This is a reply, but I felt compelled to leave it.

Just because I am an American does not mean that I am naive. It does not mean that I am "outraged" by the brutal realities of the world while I sit around and take no action. And it certainly doesn't mean that I rely on my government to bear my responsibilities.

I am engaged to a Bulgarian whose parents are much older than my own. It has always been an unspoken truth between us that he will be their caretaker and I have no problems with being right there beside him. Is it true that Americans have a much different view of elderly care, absolutely. I think it is engrained in us as young children to aim for independence from our parents. Our parents don't want, nor do they ask, to be taken care of by their children. They don't want to be a burden. We do not live in large extended-family homes such as Bulgarians. We aren’t raised with the expectation of caretaking. We are culturally, historically, economically, and religiously different from Bulgaria, that’s just the way it is. I do, however, believe that we could stand to take a page from Bulgaria's book and play a larger role in the care of our parents.

However, when it comes to children's "group homes" I have to say that I have never heard of any institution in America taking an essentially murdered child, burying them out back (like an animal), not performing an autopsy, and not alerting the authorities. Just boiling it down to the "brutal reality" of the world is a cop out. Was the Holocaust just a "brutal reality?" What about the genocide in Darfur? Sitting around and just accepting bad things as an inherent part of human nature perpetuates evil. Maybe in the case of these children in Bulgaria, it comes down to a lack of resources or the fact that they are just one of many of Bulgaria’s social woes. No matter the reason, they deserve better and Bulgarians should demand it.  I have been to Bulgaria. I have driven past the countless orphanages dotting the countryside (mainly full of castaway disabled or Romani children). I have spoken with my fiancé about adoption. I, as an individual human being, am trying to make a difference. Thankfully, I haven't had to care for any members of my own family, yet. But I have no problems doing so when the time comes. I have been "confronted" by the outside world firsthand. I have handfed severely disabled children in the slums of India. I have scrubbed the floors and cleaned the toilets of these "group homes" you mentioned. For you to generalize Americans as only caring "in theory" is unfounded and unfair. No matter what work you may happen to do.

Lastly, I want to say that my comment about Andreytcho has little to do with this actual post. He is the same for every comment he leaves. I believe that he aims for shock value. He is an instigator. I do not think that he is trying to participate in any constructive dialogue. It has nothing to do with me being an American confronted by the wisdom of the realist that is Andreytcho. Don't give him that much credit.