I was thinking back on TV shows, movies, stories, etc. that I experienced and drew a pretty obvious connection about the protagonists of these works. People like...
Aang Harry Potter Link Naruto The Lone Wanderer of Fallout 3 if you played a high karma character
These were all good-hearted people who inspired hope in all the people they meet, and kept that hope alive over all the world even when the world was about to end. There's a problem, though: all these people are fictional.
Whenever I look at popular news in the REAL world, I keep focusing on the same stories:
- Global economic downturn - Atrocities, starvation and disease in Africa - Sex abuse scandals in the Catholic Church - Impending war with Iran - The existence of people like Mohammed Merah, and the fact that many people make generalizations that all Muslims act like him - Working conditions and the state of labor rights in China
These stories paint a grim picture of the state of humanity, and I realized that one of the reasons I keep focusing on these stories is because I really don't have hope that humanity would do better than this. Even more grim is that, maybe out of pure ignorance, I can't think of anyone in the REAL world who can stick to his/her ideals and be capable of making enough of a difference to inspire hope in me. Certainly not Barack Obama. Certainly not the next President. Certainly not any other Presidents, Prime Ministers, Chancellors, Dictators, etc. MAYBE people like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Julian Assange could inspire hope in me, but I'm not sure, even with all their influence, what kind of a difference they could make.
I revere Jonas Salk, who saved the world from Polio and didn't get a patent in return ("Who would patent the sun?"). He's the reason I became a scientist. However, he died in 1995 and I'm afraid his selfless ideals are more and more incompatible with today's scientific "publish or perish" world.
I dunno, maybe I'm just trying to cure myself of my ignorance. Here's what I want to know: is there anyone who inspires in you a hope for a better humanity? Do these people even exist?
Poster's Note: Please do not turn this into a doomsday thread. I'm pretty sure that TeamLiquid has had enough of those threads already.
Funguuuuu United States. April 10 2012 02:11. Posts 198
I have to have volunteer hours at my High School in order to graduate, so I've been working at a soup kitchen lately. The people who work there regularly are really inspiring individuals.
The night is dark and full of Terrans
Logarythm United States. April 10 2012 02:13. Posts 256
Are you trying to find a person who is perfect in every way? Or even kinda close? If you are, just stop now.
There are plenty of people with great sets of qualities to aspire to. I would venture to say that most people are mostly good. But nobody is all good, so you will never find a good role model for all of humanity. But that doesn't mean that all of humanity is doomed.
Humanity, by it's very nature, is dual-natured. It is good to be as good as you can be, but successfully out-right denying it indefinitely is simply unnatural, and if humanity's only future is in the unnatural then you can count me the fuck out.
So no matter who you choose as a humanity role-model, holes will always be able to be poked. And if some holes ruins the whole thing, then there is indeed no hope.
I don't think some holes ruins the whole thing.
"It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong." -Voltaire
Barrin United States. April 10 2012 02:24. Posts 4206
Its difficult to find such people in todays politics,and unfortunatly i also have to verry much agree with the rest of your post. Still think such people will come in the future, and are here today already.
Besides people in your ordinary live,Maybe people in science,physics and biology. As significant technological progress can have a huge impact on our economy and social life. Maybe also some people in literature and comedy. The impact of good literature,humor and phylosophy on society seems to be minimal these days, though humor makes things at least bearable lol. Someone like steve jobs for some people,
Bill clinton was one for me when he was president , It maybe is easier to be optimistic and inspired when the economy and technology (upcomming internet and computers in 1990-2000) is booming.
Always good to quote this in these kinds of situations:
B. F. Skinner, "Freedom and the Control of Men" (1955): "It is not always disorder itself which we are told we shall miss but certain admirable qualities in men which flourish only in the presence of disorder." (p.58).
(read the essay!)
FlamingForce Netherlands. April 10 2012 02:34. Posts 699
He may not be uber famous outside the community like some names so far, but as far as inspiring hope I wouldn't mind if everyone had as positive an approach to literally everything as Day 9.
A point I would like to make is that one of the stupidist things about humanity is that bad news sells better then good news. All we hear about is the shit in the world. It's important to not ignore the things mentioned in the OP, but I would like one radio station, news paper, or TV news channel that is devoted to only good news.
farvacola United States. April 10 2012 02:34. Posts 5501
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