Hi Daniel. Three comments on your excellent essay.
First: I couldn't see any real connection between your shopping experience and the TV reality shows - and frankly I doubt there is one!
Second: I do strongly believe that TV and movies influence people's morality. Clint Eastwood claims that *American Sniper* is simply an honest reporting of what happens, but the actions of a psychopathic mass-murderer should never be *sold* to the viewers as other than extremely offensive. I do see a direct connection between violence on TV and violence in the streets. TV shows do persuade people that torture is acceptable and justified.
Third: I disagree with you that we heathens don't have a *ready-made morality* to support our actions. As children we learnt to do unto others as we would want them to do unto us - and we didn't always learn it in a religious context. The basic concept of *human rights* is that they exist in the ether, as it were - that they can be recognised or not recognised, but cannot be *granted* by governments or religions or anything else. I like that concept!
