Pictures are worth...

What, if anything, do the photos below show?

I think they lead to one of two conclusions:  One is that the societies in the countries shown are fundamentally different than ours--in which case we'd be well advised to identify the differences and do everything we can to keep from becoming "them."

The alternative is that there isn't any fundamental difference between us and them--in which case the pics show our own future.  And given our current totalitarian government, I'm starting to think that may be right.