J. Davy Crockett III

Have you observed angry, demanding groups with a grievance, real or imagined, or special interests seeking redress with threats of disruption or violence to achieve their ends? Consider personal behaviors that were illegal for millennia but are now considered to be “civil rights.” Think about the surreal assertion that biological gender is not limited to “male and female” and that individuals can “choose” their gender without regard to their actual chromosomal makeup or genitalia.

Recently, Hurricane Michael pummeled the Gulf coast and the Mid-Atlantic states, causing widespread property damage and loss of life. On the heels of that, Northern California has experienced the worst fire season on record. Firefighters and rescue efforts are overwhelmed, with some small towns facing complete devastation. The loss of life is staggering, with hundreds of people still missing. Wildfires have raced through the bone-dry hills and valleys, driven by fierce Santa Ana winds—an unusual phenomenon in that area.

Hurricane Michael, a powerful Category 4 storm, recently roared ashore in the Florida Panhandle before veering northeast with high winds, record breaking rainfall, widespread flooding, astounding amounts of property damage, and power outages for millions of people. Vacationers scattered, residents evacuated, and emergency crews prepared for the worst. There were scenes of heroic rescues and the dramatic pictures of the devastation in the affected areas dominated the news for days.

For anyone keenly observing today’s world scene, an undercurrent of shamelessness soon becomes very clear. You’ll see it in everything. Political shenanigans, movies, popular music, and—this being the “Information Age,” after all—the “blogosphere,” where anyone can air his or her views, gripes, and opinions, without reservation. And this culture is becoming more disturbing all the time.