Reply #36: Truly there is no new thing under the sun.

[CBHagman]

Cleita's right that the things that horrify us today existed, in one form or another, in other eras. I grew up hearing about the Kitty Genovese murder (which occurred almost exactly 42 years ago).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Genovese

And anyone who has read accounts of the lynchings of 50, 60, 70, 80 years ago and more knows that the descriptions will haunt and torment forever.

So human nature isn't what's changed, nor would I generalize too much about my fellow Americans.

That said, I am appalled by disturbing trends, including a focus on money and power, discouraging of empathy, increased isolation despite so many means of communication, etc.

When I went off to college in the '70s, I recall hearing more idealism from my fellow students, and greater mistrust of money and power. There was even some knee-jerk suspicion toward business leaders, though tarring them all with the same brush struck me as unfair.

I do think some Americans have been trained to dehumanize others, to eschew empathy, to view real-life violence and death as though merely part of a movie or a video game, etc. But I don't believe any trend lasts forever, and I don't believe any trend is universal.

Have hope.