They represent where we come from. In Sweden, people read about drive-bys and can't conceive of it. A fire at a big-city disco killed 60 people two weeks ago, and the entire country mourned. Maybe it's the lack of stillness. Americans don't take enough quiet time for themselves.
Time is money.
We use the entire day to make deals, run around town, never stop to notice when the last leaf falls from the tree in our front yards. We don't take time to sit and read. To play cards with our friends, or drink some coffee after work. We watch the local TV news while eating microwaved dinners, go to sleep and begin again. Maybe we take for granted the amount of sunlight we have.