board for the class. It was the head of a goat, horns and beard and all
with a rope around its neck. I drew the rope over to a post where the rope
was tied. The goat was now ready for its sacrifice.
In an ancient rite, the people of the tribe, clan or family gathered to one
side and looked at the goat within which they invested all the sins they
earned in the past year. Then, at a propitious time announced by the local
Shaman, they walked one at a time past the goat, touched it, and then
assembled on the other side. At the moment the goat was touched each
person's guilt and sin was removed and transferred to the goat. Then the
goat was sacrificed. Its neck was cut and its sinful blood drained down
into the earth.
It seems that the US is the scapegoat for people who have never been
anywhere near our country. They do, however, know of our success, our high
standard of living and our free and easy ways. Other countries and other
customs aside there is such a thing as the "Third World" and "Have Not"
nations. These poor places do not have the physical or intellectual
where-with-all to solve their problems. They are like the American pockets
of poverty like the Appalachias and Ghettos and Barrios where hope is
sundered by everyday knowing there is no way out. In such places it is
sometimes, perhaps always, the practice to place blame somewhere else other
than accept it for yourself. Usually there is no blame but ignoring thought
and risk-taking that might find a way out.
America is the "Scapegoat 'R' US" of choice when we allow this practice to
persuade ourselves that the other world has it right. They are preaching it
to their people and have come to believe their own propaganda. This
seriously affects thinking and gets in the way of solving problems.
It is my contention that we do not act like the scapegoats of history and
do not go quietly to our fate. Let us resort to some serious thinking. We
are Americans, not goats. Carol's Evaluation: 8.5 out of 10. Carol says I'm
preaching again. Bye for a while.
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