“Only The Young Despair!” is a nice summary of some of the present day struggles. I guess now that my beard is gray, I’m too old to despair.
I appreciate your positive viewpoint, one I share. I remember very early in my years as an advocate for social change hearing over and over from gray haired people in the audience telling me that they had lived through change. They had seen Jim Crow end and desegregation move forward, they had seen women advancing in the workplace, wars ending and so many other changes. They knew from their experience that change was possible — indeed inevitable…
Of course, our experience with the drug war adds to this. The third rail in American politics of the 80s, marijuana law reform, is now supported by a majority and change is happening everywhere…
If humans did not innately believe change was possible we would still be living in caves! “What you can’t build a house! You can’t plant food!” But, here we are. Change takes persistence, making progress even with set backs and not being afraid to take the next steps forward.
None of the progress is completely fulfilled and there are many injustices to correct. I have no doubt that when I am finished with my work, my work will not be finished.
