Powerlessness at the Beginning of the 21st Century

At the Coffee Shop, originally uploaded by skitbraviking.

All of humanity now lies within a flattened and flattening Web of information, commerce, entertainment, and political and cultural centers. The Walls have fallen and we can escape to any corner of the world not-our-own, even if it takes a little creative passport or visa work. Pockets of freedom circulate around the more afflluent lands with more accepting court systems, while intolerance and the stoney first justice serves the less fiscally fortunate. One leads to foibles and damnation through decadance, while the other leads to brutality, hatred and bigotry.

In America, we drink coffee and dream, drink coffee and read a pleasant fiction, drink coffee and chat with somebody over our latest social drama, drink coffee and discuss what's become of the world.

Whereto shall the twain meet?