The USA in which I grew up is but a faint mirage of the USA in which I am now living, despite my living in the same city area for nearly all of my soon-to-be 65 years on earth. Some, increased empathy, individual awareness of their rights, a growing appreciation of diversity, and less outright segregation have been for the betterment of society and individuals. Others, the resurgence of blatant discrimination against the poor and nonwhite, the trend toward embracing fascism, and a desire to return to earlier days when only white males were allowed to vote, are very much to the detriment of a once-admired nation. It is quite a culture shift over my lifetime.
