November 1st, 2022
I’ve been reading a lot of pieces lately about whether there is any goodness left in the world. Not just written articles; people I know (and don’t know) are wondering aloud if there is still kindness and empathy and the desire to help left anywhere.
While we were out trick or treating last night, I thought of an apt analogy.
We saw a handful of houses on streets that were dark. For whatever reasons, they had made the decision not to participate.
But most of the houses had their lights on.
And I think that’s proportionate to how many good people are left in the world.
Folks blame social media or the mainstream media for giving us this negatively skewed viewpoint, but let me offer a counterpoint.
The same society that wonders why there isn’t more positive stories in the world made Dahmer one of the most-watched series in Netflix history.
Humans seek out the dramatic and the depraved. We are often given what we seek in abundance, but out of proportion.
I learned in an ad this week that Tim Walz invented car jackings. Did you know that? I didn’t. Neither, apparently, did the people who have been tracking car jackings for decades now.
“The more you can increase fear of drugs, crime, welfare mothers, immigrants, and aliens, the more you control all of the people,” said Noam Chomsky.
So just know that if any of those things make you scared or mad, it’s not your fault; you are being controlled to a certain degree.
But I guarantee that if you look out your window at night, you’ll see that most of your neighbors have left the lights on.
The Den 