I saw a sign in a probation camp once that read: “It IS your fault. You ARE accountable for your actions.” The sentiment seems valid, except for the fact that it is wholly unsophisticated and not very helpful. It is a distinction, born of our own fear, that refuses to acknowledge the complexity of being human. It stands at a high moral distance and says, “I didn’t join a gang. What’s your problem?” If we could simply drop the burden of our own judgments, we could see with clarity and then compassion would be possible.
