In 1964, Kitty Genovese, a 28 year-old bartender, was stabbed-to-death outside her place of residence in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York. This was not a quiet or invisible “crime-in-progress.” 38 bystanders watched passively as Ms. Genovese was attacked. Unfortunately, in America 2021, such indifference to violence and human life remains.

A few weeks ago, an Asian woman was physically struck and pushed to the ground in Manhattan. At least three people witnessed the attack. None tried to assist the victim. Similar episodes of apathy and indifference have recently occurred throughout the nation.

In terms of the latter, publicly sanctioned racism, Covid-vaccine avoidance, voter suppression, and a problematic legal system, are major, growing challenges that we face as a nation. At the same time, public and private disinterest in one another, alongside toxic public actions and policies, are eroding civility and personal responsibility in American society.

Surely, well before Donald Trump became President, our society was breaking-down. In the years following civil rights and Vietnam era activism, we have moved, as a nation, to new levels of racism, and lack of personal respect. We have taken the notion of “Me Firstism” to heightened degrees of selfishness and irresponsibility.

Today, in America, the political party of Abraham Lincoln has been seized by individuals who spout and practice “White Supremacy.” Think about it. Seventy-one million Americans voted for a hateful, bigoted individual, more concerned about political victory than individual lives, to be their President. Medical professionals have testified that Trump and his administration’s indifference to science cost the lives of at least 400,000 Americans. Purposeful lying, lack of compassion, and sheer incompetence were accessories to this disaster.

If Trump had been re-elected, climate upheaval, intensified racism, the dismissal of science and, ultimately, rule by pseudo-fascists, was what we had to look forward to. An “America First” foreign policy was leading us towards war in Asia. At home, civil unrest was becoming the pattern of everyday life.

Americans, in vast majorities, believe in sane gun laws, yet the Republicans say no. People support policies–from climate science to economic equity–that improve lives. Again, Republicans say no. Their displays of ignorance, lack of humanity, and absence of moral responsibility for their actions, is breathtaking. Will most Americans continue to respond to this rationally, primarily at the ballot-box, along with peaceful protest? Or, will the response also be inflamed rhetoric and actions that further damage our democracy? I don’t have ready answers.

I am writing this post shortly after the conviction of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, for the murder of George Floyd, an African-American citizen of that city. The media has repeatedly noted how different things may have turned-out if a young, Black teenager had not decided to become involved and record the scene as Mr. Floyd’s life was drained from him by Officer Chauvin. Unfortunately, as was the case with Kitty Genovese, the victim’s life was not saved. But, with Mr. Floyd, people did bear witness. For the future, questions remain as to lessons learned and the depth of real concern we share for each other.