Where are you on the spectrum of hope?
brianlux
Posts: 42,038
Having been involved in other conversations elsewhere related to this topic (and similar conversations here in the past), I'm curious as to how you good folks currently see yourselves on the spectrum of hope for this world, for your community, for your country, for civilization as a whole and for life as a whole (remembering we are but one species of many on this earth).
For my community, my hope is fair but not great as it continues to grow too fast for it's own good. For my country, my hope is weakening fast but not dead as I see young people with bright ideas and smarts who refuse to be sucked in and brought down by ignorance, idiocy, racism and hatred. For the world, my hope is most thin but I still refuse to become a full-fledged curmudgeon. I believe in luck more than miracles but I also often marvel at how we humans sometimes pull off the seemingly impossible. For other life, I feel badly for the other species for whom survival is at the mercy of our whims but I do find hope in the continued existence a few good earth warrior organizations.
What about you?
For my community, my hope is fair but not great as it continues to grow too fast for it's own good. For my country, my hope is weakening fast but not dead as I see young people with bright ideas and smarts who refuse to be sucked in and brought down by ignorance, idiocy, racism and hatred. For the world, my hope is most thin but I still refuse to become a full-fledged curmudgeon. I believe in luck more than miracles but I also often marvel at how we humans sometimes pull off the seemingly impossible. For other life, I feel badly for the other species for whom survival is at the mercy of our whims but I do find hope in the continued existence a few good earth warrior organizations.
What about you?
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.
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Having mentioned ripple-effects a few times before, it applies here too.
Personal level, usually high-apple-pie-in-the-sky hopes. Actually, also on that me and mine level - how we treat each other and strangers. How we treat ourselves and our cats and neighbors and immediate environment. I wish that is / might be enough to spiral out but if not, it's still enough for and within our little world. Could go in the positive or not, maybe just meander.
Still tried, goddammit!
On the further level, as shit actually does spiral out, in the end-game? Probably quite a way off timewise, but not too hopeful about when it goes down.
and i say if you are contributing good to your family and anyone surrounding you
and doing whats in your power to help even if it may seem helpless in the world we live in
it all really counts and is noted.. dont forget its the condition of your heart your intention is good
and you are not fighting against those doing the same whether in a small or larger scale
it doesnt matter whether you cant do what you would like to do and someone else could.. it doesnt make them greater but your equal..its quality not quantity..
yes things look hopeless but in honestly its further from the truth with the what the future prospects are...
you should talk to my mum she would make you feel better and open new doors...
Not because of the evil fears fox news has their base believe.
There are too many damn people on this planet and growing. It isn't sustainable
No one informed me.
And the young, they can lose hope cause they can't see beyond today,...
The wisdom that the old can't give away.
I have a front row seat with
Or maybe it does fluctuate with and over time.
Or maybe it's me (going with all three options).
Anyway, on the popcorn front, I'm hoping our stash of the white cheddar variety is still around and not stale.
But...I believe there is hope in the future but only after we hit absolute rock bottom. Like a bad alcoholic it is only when we have gone as low as humanly possible that we may see the need to change the complete outlook on our existence. What is our rock bottom? I'm not sure but it would definitely be a wide scale disaster that would eradicate a good 80% of the population. Climate change and nuclear war are the first scenarios that come to mind.
country: better now that we got rid of Harper
civilization: almost zero. I think the ratio of people who give a shit to those who don't is getting smaller, but not fast enough. those that care are not the ones in power.
life: fair. I think once we are gone, the planet will once again thrive and be green and blue again.
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- Martin Sheen
I'm going to work harder than ever in 2016 to restore hope and life to our battered world. All the sorrowful and pitiful voices of gloom and despair will have no effect other than to encourage me to work even harder. Here's to a better world in 2016!
I admit to being part curmudgeon but only in the sense that I get angry quite often and mostly that anger is at what I see as injustice to both the planet and all of its inhabitants and that kind of anger coincides with the will to take action. In personal relationships, I much prefer cooperation, kindness, and respect. But I never back down from a firm belief and I particularly won't back down from my support of the health of the planet and the defense of biodiversity. As for optimism, I always go with the idea that hope is doing what makes sense no matter how hopeless the situation may be. Without hope and the willingness to work for what makes sense despite the seemingly overwhelming odds in favor of defeat, why even bother trying? Few of us will ever make great change. Few of us will rise to the level of Gandhi, or MLK or Nelson Mandela or Paul Watson but it also takes all of the rest of us doing our little part to make great things happen. It's all of us whom are unsung and unknown who can make change happen. Without us, the heroes we hold in esteem haven't a chance to make things happen. I'm happy to be one tiny cog in that system.
Brian
It's sad to see people get dragged down under the avalanche of negative stories that are always coming at us. The thing is, most of this stuff was happening before, and probably more often.
cnbc.com/id/101018722
theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1999/08/the-population-surprise-9908/377735/
the reality of it all is so confusing because the human need for control and power too often crush the dream that could create a peaceful world and so too often we must make personal choices to ensure our own personal safety and well being.
Godfather