I fear it might only get worse.
I took a good friend of mine, who I consider a respectable person, on a trip with us through the Mojave Road. We made our way over to the remnants of Fort Piute, and stopped there to admire the site. Part of my buddies admiration included a few kicks to the rock walls and tossing of a few stones off the structure. I was baffled, and a lecture ensued. To him it was just old junk in the desert, and he just didn't get what the big deal was. Took a bit of explaining on my end, and really trying to drill in the historical significance of the site and the privilege it even is to be able to drive right up to it and see it. It really got me thinking about why we saw things so differently, both being college educated professionals and all.
The only thing I can think of is that society imprints in us the need to be out with the old and in with the new. A new cell phone every year, a new car every year in some cases, in general, new trumps old and old is just junk that should be trashed.
I spend the rest of the trip really trying to drive the point home, how everything tells a story, how awesome it is that it is preserved, and how important it is to keep it that way for many generations to enjoy.
I think its up to us all to share that message, since society isn't drilling in these important basics to some folks. I don't assume people appreciate things for what they are anymore.