Hope over doom & gloom and fear, fear, fear

[cali]

I prefer it. That doesn't mean that I don't see the dangerous and bad things that are happening: the corporate control, the pushing for endless aggression, the degradation of the middle class, and on and on.

But this country has ALWAYS been deeply flawed. Think slavery and McCarthyism and the policy of killing and deposing leaders we don't like in countries in which we have an "interest". In fact, all great powers have always been deeply flawed.

You don't have to ignore anything to maintain hope. Doing so is not synonymous with being a "Pollyanna".

I refuse to fall into the "we're all doomed" camp. I mean really, what's the point anyway? If you believe that than why bother trying to change anything?

Hope over fear. Positive energy over negative energy.

I prefer it.

(And once again, that doesn't mean ignoring very real threats and dangers, or not criticizing dems)

[Double T]

1. Hope must be combined with HEAVY DUTY ACTIONS...........

and I do not see the masses taking ALL of this country's monumental problems and the planet's threatened demise seriously. Happy talk isn't going to cut it.

[cali]

3. Exactly the type of non response

that mischaracterize. My post was hardly "happy talk".

And you will never see "the masses" taking ALL of thi country's problems and the planet's threatened demise seriously. Nor do you need ALL the masses to bring about change- you need a critical mass, which is not the same thing.

[lonestarnot]

4. I'm glad that you are so intelligent and on top of things, yet not so

busy that you can't take the time to criticize with impunity.

[Double T]

7. I wasn't referring to your comments in your thread as 'happy talk'.

'Happy talk' is all you hear from the WH, MSM and the rethug 'think tanks', to name just a few. Cover up of our monumental problems, with 'happy talk', will NEVER enable 'US' to solve THEM. The masses need to be on board for change to have a positive impact. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[cali]

8. Oh, I see what you're saying

and largely agree, but I believe that we can prevail despite the MSM.

[Virginia Dare]

2. I'm actually gaining some hope from these Jena 6 protests...

there is a cancer on this country that needs to be excised once and for all. It's been there for over 400 years. I'm glad to see that we're pulling up the rug on this again.

[marmar]

5. "To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic ........

... It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.

What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places – and there are so many – where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.

And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."


- Howard Zinn

[cali]

6. Thank you.

That's such a great quote.

[H2O Man]

9. Positive Vibrations

by the Prophet Bob Marley

Live if you want to live
(rastaman vibration, yeah! positive!)
Thats what we got to give!
(ini vibration yeah! positive)
Got to have a good vibe!
(iyaman iration, yeah! irie ites!)
Wo-wo-ooh!
(positive vibration, yeah! positive!)

If you get down and you quarrel everyday,
You're saying prayers to the devils, I say. wo-oh-ooh!
Why not help one another on the way?
Make it much easier. (just a little bit easier)

Say you just can't live that negative way,
If you know what I mean;
Make way for the positive day,
cause its news (new day) - news and days -
New time (new time), and if its a new feelin (new feelin), yeah! -
Said its a new sign (new sign):
Oh, what a new day!

Pickin up?
Are you pickin up now?
Jah love - jah love (protect us);
Jah love - jah love (protect us);
Jah love - jah love (protect us).

Rastaman vibration, yeah! (positive!)
Ini vibration, yeah! (positive!) uh-huh-huh, a yeah!
Iyaman iration, yeah! (irie ites!) wo-oo-oh!
*positive vibration, yeah! (positive!)

Pickin up?
Are you pickin up now?
Pickin up?
Are you pickin up now?
Pickin up? (jah love, jah love -)
Are you pickin (protect us!) up now?
Pickin up? (jah love, jah love -)
Are you pickin (protect us!) up now?
Pickin up? (jah love, jah love -)
Are you pickin (protect us!) up now?
Pickin up?