Yes! Agreed!

But I would put it this way:

WE changed the narrative to support OUR wrongdoing. WE created language and a story to justify OUR intent and actions.

We're all in this together.

Yes, those in power have much control. But that control is only possible with the aid of ever-widening circles of support, usually explicit support. Kings to ministers to generals to armies to farmers and all those who raised and supported them at every level.

To place all the blame on Putin, for example, is to take agency away from the Russian people. But to put all the blame on the Russian people is to take agency away from all the rest of Earth's population who built, over centuries and to this day, a human power structure that allows despots, demagogues and dolts to wield outsized power. And at any point in the system!

When we step back and, consciously or unconsciously, use 'they,' 'them' and 'their' as we place blame we remove our own agency. We either become to degrees what we believe we are, powerless. Or, we turn our world into one of friend (us) and foe (them).

Neither is conducive to peace, or health!

Take care (sorry if it sounds like a lecture. Don't mean to. I tend to get passionate about this stuff...!)