In old romantic or adventure novels, a protagonist would be “cursed by fate” or “blessed by fortune.” That was the simplest guide to a philosophy of life based on pure luck. Others believed that their pathway was shaped by God or gods – whom they could not easily complain to because then the rulers of the universe might get really nasty .
But now we have something much better. Convinced by all the magic around them, people now know that everything – even the weather, disease, or fall of dice – is controlled by other people. Some may be invisible in vast conspiracies, some oppress us everyday, some are just evil or complacent neighbors. So it is simply a matter of selecting from among this vast array to determine whom to blame when our days turn out badly .
Lawyers are always available to help. They can not only locate the guilty (and get money from them) but even figure out crimes that we did not even suspect existed. Lawyers advertise all the time. Oh, they charge fees, but how much more satisfying than consulting ancient seers or priests with their messy entrails, boring planets, and weird visions.
I and the other boomers grew up near the end of a different era, where folks challenged the universe directly. No excuses, win or lose, pick yourself up and start over. The blame was ours if we quit and whimpered about how unfair it all was .
My, how times have changed .
HuntingtonHarborThoughts 