General Discussion

G_j

(40,570 posts)

3. A word from Howard Zinn,

Wed Jul 2, 2014, 08:11 PM

Jul 2014

"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

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Humankind is falling apart [View all] warrior1 Jul 2014 OP

I agree shenmue Jul 2014 #1

And we definitely don't deserve another planet n/t arcane1 Jul 2014 #2

A word from Howard Zinn, G_j Jul 2014 #3

Wise words. nt el_bryanto Jul 2014 #5

Those are very good ones. nt BootinUp Jul 2014 #7

That's a great post, G_j. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #22

thank you, Uncle Joe G_j Jul 2014 #23

The pleasure is all mine. Uncle Joe Jul 2014 #24

Speechless!-nt Anansi1171 Jul 2014 #29

And they're taking a lot of the ecosystem and wildlife with them aint_no_life_nowhere Jul 2014 #4

I tend to be more positive madville Jul 2014 #6

Speak only for youself, please. MineralMan Jul 2014 #8

and that is what he/she was clearly doing, MM cali Jul 2014 #9

Hi, there... MineralMan Jul 2014 #10

Did you see your name on that post? nt woo me with science Jul 2014 #13

Humankind is always falling apart. I had a classics prof once who cali Jul 2014 #11

Here's a picture to cheer you... cyberswede Jul 2014 #12

Yes. When we think humanity fits one narrative or level, babies of any species provide balance. ancianita Jul 2014 #19

We are the last human species to survive dogs helped us hunt cats killed vermin that carried disease gordianot Jul 2014 #28

Have a gorilla. longship Jul 2014 #30

Compared to when? We are certainly better than our ancestors... Humanist_Activist Jul 2014 #14

And, as someone has already said, the extreme lack of empathy. Phlem Jul 2014 #15

I think it's just par for the course Tetris_Iguana Jul 2014 #16

But haven't people always been this way? Falling apart, we as a species were never together really rustydog Jul 2014 #17

Overpopulation tabasco Jul 2014 #18

"See that button, Mr. President?" RobertEarl Jul 2014 #20

We deserve this planet Shankapotomus Jul 2014 #21

yes, as much as every life form. G_j Jul 2014 #25

Someone always says that every century. Rex Jul 2014 #26

Human kind has a case of the Simpletons. Simple minded people in power. Lint Head Jul 2014 #27