Down with the kids

Years ago when I was studying for exams 2 evangelists were unlucky enough to come to my door. I’m not sure what flavour they were, either Mormons or Seventh Day Adventists, but bored beyond words I welcomed them in for a cup of tea!

Their opening question was “Do you think the world is getting better or worse?”. They expected a universal response of “worse”, which would provide them a nice segue into the hot topics of Armageddon and salvation.

To their surprise I responded “better”. “What about all the wars?”, they countered. I reminded them that war and extreme brutality had always existed, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the ravages of the Roman armies.

“How about starvation and disease in Africa?”. Starvation and disease has always been around, what was the diet and life expectancy of the feudal peasant, how about the bubonic plague in Europe?

Don’t get me wrong, there is still massive injustice, particularly when you compare the first world to the third world, but when else in history have you had such awareness and concern about the issues?

Philanthropists of the scale of Bill Gates, a charitable industry that is growing by the year, artists like Bono and Bob Geldof devoting their power and influence to enormous humanitarian objectives? Sure there’s a long way to go, and it’s a bumpy road, but if I look back over human history am I crazy to think we are moving in the right direction?

There are some huge environmental threats facing the world at the moment, but I believe the tipping point has come, and when in history have there been so many so motivated to find solutions?

Rather than wallowing in a pessimistic view of the future, how about imagining a cleaner world where fossil fuels are all but replaced by renewable energy sources, where people have moved to a post consumerist consciousness and the excesses of last and early this century are matters of historic curiosity! Imagine - people once equated money with happiness! Is it possible that this new world order could, like the pop stars suggest, end starvation and disease in the third world?

Now, if we imagine all of this as possible then, harnessing this optimism we can work towards it. What is the logical outcome of pessimism in human endeavor? It is of course learned helplessness, self fulfilling prophecy and doom! If we feel that our actions can make a difference, that we are part of the solution and we need to be diligent and brave, then we can work hard towards the future.

Having a child is the most optimistic thing you can do. Holding Big Sis in my arms for the first time I suddenly realised how much the future mattered! My perspective on everything shifted forever. Bearing this in mind I refuse to be a peddler of pessimism to my children, to teach them to greet the future with fear and despair!

So here’s my plan. Turn off the tv, with all its bad news! Teach our kids to think about things carefully and for themselves, to stay true to their values and believing they can make a difference, act courageously and with conviction.

The internet is a great tool for optimism and change. People can share knowledge and problem solving has a synergy like never before experienced by human kind! The pessimists love to talk about Web 2.0 as a corruption of youth and a tool for evil but it can also inspire, and call to action groups of people for the greater and global good!

Here are a few sites I’ve come across all contributing their own bit to the solution. Before Web 2.0 how would I have found these people or been inspired by them?

Stephanie at Green SAHM shares the journey of greening a household as a mum.

Expatriate’s Kitchen is a site celebrating good food, eating local and family life.

Activist Mommy says it herself; Activist Mommy: saving the world right after nap time.

Motherwear Blog supports breastfeeding woman and comments on issues as they arise.

What if I am wrong? What if everything is getting unstoppably and bitterly worse, what if those evangelist at my door all those years ago were right?

I stand by my argument. Even then, looking at the worst case scenario, what is the point of pessimism? Fighting on with optimism and courage has to be the best way, regardless of the outcome?