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How many times do you see a headline for the millions of good deeds we do for each other every day?
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I have been following the disaster that is the political landscape just like everyone else. I have seen us polish the turd of injustice as we shoot each other with semi-automatic weapons meant to take out a lot of something living with ease. We then step into the blood of our brothers and sisters and announce it is our right to have this firepower. Just like you, I have witnessed a rigged system in finance, a mess in health care and a tax code no one can figure out. Every day I am reminded how bad our country’s infrastructure is as I weave around potholes on my way to work. Just like you, I see the weekly terror attacks that take hundreds of lives. I also feel the fear as it courses through my veins.
That said, I would trade my life for a child born today in a heartbeat. To me, the future is immeasurably bright. I believe we will have to endure as much as a decade of pain before things turn up in a big way. I am hopeful we won’t kill the planet and ourselves in the meantime.
I believe most people on the planet are good. The bad guys are a tiny minority that make for big headlines. How many times do you see a headline for the millions of good deeds we do for each other every day?
There will always be a fear of terror and there will always be those who want to inflict it on us.
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I held a door open for a woman this morning. She smiled and said “thanks” and off she went. No headline for me. I made a donation to Clean Ocean Action at the beach. This is an organization run by an old high school friend who is making a difference for the planet. They gave me a hat. I wasn’t looking for anything in return but reasoned it had advertising value for a good cause. I gave it to my wife. Still no headline. I sat on the floor with our dog Dash this morning thinking he would feel good that I was at eye level with him. He flapped his tail a couple time as we leveled off. Again, no headline. I don’t know what the rest of the day holds for me but I suspect I will do a couple more nice things that most everyone won’t know or hear about. I think my day is just like everyone else’s. Except the bad guys who get the headlines.
The reason they get the headlines is that they are the exception. It’s the aphorism, “man bites dog” that gets reported not “kind man helps old woman cross the street.”
To me our future is as bright as a burning star.
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Every day technology is being advanced for good. Advancements and efficiencies are being developed and furthered to make our lives better. While the state of our health care system borders on disarray, I believe we will fix it. In contrast to the system, the advances in health care treatments are exceptional. We’re mapping the genetic code that is helping in the fight against cancers and disease. The average age for us is increasing and the prospects for people to expect to live to be a hundred are good. Possibly as early as the next administration, our country will pass a massive infrastructure bill. This will put millions to work in good paying jobs. The money these workers will make will find its way into the financial markets. Markets which, when properly regulated, will rise and create prosperity for a desperate lower and middle class. (Add pic of Dow) Attention is being focused on the water, air and other elements that have been polluted. Food production is improving and more people around the planet have access. While not fast enough, we are determining there are issues that need to be fixed. This is the first step that will lead to improvements then resolutions.
This brings us full circle to our current state. There will always be a fear of terror and there will always be those who want to inflict it on us. In time, we will pass reasonable and acceptable gun control laws and we will increase our surveillance and capture of the bad guys who want the headlines.
America will lead the world into the bright future. The history of our ability to lead and innovate is just too strong to disappear. It is at the core of our values. While we stand in amazement of the headlines every day we are getting closer to action. Once unleashed we will move forward and gain followers and momentum. Add this to the nice things we do for each other and you have an impenetrable force for good that no amount of evil can overcome. To me our future is as bright as a burning star.
My best, Chris
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Photo: Getty Images
Btw. I do think you have to start from a point of optimism or else it turns to nihilism really fast. Not good. I think you’re on the right track Chris. Just temper it with realism to know when it’s gonna come back and bite you. Which I think you are. The current left think though is not doing that. In the end they will kill us all. But now I just became a hater for saying so.
I feel backed into a corner to some degree. I don’t see any other option but optimism. But then when I think about some of the good stuff we have going on,which I tried to point our in the article, I am like honey shit we really do have a bright future. BTW I spent about 5 minutes thinking of the good stuff. If I spent a day I am sure I have a much bigger list. Thanks again Mark.
HI CHRIS, YOU HAVE A GIFT. YOU SAID IT ALL IN YOUR ARTICLE AND I REALLY FELT YOUR WORDS. IT HAD MEANING, A LOT OF HOW PEOPLE ARE THINKING BUT JUST DON’T KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS IT. YOU SAID IT FOR ME AND I THANK YOU
Appreciate the kind words Nicholas. I am trying very hard to point out all the good there is in life and our country. I feel kind of alone but that’s ok. It is what I believe. Best, CF
I really appreciate this one, Chris. This is how I see the world as well — not with rose colored glasses, but with the reality of everyday kindness I see. I agree, we will continue to innovate and improve. This is an old TED talk, but one I continue to refer to when people share only the sadness and discouraging stories across the globe. https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_and_ola_rosling_how_not_to_be_ignorant_about_the_world?language=en
Thanks Sarah. I think we need to take the high road but I agree we have many very large issues to deal with. This country is good at solving big issues. There is no reason why we won’t continue too. Thanks for the Ted link. Best to you, Chris
Possibly. I also see the possibility of an orwellian world where you cannot speak unless it’s right speak. Where we have given up all hope of individual expression, opportunity and basic freedoms to a government we are so completely beholden to. That writing is already on the wall. Where all those medical advances are withheld because you’re too old, or won’t be productive enough for the state. Too costly they’ll say in a world of scarcer resources. Do you know we pay about 258,000 to sponsor a single refugee family here? Think if they just merely denied 10 families by… Read more »
I so appreciate your comment. I guess I am hanging to what I honestly believe. And that is that people are generally good. I believe we will do the right things over time. My evidence here is just that we are where we are and haven’t managed to kill ourselves or the planet yet. I am hopeful and thank you Mark.
Thanks so much for your reply, Chris. I understand your point based on evidence so far. It’s now coming to light that we thought neanderthal just died out. But in reality home sapient coexisted for awhile with them and eventually wiped them out. Basically genocide. I don’t mean to sound so pessimistic but I don’t trust organized peoples much. Based on my experience. They get in a group and if they have some power they generally abuse it for their own gain. Much like homo sapien did to neanderthal. When they were in sufficient numbers and found they could out… Read more »
Thanks Mark. Isn’t the first part of your post Darwin’s natural selection?
I agree we have spent to influence and basically flushed our money down the toilet. I just can’t give up and I am not suggesting you are. You raise legitimate concerns about the future but I think fear of death and wiping out the species is motivating. We’ll see. Appreciate your well thought out comment. CF
I like you, believe in the aggregate goodness of people over time. In the shorter run man, it’s truly hard to keep the faith. In the case of homo sapien over neanderthal. It wasn’t Darwinian genetics at work here. . It was nastiness. We couldn’t beat them on their terms but we were smarter and decided to kill them off as the easiest solution to OUR problem. We used our brains to figure out a way to get rid of the others. Much like we eradicate rodents inside our homes. I see that same nastiness in our current selves. On… Read more »
Ok, so adaptation and change over time given the elements and situation. On the biz side I get it. I am an open guy and will say I have been fortunate to be on the receiving end of the sale of a business. I had no special skills, went to an ok college and did ok. I worked my ass off and have a great wife and partner who sat in the front seat with me as I took the risk of career failure to get somewhere. I pay my taxes and don’t complain. I am fortunate but do believe… Read more »
That’s the difference Chris. It was YOUR risk and work and therefore the overall reward is yours and yours alone. In today’s corporation these people at the top who get the stock bonuses are just kind of along for the ride. Most, based on results, are selling everyone short for their own gain and then dump them. Yes they worked hard on their way up to a company they didn’t start, nor had any real risk. They got there by the very people they left behind. Many of them they consider losers because they didn’t have what it takes to… Read more »
I will say I have been fortunate and lucky too. I have brought people with me from place to place because I realize they are the people who made me. I talk about this all the time. You are the reflection of the people you surround yourself with.CF
I can tell you’re a good man. Thoughtful and kind. Practical yet dealing as best you can in an imperfect world. Good for You! That’s truly a rare trait today. I’ll bet you sleep well on that count.