Do you think societies today are overly cruel, where they are missing in compassion, kindness, etc. How about the US specifically?

[Anonymous]

From my observation, it says as if the US, my country, can be overly cruel and at the same time unreasonable in its cruelty over a variety of topics.
Many a times, talks of adding more compassion, love, patience, kindness, and more gets laughed at, ignored, or immediately shutdown.
I think this may be a result of trying to uphold a stern or strong aura, akin to how the upbringing of this country. From the laws, the prison system, the loyalty to its military, etc.
I believe the US has kept what made it what it is today and hasn’t allowed for much progressive movement into its way of thinking.
Other countries are not the same in my observation. Their views on many things in society, specifically crimes, has a more progressive taste to it, as opposed to the US more stern or unwavering adherence to “if you break the law, you’re a criminal and criminals need to be punished because they’re bad.” It seems as if it’s strictly black and white a lot of the time. A lot of the populace is also bloodthirsty for the worst types of punishments. They need to “punish EVIL.” There’s always an enemy and that enemy needs to be punished severely.

[ArtemisSilver]

I did notice that, I used to an American co worker of mine about how the duty of a successful citizen is to reinvest in his their community and try to uplift their neighbors, once they themselves are suitably comfortable. He thought I was nuts.

I wasn't even talking handouts, I was just talking about businesses and job creation. Maybe basic healthcare and subsidized housing for the needy.

Pretty funny because you'd think with all the fundamentalist Christians in the US charity and good will to your neighbor would be a widespread concept.

I dunno maybe he's a one off but I suspect not. Self superiority and punching down aka class antagonism does seem like a legitimate issue there

[OlderAndWiser]

Cancel culture has produced a very cruel society of hypocrites who think they are compassionate.

[Jamie05rhs]

You had me until you started veering off into criminal justice. That's where you lost me; sorry. There is no excuse to commit crimes.

There are a lot of people out there who have strong ethics and morals and who are law abiding citizens, and still, THEY are struggling. I think that our compassion needs to be turned towards THEM. They are innocent. They didn't do anything wrong.

[jshm2]

Mostly just the American empire.

In fact most cruelty and injustices around the world can be linked back to the USA.

[slatyb]

The US? Definitely there is a cruel streak, and a lack of sympathy for the less fortunate.

[OddBeMe]

Becuase we Americans aren’t educated very well. European schools are taught empathy early. Probably the mass of countries next to each other.