by Lela Simon

Created on: March 23, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

I think that things are both better and worse. There seems to be a divergence in our society, a split between those who would have a better world and those that think we are doomed to the hell that we and generations previous have wrought.

For the better, we are more connected to the world and more aware of our place in it. One hundred years ago no one would have bothered even debating the idea that we have any effect on the planet. Also we have come a long way as far as civil rights and tolerance go, though as I point out later, not all the way.

There are many things that are the same. People say that money has replaced morality and that it has debased our society, but money has always been a "problem". Slavery was motivated by profit, as was the pre-union conditions of factory workers. Child labor was based on monetary gain, and while these problems are rampant in second and third world countries in the "first world" we have invented new ways of screwing people over for a buck.

Likewise, we find new and more interesting people to oppress. First we killed off all the Native Americans for being here before us, now the KKK is giving press conferences on the evils of immigrants.Things haven't changed, only the faces have.

The main difference I see is an incredible narcissism that would have been shunned in past generations. I sadly see too many people asking, "What about me?", and not even pausing to think about their family, community, country or world. Even though there is a lot more information available to us about the world around us, so many people seem stuck in a fog of self that leaves them unable to connect with society at large. How many people do you know that are aware of the crisis in Darfur? How many are doing anything about it? How many know about the political issues being dealt with in America? Are they active in their local government? Do they know if the bum that they pass everyday on their way to work was a veteran? Do they know if the people that they live with are happy and healthy? Do they care?

I don't look back on the past and lend it gilding it does not deserve, neither do I look to the future with disutopian nihilism; I do however, hope for better things, if I didn't I wouldn't be human.

Learn more about this author, Lela Simon.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.