First Step Assign Blame

   Many years ago a guy I knew outlined the steps to follow when a group encounters a problem. Once it has been determined that there is a problem, the first thing to do is assign blame. I'm not sure what his reasoning was for this being the first step. I know that he told me why it was important to determine who was at fault, I just don't remember what he said.
   I do remember thinking that it was a little strange. I would think the next step would be fact-finding followed by finding a solution and then putting that solution into place.
   The recent events involving immigrant families reminded me of this conversation from so long ago.
    The one thing we can all agree on is that children should not be separated from their parents or adults who are caring for them unless there is a case of abuse, neglect or other mistreatment. That is where the agreement ends.
    Then the finger pointing started. It's pretty easy to see who is on what side of the political spectrum by who they are blaming for the problem. Some blame the current president. Other say that this policy was actually started by previous presidents and the current president had to follow it. There are dueling fact-checking articles explaining who is really at fault. Lots of finger pointing and lots of anger and pictures of crying children.
    Citizens are marching and posting on social media. Politicians are bloviating. Nothing is really being done.
    That's what bugs me. Who cares whose fault it is. Does it really matter? If it was a previous president, he's no longer in office and not able to fix the problem. It is up to the current president and maybe Congress to fix the problem no matter who caused it. I don't understand why we waste so much time blaming one group or another for the challenges we have in our society.
   I believe that is part of the reason why nothing really ever gets done. We're too busy blaming the NRA, Congress, Democrats, and Republicans for failing to do anything to keep mass shooters from killing children in schools and adults in workplaces. We're too busy calling each other names instead of seeing others as fellow humans who want the same things for themselves and their children as we want for ourselves and our children. We need to stop saying "Not Our Kind, Dear"
   This Independence day why don't we celebrate by doing something radical. Why don't we try acting like a united people? Why don't we start by remembering that unless you are a Native American, there is an immigrant somewhere in your family tree. Why don't we start by being polite to a stranger. Instead of thinking of others as snowflakes, feminazis, rednecks, undesirables, trailer trash, snobs, and elitists, try thinking of them as human, period.
  I am told that our Founding Fathers did not get along either. They all had different views and different experiences. They somehow managed to resolve their differences and come together to create the country that we live in today. When they needed to act they were able to put aside their differences and act.
   We should follow their example.