It’s happening all around you.

In varying degrees.

Some worse than others.

But it is happening.

Think yourself lucky you aren’t one of them.

That you aren’t that far gone.

Or maybe you are.

All the more reason to keep reading.

How responsible is the individual for their own suffering?

Is it their fault?

Are they a victim of circumstance?

Or was it someone else's responsibility to keep them from falling into the abyss?

The individual has to have the freedom to make their own decisions.

And either reap the rewards or bear the consequences.

But as a culture, a society, a leading nation, intolerance towards certain degrees of despair and suffering is a must.

Idealistic?

Maybe.

Human suffering can’t be cured, it’s part of life.

Treated - yes.

Culture can hold a hand out to the individual and give them the choice.

Continue falling deeper into the abyss.

Or stand up.

Responsibility, control, enlightenment.

Understand it doesn’t have to be this way.

You’re suffering more than someone else.

But someone down the street is suffering more than you.

The least we can do is hold a hand out.

Hold each other up.

Especially when the people supposed to lead us, fail us.

Our Maiōrēs watch on.

-Aidan