To Each His Own

In this day and age, things have gone to far.  People are afraid to just speak their minds.  Everyone is so easily offended.  Now if you say anything it is slander.  The world had become so litigious that the vast majority of people live life in CYA mode.  For those who do not yet know, that means Cover Your Ass.  It is each man or woman for themselves in a society who is trying to push community as an idea and a lifestyle.  It's either one or the other.  How can it be that no one can be trusted with the simplest task, yet now there is supposed to be a greater good that brings us all together to hold hands and sing Kum Bah Yah. 

I say make up your mind.  Either you take people at their word or they aren't worth a damn.  Distrust breeds the untrustworthy.  I'm not saying that we should share our most personal anything with everyone we meet.  Not at all.  It's no one's business.  However, if we can't borrow a cup of sugar from our neighbor, then are they really a neighbor or just a stranger who lives nearby.  And if that is the state of things, then how are we as a society supposed to harbor a sense of community if we can't be bothered knowing our neighbors. 

Don't get me wrong, around here I would really rather not interact with most of those people who dwell by my side.  But here, there are large chunks of land separating people.  There are also more farm animals than humans in the area, so it's a little weird to talk about community.  Here, the larger area is still  fairly small, and sometimes people will still wave when you drive down the street.  But mostly, people keep to themselves and those they know really well.  If you weren't born here, then you aren't worth a crap.  At least that's how they make you feel.  Doesn't bother me one bit.  I do find it odd that in regular suburbia, there was more "community" than there is here in this small town.  I thought that small towns were famous for...whatever. 

How do we foster a sense of unity, of true communal spirit to better ourselves as a whole, in a world that teaches that individuals are out to get you and each man for himself.  If the individuals that make up the community are untrustworthy then as a whole they shouldn't be trusted either.  Makes sense to me anyway.