Yesterday I saw Neil Diamond's documentary on Indians in Hollywood movies. He tried to elaborate on how the Western view on Indians has constantly changed. He failed. All respect to native Americans, but basically they're a wandering people in search of an identity. Luckily they're running the casinos.

Hmmm.. i my opinion, the most important message of Diamond was to underline the need of people to be regarded as and to reflect on themselves as humans, showing us the difficulties of this seemingly simple job.

@apathy

Maybe Arnon, but there is much to say about the few. They'll be bored, tired of life, get famous or lucky. They'll be poor, sick, noble, gentle or join the FARC.

The world of finance

It took since 1848 more than 100 years to create at least in our part of the world rules/laws for a better distribution of wealth. It took another 50 years of the entire post-WW II period to create ecological awareness and to subject humans' use of the environment to restrictive rules/laws. We are just beginning to do so, due to an increasing awareness that the planet is in real danger. Getting a comparable proces of rule/law formation on its way with what is the hard core of all problems: the way money is dealt with, takes at least another 50 years.....Keep faith!

Arnon: you are clairvoyant!

Theresa

Why?

Even apathy has to be fed. The food of apathy is consuming. As long people can consume, now less due the crisis, there will not be a change or revolution.

In your book"Kamermeisjes en soldaten" there is a good example of apathy. You tell the story that Al Qaeda pays to the local people 200$ to place a bomb. When the American army meets these people they pay them 300$ to not place any bomb. Apathy has a price list.

"Democracy"

I do not think the problem is apathy. There is a great deal of smouldering anger and frustration that is being sublimated in various ways (such as the "Tea Party movement").

The real problem is that Western parliamentary democracies are almost incapable of tackling vested interests.

I think the rules will change (a little), but who will benefit ?

Arnon

You are picking up on things happening to me.