It is indeed sad when people who share so much in common let the' 'tyranny' of their own ideas separate themselves from each other.
Steve, congratulations for the pertinent use of the term 'tiranny'. You starting to like it as well!
At one time in the past I remember people blaming each other for everything that happens to them. More and more, in life , we are understanding that we create our own reality. With this understanding we begin to understand that the 'tyranny' we percieve around us originates in our own attitudes. The reason we recognize it so well is that it is because there is a counter - balancing portion of tyranny in our own ideas and attitudes.