A less violent world?

[azskyman]

An interesting discussion yesterday on local talk radio. Hugh Downs was a guest.

He introduced an interesting idea...a measuring stick of whether the world, in general, has actually made forward strides in human rights, suffering, brutality, and in fact assigned some greater value to human rights over the last thousands of years.

In centuries (and even recent decades) gone by, the anhialation of races, of classes, of religions was not only a common practice, but encouraged. Empires thought little of destruction, killing, rape, and power as a means to an end.

Our own civil war saw tens of thousands of people killed for nothing more than an unwillingness to join the draft. Slavery was deeprooted and commonplace...encouraged.

So, for all the pain and agony we endure these days...and the fear of more loss and pain, have we nevertheless "raised the bar" globally just an inch or two from those environments and standards?

Hugh Downs suggested we may have.

If so...then the sacrifice we make each day now is indeed worth the price.

No doubt there are major examples of shortcomings all around the world these days...but maybe, just maybe, he is right. We have been able to assign more value to life these days than at any time in the last few thousand years.

[wx247]

I agree... I think things have gotten better. A lot of people probably disagree with me, but I think they definitely have. It is just that as we advance... the intensity or magnitude of the next obstacle to overcome increases.

I compare it to a video game... as you "pass" levels and work on up the ladder your tasks become more difficult. You don't get to focus on all you did right, but you know you have accomplished a lot.

I am an optimist by nature so I believe that things are getting better.