The positive view is that until very recently, our society didn’t punish this kind of crime very harshly. Now it is considered heinous.

I think as a society, as a people, as a race (human) we are evolving (slowly) with an expanding consciousness, so that something that was “normal” and acceptable (like smoking or slavery) or something that was not even able to be conceived of (like gay marriage or animal rights or speed-of-light communication across vast distances of space) becomes an idea, then it enters into the discourse, then it becomes a reality, then it becomes normal and is taken for granted.

I remember when yogurt was considered a “health nut” kind of food, when you could smoke in a college classroom or a movie theater (or a hospital), and when you could ride in the front seat in your mother’s lap….

and when torturing cats was dismissed as “boys will be boys.”

Now its a serious felony.

I have great hope.

and not on fire….