America's Epidemic of Massacres Is a Sign of a Collapsing Society

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17. I disagree with Umair

Mostly, I think he's building a case he thinks is conclusive on a very small and rickety foundation. He and his wife discovered a cafe in America that wouldn't give free water to a homeless guy who had just collapsed from heat stroke, perhaps. In Europe, the cafe brought their homeless guy tea and something to eat. The list of broad generalizations Umair cites is accurate: income disparity, lack of social supports for everybody, an unresponsive government--all true, but not the whole story. In America, despite the insane medical "system," you don't have to go through chemo by yourself. There will be a cancer support group, providing information and conversation. Your child was killed by a drunk driver? MADD. You want to become a citizen? A non-profit will send an ESL teacher who can coach you in the citizenship exam. There's a Food-Net for the county and a food pantry in the local church.

People are still capable of responding to social needs, and effectively. There are some rough times coming, and happening now, for that matter, but the ingenuity and determination of human beings to survive should never be underestimated.