Responsibility deficits

Breakfast with Stuart Schoffman was a treat – featuring a tour of the Shalom Hartman Institute, nourishing food for thought, and an introduction to the new Hartman Journal. Life and situations are always more nuanced and complex than they first appear. I have a thesis: rights-driven cultures cannot earn the dignity they deserve until they accept some degree of responsibility.  Stuart helped me realize that a person’s relationship with responsibilities may be complex.  Within the circle of her family and neighborhood, she may be highly responsible.  But when it comes to her tensions with a neighboring town, she may be obsessed 24/7 with rights exclusively.  This is good news.  Perhaps if enemies refuse to accept any responsibilities, this does not mean they can never begin to do so.  Their responsibility-deficit is not absolute.  Because it exists in some arenas of their lives, it may someday enter other arenas too.