Occupy Wall Street - Day 14

What caused the Great Recession and what has made it drag on for so long?

The culprits Americans have focused on are many: corporate greed, Congressional corruption, President Bush, President Obama, rich people, insufficient taxes, too much spending, not enough spending . . . the list seems to grow every day. But the one thing we never hear blamed in the press or by the Tea Party or the “Occupy” movement is ourselves.

Who voted for these politicians, and who continues to return them to office every election cycle?

Who took out all those subprime loans, in spite of the fact that they clearly could not be repaid?

Who continued to buy stock in financial companies that paid such massive bonuses to their executives, even when they failed?

We the people did these things, that’s who.

In the story at the CNN link above, several pastors are interviewed about their different reactions to the recession. Some will not preach directly about personal responsibility or individual greed for fear of alienating their church’s biggest donors. Others speak of laying blame on all the usual Big Suspects. But a few — very few, apparently — seem to think the best response might be a little fearless self examination.

Why is it nobody is asking, “What would Jesus occupy?” Could it be we worry that the answer might be us?