I think you perfectly articulate what we, as a planet, should aspire to. However, I, unfortunately, do not believe we are as close to realizing as you seem to present. Britain’s referendum gives me both hope and pause. Hope because they, for the most part, were civilized and respectful of the other side’s opinion — very noticeable on the election night on the news and after the results were published. Pause due to the murder that occurred based in part on the politics. Still, sad to say, it was much more civilized than what seems to be happening in the US. Different opinions are shouted down, harassment, threats, actual violence happens in increasing numbers. Contentious decisions are always met with bated breath waiting for the explosion of violence, riots and the like (doesn’t happen ALL the time, but often enough that everytime we hold our breath).

I wonder how the society of the future will be like. I hope there will be more tolerance, but I also am terrified that the future may be moving to a society of clones. Diversity would only exist in terms of genetic background, but diversity of thought? Diversity of culture? The lack of those last two terrify me. I would be heartbroken if the world of the future did not have the wonderful national/cultural diversity of the world today. If that were to come to pass, why even travel? Your next door neighbor would be the same as the person you travel around the globe to meet. I want to meet a new British subject with all that heritage, then travel and meet a German, a Spainard, an Italian, etc….and engage in friendly teasing by a British calling me a colonial, a German telling me once again that “no, you should not drink that much. Our beer is much stronger than yours” (sadly I never believe them and always pay a price the next day). I have, with only one exception in all my travels, always enjoyed meeting new people = and they are like people everywhere = some good, some assh…s, but still it was a diversity….