Personal Responsibility- Smart, Not So Much

Society has many ills today. One of the most prominent is the inability to accept responsibility for our decisions. We make several decisions each day. Some of these are great decisions, some of these are good decisions and some of these are terrible decisions. I have made many bad decisions in my life. I refuse to accept, however, that these decisions are mistakes. I consider a mistake something that was unintended. If we purposefully make a decision, the result may not be what we had desired, but the intent to make the decision was there. When I was a child, I could have chosen any career path that I wanted. I chose sports. Like many young people I was drawn in by the fame and money. I was different. I knew I could make it. A little thing called health got in the way. Without a back-up plan, I was stranded. I then chose music. I was different. I could make it. A little thing called life got in the way. At this time, college became more important. I knew what I wanted to be. A little thing called children got in the way. (Not really in the way, lest you think I am heartless. We chose to have the booger) I was again aimless as I tried to navigate life. All of these were my decisions. I worked for a rental car company. I worked for the State of Texas. Again, a little thing called health got in the way. Had I not made so many mistakes decisions, I would not have had to start over after the health issues got a little better. I didn't have the right kind of degree, because I chose not to have the right kind of degree. I am now a 2nd year teacher, drawing a 2nd year teacher's salary. I am very thankful for this salary, as it provides food and shelter for my family. All of this, however boring it may be, are the decisions I have made. I am responsible for these decisions. Marcus Smart, in the heat of the moment, shoved a fan for being called a piece of crap. At first, Smart claimed a racial slur was being used. After and investigation, no one could corroborate this story. Smart chose to react. He is being called a kid. It is being called a mistake. His action, or reaction, has been blamed on the fan, on the coach, on three team members who are injured and on the fact that OSU is in a fight for their NCAA lives. He simply made a poor decision to shove someone who in inconsequential to him or his future, or was inconsequential to him and his future before last week. Smart will be 20 next month and is only a few months away from being drafted into the NBA where he will earn millions. Should a team invest money in a KID. Should they invest money in a CHILD? The average mortality rate for a soldier in Veit Nam was 19. Smart took the blame for his reaction in his news conference. That is a good sign. Taking responsibility is a good thing, However, it is not something that we are used too. Just look at the "sugar made me do it" defense of a few years ago. Generations past would be so disappointed in what we have allowed this country to become.