You’re a Victim; I’m a Victim; Everyone’s a Victim…

Did you read about the man below?

“A man who was fired by IBM for visiting an adult chat room at work is suing the company for $5 million, claiming he is an Internet addict who deserves treatment and sympathy rather than dismissal.

James Pacenza, 58, of Montgomery, says he visits chat rooms to treat traumatic stress incurred in 1969 when he saw his best friend killed during an Army patrol in Vietnam.

In papers filed in federal court in White Plains, Pacenza said the stress caused him to become "a sex addict, and with the development of the Internet, an Internet addict." He claimed protection under the American with Disabilities Act.[1] “

Just the latest in the “it’s not my fault, I can’t help myself, this is how God made me, nobody understands the trouble I’ve seen” approach to excusing the inexcusable. Before you get upset I am in favor of EEOC for the most part. I believe strongly in the ADA provisions but even these can get a bit wearisome when common sense is removed from the equation.

What has brought us to a place in our nation (I’m not going to speak for other cultures) in which we can so cavalierly persuade ourselves and others that we’re not to blame for things that we do? Parents don’t discipline enough. Parents spank their children. Schools are too tough on those who have problems concentrating. Schools don’t seek to engage the student as an equal part of the learning environment and program. It’s the police, men, women, gays, straights, religious right, liberals, Repubolcrats or Democans[2] that did this to me.

Are you part of this great cloud of victims? Maybe you feel you should hire an attorney and get in line with the others. Maybe you believe that in your case you really are the victim. Or maybe, just maybe it is time we got up, took responsibility for our own mess and went about solving the problem. I know it’s insensitive, so 19th century and probably just what the doctor ordered for a sick culture.

Peace

Alan


[1] http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/02/19/business/news/21807155418.txt accessed February 19, 2007

[2] The two parties are really just alike. It’s all about money and power/power and money. People rarely count except every other year. LOL

Comments

  1. Lori7:43 AM, February 25, 2007

    These days any attorney anywhere can turn anything that happens to us into victimization if there's a deep pocket anywhere in our vicinity. (for 33-1/3%).

    ReplyDelete

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