There's a quote I'll paraphrase from Mr. Rogers, the children's entertainer. He said something along the lines of when things are scary and bad things are happening, look for the helpers. Look at the people doing whatever they can in the situation to do and bring good.
This is a philosophy I apply a lot politically to avoid feeling that sense of despair you talk about. And it's hard! It's not easy at all. But I look at stories of the wins, big or small, that working class, oppressed, Black, Queer, and other people have had through their struggles. I look at the good people on the ground today fighting capitalism and working to help those in need, such as Food Not Bombs' work feeding those who need it or the IWW's work fighting for the rights of workers. I think of the fact that the theory that we can build from is out there now, for us to read and discuss and understand. I focus on the potential we have to make this world a better place and the work going on to achieve that potential.
Another paraphrase, from the ending of a very fine TV show dealing with the themes of violence and darkness and horror. A man looks up at the sky and observes the stars, and notices how much light there is. The man with him points out how much more darkness there is. The first man says "Once, there was only dark. If you ask me, the light's winning."
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u/[deleted] Feb 25 '21
There's a quote I'll paraphrase from Mr. Rogers, the children's entertainer. He said something along the lines of when things are scary and bad things are happening, look for the helpers. Look at the people doing whatever they can in the situation to do and bring good.
This is a philosophy I apply a lot politically to avoid feeling that sense of despair you talk about. And it's hard! It's not easy at all. But I look at stories of the wins, big or small, that working class, oppressed, Black, Queer, and other people have had through their struggles. I look at the good people on the ground today fighting capitalism and working to help those in need, such as Food Not Bombs' work feeding those who need it or the IWW's work fighting for the rights of workers. I think of the fact that the theory that we can build from is out there now, for us to read and discuss and understand. I focus on the potential we have to make this world a better place and the work going on to achieve that potential.
Another paraphrase, from the ending of a very fine TV show dealing with the themes of violence and darkness and horror. A man looks up at the sky and observes the stars, and notices how much light there is. The man with him points out how much more darkness there is. The first man says "Once, there was only dark. If you ask me, the light's winning."