I'd add some virtues to balance the scales - loyalty, honor, valor, humor, charity, and the occasional selfless act of phileo - but in general I agree. Humankind makes war, imposes justice, brutalizes the Earth, disregards decency - and seems to revel in it. Modern society imposed the 40-hour work week and increased prices to slightly exceed the wage, inventing the cubicle in its spare time. Religion is known for its flaws rather than its virtues. Politics is no longer a gentlemanly contest between oposing viewpoints in an effort to better serve the public.

In all this, there is little positive to say about the masses, the narod. Only the exceptional are virtuous (though even they are merely human).

This is humanity - for better or for worse.

It is also unavoidable that we should live in the world of our creation. Perhaps, on an individual basis, we can change it to something in which one might prefer to live. Education is an excellent tool, though necessarily limited in range and scope. The art of the possible in modern politics does not preclude systemic change. Common values can readily be encouraged with appropriate measures.

I do not say this will be an easy task -- but it is our task, for this is our world and no other. I charge you, therefore, to accept it as your life's work -- for again, it is your life's work will ye or nil ye, accept it or no; there is no other work worth doing, and indeed most of our jobs are in aid of this great undertaking. We just tend to look at life on a smaller scale and forget the grandeur that is our birthright.