So I check out twitter and see that Charles Barkley is trending… and looked to see why.

It seems that Barkley gives the all-too-often refrain that it is the “system” that is making people hate each other.

Of course then some cheer him on.

But, I think it is a cop-out. “The system” is not some thing that an alien (to Earth) invader suddenly dropped on humanity.

“The system” is people.

Trying to put the blame on “the system” is just avoidance.

Avoiding confronting people. Avoiding holding people accountable. Avoiding accepting difficult truths about ourselves.

In religious circles, “the system” becomes Satan (or insert whatever supernatural evil figure or god.)

It’s a way to pass the buck.