Sometimes, defining abstractions about the way the world works amounts mostly to a boasting of articulation- providing swaths of ambiguous truths that do more to showcase the vocab of an orator than to give a tangible furthering of our understanding. As fair a point as this may be, the sort of spirit we see from politicians in "the arena" of "the circus" matters a lot.
I say this because I don't want this article to be just another bland descriptor of the obvious- nor do I want it to be the conventional "let's all get along" message without giving any suggestions at all has to how to make that happen. This article presupposes the obvious- that there is a brewing, inevitable, resurgent positivity. This is obvious in the short term (the next 10 years).
The sort of optimism I mean is different. I am talking about a long term-lifelong, core optimism central to our generational identity- one to pass down to people that come down the line. In the backs and fourths of political energies (which I hope may become less volatile from here) I hope we can revive our core optimism through the idea that we can end extreme poverty. Left or right, from Pittsburgh to Johannesburg to Calcutta to Moscow, I don't know of any major leader of citizenry of people opposed to this goal.
Technology and globalization make this the most exciting time to be alive for those with the privileges to enjoy them- but the most exciting part of this is the opportunity to extend these things to everyone in the world. Opportunity for all- despite all our differences, is something virtually everyone cares about. We are in the best position in human history to do this.
There are a few threats to the revival and sustaining of this core- lifelong optimism. One of them is what I cited above- that inevitable backs and fourths of political cycles can make us lose the big picture. But another one, and I think one of the biggest, is stratification. It is a good thing that we duke it out every election cycle- it's good for democracy, but we can't go far if we are all literally fighting each other all the damn time.
Solutions- I think we need more of a core culture through arts/entertainment, literature, television, etc. dedicated to a unifying and core optimism. This alone isn't going to solve the worlds problems, but it may stop us from foregoing the opportunity to solve problems out of disdain. More importantly, I think we should focus on upping our skills over making lengthy anxiety-provoking Facebook posts or spending hours on protest signs out of the self-deception and denial that it will magically make this huge indirect impact on the world for people eating their tomato soup at the nearby restaurant to see. Don't get me wrong, these things are important parts of Democracy that can make a real impact, but not at the expense of truly becoming more capable. Studying economics out of hopes of working in GDF? Take an online course in Global poverty. Going to trade school for welding?- Take a night off of shouting at your neighbor to practice (we seriously need more brilliant welders). The bottom line is that we should build ourselves up.
As we start to do these things, we will regain an important ingredient in optimism- confidence. Always asking if what we are doing is tangible isn't a denigration of the abstract or intellectualism. Quite the contrary actually. It supplements our ideas and passions with something to show for our goals. It is my hope as we continue along this journey we call life, we don't lose sight of that core optimism and recognition of he potential we have innate to as and relative to our opportunities.
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