I wish I could say that I'm shocked at the daily headlines lately, but sadly, I am not. I have been observing the changes in people's attitudes for decades now. More and more I am coming to the conclusion that our society is reaching critical levels of apathy, selfishness and complete disregard for anyone or anything outside of "self." Add to that widespread mental and physical laziness, inability to think without the crutch of technology, and broken educational and judicial systems and what do you get? A mess.
According to Merriam-Webster's, the word "society" means: (2) "a voluntary association of individuals for common ends," (3a) "an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another."
Likewise the word "community" means: (1a) "unified body of individuals: as (e) "a group linked by a common policy."
As far as I understand, it is impossible to have a properly functioning AND mutually beneficial society or community without the elements of common courtesy, accountability and respect for oneself and others. Those things seem to be dwindling before our eyes, making our society very dysfunctional indeed.
Accountability is of utmost importance if we are to have any semblance of safety and peace of mind. Unfortunately from the courthouse to the schoolyard and everywhere in-between, people are not held accountable for their actions. As a result we have acts of horrific violence being perpetrated by offenders who are barely out of diapers!
I wish I could offer a "national" suggestion for improvement, but I'm afraid my resolution is much more diminutive than that. It starts with calling a wrong a wrong, and if someone needs a little (or a lot) of help with that, we as a society of supposedly civilized people should help them-and stop "looking the other way."
According to Merriam-Webster's, the word "society" means: (2) "a voluntary association of individuals for common ends," (3a) "an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another."
Likewise the word "community" means: (1a) "unified body of individuals: as (e) "a group linked by a common policy."
As far as I understand, it is impossible to have a properly functioning AND mutually beneficial society or community without the elements of common courtesy, accountability and respect for oneself and others. Those things seem to be dwindling before our eyes, making our society very dysfunctional indeed.
Accountability is of utmost importance if we are to have any semblance of safety and peace of mind. Unfortunately from the courthouse to the schoolyard and everywhere in-between, people are not held accountable for their actions. As a result we have acts of horrific violence being perpetrated by offenders who are barely out of diapers!
I wish I could offer a "national" suggestion for improvement, but I'm afraid my resolution is much more diminutive than that. It starts with calling a wrong a wrong, and if someone needs a little (or a lot) of help with that, we as a society of supposedly civilized people should help them-and stop "looking the other way."
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