Mark Phillips' Pages: Workbook: 11/20/08: In the beginning I blamed her, the way they do.

William H. Johnson, "Folk Family" (c.1944) — William H. Johnson, *Folk Family* (c.1944)

November 20, 2008:

In the beginning I blamed her, the way they still do.

It's her fault she's hungry: she should stop buying expensive cigarettes instead of food.
It's her fault her teeth hurt: she should save her money for the dentist.
It's her fault she's broke: she should stop buying clothes every day.
It's her fault she's homeless. She should stop drinking.
It's her fault she drinks: she should quit, or go to rehab, or go to AA.

I had to learn the facts, through experience and research, and more experience.

They've had the experience, many years more than me. Why haven't they done the research?

After all these years it's still her fault.