a reply to:
nullafides
Thanks for your post.
in some ways, I agree. We have by and large lost our ties to and respect for Nature. And our over-emphasis on sex-sex-sex! means that a whole lot of
more important things aren't getting done.
On the other hand, we have a country with borders, not a far-flung empire always unraveling at one spot or another. Also solid laws with a judiciary
to enforce them. As well as a somewhat participatory government, and a populace that at least follows issues crucial to their lives.
Human thirst for blood and excitement, like in the Coliseum, may never go away. But today the "excitement of bloodshed'" for the average citizen is
sublimated into TV, movies, video games and professional sports. LOTS of choices for entertainment - and generally speaking, no one dies.
Sophisticated populations have also slowly learned to value Life and have developed a sense of Empathy.
What HAS changed is the Internet, with "instant access" to news, and everywhere video-cameras that have caught criminals in-the-act, protected law
enforcement from fraudulent "abuse" charges, and nabbed endless evil-doers who didn't know they were being videotaped.
This "immediacy" of news and uncovering of criminal acts, plus excellent investigative journalism of those who "thought they got away with it," make
us light years beyond Rome.
If we survive, it will be because the average American citizen has a brain, morality and empathy. We can separate the important from the trivial
(including charlatan manipulators), based on the Truths revealed by the Internet news, and can rise up en mass to to demand change.
edit on 5-2-2015 by MKMoniker because: (no reason given)
edit on 5-2-2015 by MKMoniker because: (no reason
given)
edit on 5-2-2015 by MKMoniker because: (no reason given)