What is going on?

So this is going to be a bit of a rant on my part; so be warned!

Normally I feel that I'm a fairly optimistic person; however, after recent events in the news I have to ask, what is going on in the world?

On an international level, terrorists hold hostages in various locations in Mumbai, India for more than 48 hours; and it's still not over.

On a national level (by this I mean American, not German), an employee who opened the door to a Walmart in Long Island on Black Friday was stampeded to death by the more than 200 customers waiting to get in. How do you trample a guy to death to get an Wii? Have we stooped that low?!

What can/should we do to stop this? I don't mean on a national level. I'm looking for is what we can do in our interactions with others (at work, home, walking down the street) to prevent the spread of this notion that "I am entitled to whatever I want and it doesn't matter who I hurt to get it".

Any thoughts/feelings are much appreciated.

Sorry for the rant.