Regaining
Optimism
“Optimism
is a political act. Those who benefit from the status quo are
perfectly happy for us to think nothing is going to get any better.
In fact, these days, cynicism is obedience.”
Alex
Steffen (The Bright Green City)
What will it take for us
to regain our optimism? We have become enmeshed in cynicism and
disdain for humanity. Granted, there's much to be cynical about these
days, but truth is, it's also just a distraction. All this carping
and grousing keeps us stuck in the mire while blaming “the powers
that be” for all the problems. I know, because I'm doing it myself.
It's a way of deflecting responsibility from what I need to do to
make the world a better place, or at least my little patch of it.
Here are some things that
make me feel optimistic about our future. Many of our young people
are becoming activists. They are writing, protesting, marching and
making their voices heard. And best of all, they are voting. People
are moving back to the city from the suburbs—they want walkable
neighborhoods, where cars are less necessary, and cities are stepping
up and providing the amenities. Even right here in old,
stuck-in-the-mud, forever-backward Alabama, there are pockets of
light. Birmingham has loads of solar powered bike stands, and is
making the effort to repave and create off-ramps on the sidewalks.
Night life is alive and well downtown in fully occupied buildings and
lofts. Publix has built a downtown grocery store, and the farmer's
market is now open, even in winter. All of these things are good for
the environment.
Diversity is now a
demand, and not a threat, in this part of the world. Let me repeat
that—in Birmingham, Alabama, seat of the civil rights movement,
fire-hoses and mad-dogs—we want a diverse population more than ever
before. I have stopped going to parts of town that are white-only,
not so much as protest, but because I don't feel comfortable in such
crowds. I know other people who feel the same way, and are behaving
similarly. America is diverse, and I want to be part of that. Call me
whatever you want—a bleeding heart liberal—a snooty intellectual,
whatever, I value reason and science and facts, and take the time to
check things out before I put my trust in them. Ignorance is not a
badge of courage or resistance—it's still just plain ignorance.
I don't believe the free
market has the answers to all our problems. On the other hand, I
don't think government does either. We have to work together,
negotiate and be smart—not just react and obstruct and protest. All
of us must ask ourselves what we can do personally to make life
better for all of us. There are people who genuinely need help, who
cannot live without the help of others—I had two sisters who fell
into this camp. And there are many whose path to a brighter future is
prevented because of race, religion, nationality or sexual
orientation. The common factor is our humanity—whether we are
different in these ways, we are all children of this green earth, and
equal in the eyes of one Creator. It's time to embrace one another
and stop all the griping. I'm optimistic that we can do that. We just
have to reject cynicism, and we'll be well on our way.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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