The Erosion Of Accountability In A Turbulent World

My father always instilled in me the importance of accountability. As a child, he would often remind me that I should be responsible for everything I do or say, fully aware of the impact my words and actions might have on others. He emphasized that accountability was not just about owning up to mistakes but also about the consequences of inaction—whether it was not doing my homework, not studying, or not preparing for the future. As I grew older and became a parent myself, I found myself passing on this same lesson to my children. Now, as I watch them enter the workforce, equipped with the best education in their respective fields, I continue to stress the importance of taking responsibility for everything they do.

However, in today’s world, the value of accountability seems to be fading. We live in a time of global turmoil, where the willingness to take responsibility has been replaced by the instinct to pass blame. The news is saturated with reports of atrocities—hundreds of lives lost here or there—but the gravity of these tragedies is often met with indifference. The responsibility for these actions, and the profound grief they cause, is rarely acknowledged. Instead, we have become desensitized, numb to the suffering of others.

When I observe the political landscape, particularly during the U.S. presidential elections, I am struck by the lack of accountability among politicians. Rather than being held responsible for their words, decisions, and actions, there is a disturbing trend of finger-pointing, conspiracy theories, and mudslinging. This behavior starkly contrasts with the lessons my father taught me, and it saddens me to see such a disregard for accountability in leadership.

This lack of accountability is not confined to one country or region; it is a global issue. From the famine and conflict in Sudan to the ongoing violence in Gaza and other parts of the world, there is a pervasive sense that the loss of human life has become just another headline. The news, once a vital source of information, now often feels like a form of entertainment, desensitizing us to the reality of suffering.

Having lived in the United States for 40 years, I learned many valuable lessons—one of the most important being that every human life matters. It doesn't matter where someone lives, what color their skin is, or what country they call home; the loss of even one child is a tragedy that should shake us to our core. Yet, it seems that the principles of compassion and responsibility are increasingly overshadowed by a "survival of the fittest" mentality, where the strong prey on the weak without consequence.

In these times, it is crucial that we remember the importance of accountability, both in our personal lives and on a global scale. We must reject the normalization of violence and hold ourselves—and our leaders—responsible for creating a more just and humane world.