Comedian Flip Wilson's character, Geraldine...
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Comedian Flip Wilson's character, Geraldine, was fond of excusing her improprieties by saying, "The devil made me do it." More recently there has been a daily television parade of "victimized" talk-show hosts, petty criminals, and vicious murderers who have taken refuge from their own accountability by blaming their wrongful deeds on childhood experiences, family heritage, or a variety of other "escapist excuses." Of course there is some truth in the fact that abusive and other traumatic events can alter our perceptions of right and wrong, and even cause severe emotional problems which affect us in negative ways. Yet, it is also easy to see that we live in a time and society in which many people seek to avoid responsibility for their own actions. Placing the blame on others delivers us from that responsibility and thus supposedly allows us to conveniently avoid the consequences of negative actions. However, that is only a wrong perception and not actually the case. By attempting to place blame on other sources -- and forces -- we are simply postponing, not evading, the consequences. "Our outward act is prompted from within. And from the sinner's mind proceeds the sin." -- (Matthew Prior) -- Byrd
