There is a game that is played everyday by masses of people in which nobody can win.  It is called “The Blame Game.”  It can be played by any number of players and there is no time limit or rules.

This is how it goes.  The first player begins by making a blanket statement of fault about any group or individual regardless of truth or proof.  The next player either agrees and joins in the fun, or decides to blame another person or group.  This continues until all possible parties have been blamed for something, or an argument or fight gets out of control.  The game can be picked up again at anytime, and in any place and it can continue until truth breaks through and prevails, or as players die off.

The playing of this game rips at the fabric of our society and our world in such a way as to close open minds and create wars based on fear.  Eventually, all players must come to terms with the consequences of their actions, because of what the casting of blame has caused them to do.

Everyone loses, but the game continues.  Ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation and any number of other differences between people can be added to the categories being blamed for life’s ills.

There is no way of calculating all the games that are being played because they are everywhere, all being played at the same time.  It is impossible to tabulate all of the losses.

But can we limit the losses?  I hope so.  If enough people refuse to play, it could alter everything.  Tolerance is the answer.  Tolerance and forgiveness could pave the way to peaceful thinking and change the atmosphere, making it hard to find enough players to even begin a game of blame.

I think we should create a new game.  We can call it “Solutions.”  Players could start the game by offering suggestions for ways to find solutions to real, specific problems and then ask for more ideas.  There would only be winners in this game and it would just continue to be played without an ending.  Minds would begin to open and peace could begin to hover over the discussions spreading an attitude of goodwill.

We can and must decide which game to play.  The choice is up to you and me.  What we decide together will be a major factor in the future decisions of our world.  Let’s make good ones together for the good of all of us.