R.A. Lafferty wrote a story called "The Groaning Hinges of the World," about places on Earth where the overworld and underworld occasionally switch places, and the mild and sane people are all replaced by fierce and bloodthirsty people. I think he was onto something; every so often a change in culture occurs, and what was virtue to one age--to be compassionate and charitable and tender--is seen as vice; and the vices of the old world--selfishness, greed, and cruelty--become seen as virtue. It happens occasionally, in some cultures.

I think we are at the beginning edge of one of these cycles. I think the hinges of our world have turned, and a few of us are left with the set of values belonging to the younger age, and it is we who will be crushed, as always, by the onward march of cruelty. I expect more of this. If you can get your hands on the Lafferty story, read it; it's good.

Tucker