Why Do I Have To Hope?

Yesterday I was engaged in argument about the times we live in. A full summary of war, taxes, celebrity snatch and oil woes. The beginning of the end, in this unholy time of our lord 2007. Nothing strange about debating it.

What was strange was that I found myself in the unusual position of having to defend hope in these troubled times.

You can read through any of these deviations of sanity I've written and see I'm not a person who dabbles in hope too often. Expect the worst. Anticipate disaster, you'll live longer. When the worst hits, it'll find me well armed and barricaded. I may not endure, but my stand will be glorious.

But I am no stranger to hope. It's something I feel often, something I crave more of. At night I go to bed wishing a better day when I wake up. Not just for me, but for everyone. No more people freaking out over simple things like ethnicity and homosexuality. Nobody ever starving or living in fear again. Every country throwing down the over-sized guns and saying "Glad we don't have to do this stupid shit anymore." Artists making their craft without worry of vicious lawyers or lonely photographers. Utopia people. It's not just a place, it's a state of mind.

And while I'll always feel that Utopia is completely unattainable for the likes of us primitive primates, I keep the bar high. You never know.

So yeah, things are kind of a smoldering dog turd right now. Our fearless leader has no interest in what his people have to say. Innocent people are dying over a cause that no one understands. Meanwhile the families of those people can no longer afford to pay the mortgage. Big business is running the show, and now has the power to change what is said on the news. To change the very truth we are given. We are the scorn of the world and the scorn of ourselves.

And yet there is good. For the first time ever, people have the ability to use their thoughts and words, and share them with the world. A man can have his say on the war, on our dependence on oil, or on XBox 360's if he's so inclined. People can shape their destinies on their own. Those who can create something new no longer have to ride the leg of big business to make their reputations. People can care about the damage wrought upon the planet. Hybrid engines, bamboo laptops. They may not be the solution, but something is clearly germinating. The old guard is losing it's reign. The powers of government and business are no match for the people. And the people have found a way to circumvent them.


We have stumbled. Tripped on our own shoes and fallen on our faces. No denying that. But we will rise. We will rebuild our lives, dreams, and our reputation to those who share the big blue with us. I firmly believe that you people, my colleagues on this floating rock, have what it takes to make this stinkhole better.

And I hope for it. Every day, while barricaded in my armored fortress, I hope.