Who Is To Blame for Oil Spills and Other Disasters?

This blog was originally written right after the devastating oil spill in the Gulf Coast at a British Petroleum oil rig.  The thoughts here pertain to any National and Global disasters.

Watching the senate hearings on the oil spill with Mr. McKay, Mr. Probert, and Mr. Newman (British Petroleum Executives) squirming in their seats to avoid blame by pointing elsewhere is painfully familiar, yet also instructive to the enlightened eye. No one involved with this disaster wanted this to occur, nor did anyone rejoice in it. The devastating incident is not random, nor was it planned, yet it was inevitable.

There is not one person or organization that can rightfully shoulder the full culpability for this devastating event. As in all experiences that “go wrong” with resulting suffering, heart ache, trauma and enormous expense, there is an endless wagon train of ignorance in the form of: arrogance, greed and ambition in many individual acts along the way.

It is ignorance that is to blame, not individuals. Facing the ignorance makes it possible to move toward healing.

Reluctance to face this truth results in endless asking of the six futile questions: What’s wrong? Who’s to blame? Why? How do you (we) feel? What should we do? Who is going to do it? These questions perpetuate the arrogance of thinking that once we find the culprit and make them pay – the problem will be solved.

One quality of being that could help the situation is humility. Humility recognizes that we are each elements of the Whole, and our health, both individually and collectively, depends upon our recognition and understanding of this reality.  None of us exist as a separate entity. We all exist as aspects of an infinite community of souls. When this is ignored, arrogance and ambition arise. We begin to think we can do and achieve regardless of consequences to the whole of which we are a part.

With humility comes an openness and receptivity to inspiration.  Many individuals involved with the oil rig disaster situation are now humbly and actively open to healing ideas and much good will come from this disaster. Yet, the public emphasis remains on the futility drama of "who's to blame."

What is helpful and possible for all who are witnessing this disaster is to see beyond the headlines to the under-lying , never-ending story of the urge to “cover-up” our embarrassment by looking to blame something or someone else. Embarrassment in this case might recognize in ourselves how the pressures of ambition and greed lead to behaviors of urgency and sloppiness.

Instead of seeking whom to blame, we can with humility, work as a Whole to recognize the ignorance revealed in this disaster and seek inspired and creative solutions.