Pessimism vs. Optimism

The pessimist looks at the situation and mutters, “Things could not be any worse.” The optimist meticulously scrutinizes every detail. “Oh, yes they can,” he confidently replies.


Peace on earth, goodwill towards men. The death toll mounts. The number of wounded, physically and emotionally, have not peaked. Suicide bombers massacre fifty here, a hundred there. Not on the tenure track, perish, not publish, they need only succeed once.

Silent Night is a tune on the Christmas radio station or a favorite CD. Shots fired ring out in the dark so far distant from the foreign war zone. From the inner city ghetto to the quaint exclusive gated suburban community , the crackle and pop of the mechanisms of death and destruction echo. Death laughs at discrimination. Young or old, rich or poor, race, religion, gender, death favors not one over another.


School systems deteriorate leaving our children behind. Fear of violence overshadows the anxiety of a failing grade.

Around the world, mothers pull their malnourished starving children to their bosom, clinging tightly, without hope for a miracle praying that impending death will be swift and merciful. Genocide in Dafur; rioting in Kenya. Voices opposed to political oppression are silenced with the blessings of the government. Dissent in Myanmar is quelled by military force, while in Pakistan an assassin’s bullet finds it’s target seemingly marked with the government’s stamp of approval.
Billions upon billions of dollars are pumped into a foreign war. Armored cars laden with loot travel unobstructed to the corporate coffers of Halliburton and the likes. Complaints are heard when the price at the pump reaches $3.00 or more per gallon. Yet, the disgruntled think nothing of standing in line at a sporting event to purchase a beer that goes for $43.00 per gallon.

Hopefully, my pessimistic friend will be right in 2008. Things won’t get much worse.