To: average joe who wrote (245584 ) 4/12/2008 8:45:45 PM From: one_less Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 793640 Like it or not there are men and women who measure as superior to other men and women on any number of characteristics. Some have demonstrated the ability to achieve and accomplish more in academics, some the ability to influence others, or to control wealth and property; while some have greater impacts on social dynamics, change or world events. The globalization of the world has changed our social landscape dramatically. Cultures have clashed, blended and impacted one another like no time in history. Borders are less able to distinguish political nature. Demographics of color, religion, sex, or creed no longer define principles of living for identified large cultural groups. Some people love the past even though the past is not real; and so they torture us with their sobs about the good old days. They figure, if they could just get rid of this or that movement, and remove certain types or at least subdue them, and destroy the threats from various other groups, all things would be like they were in the good ole days. The fact is, the old days weren't really as good as we like to recollect them. We can whine about the thunder and lightening on the horizon but that isn't going to stop the wind from blowing. When rains fall, the landscape changes; it grows anew and we can't choose whether or not to be a part of it. We do choose whether or not our contribution is beneficial or destructive. The superiority of a human being who has a decent character, who is kind, charitable, compassionate, honest and just, ought to count in our deliberations over worldly affairs but sadly that gets pushed down on our list of priorities more often than not.