A Practical Sort of Hope

In a post at Creek Running North, commenter jmartin offered a great response to the question of how do we give kids the straight story about the condition of the world without destroying their hopes for the future.  I'm quoting what jmartin said, because I think it works well for adults too.

I do firmly believe, however, that we need to define the parameters of the “hope” that we owe to our children. For some, “hope” is code for smokey magics, a miracle: a sedulous silence with fingers crossed. (Sounds much like my parents and birth control.)

“Hope” can be as flaccid as a shrug, and “don’t worry, they.” “They” will develop a replacement for oil; “they” will discover efficient methods to desalinate water. Or maybe “they” will discover that they have been wrong all along.

“Hope” can be an unconscious or intentional delaying tactic. In the worst hands, “hope” can be used by adults to slip one more damaging round of short-term profits past the uninformed young.

So, tell me what you think about this definition: 

1. We believe that you are valuable and have a future, and for those very reasons are owed the facts and risks of our present situation. 

2. We believe that you are owed information now, because you can alter the future at every age. You can evaluate whether your own actions are sustainable, and make your own decisions --like whether to eat meat. You can decide what skills and knowledge might be useful, and start gaining them now. You can form your own plans: where to live, and whether to have your own kids. You can influence your family members; organize your peers; and pressure businesses and public officials. (Had there but been an internet before Nixon won a second term.)

3. We believe that the natural world is the greatest of joys, and that you will feel fulfilled by your efforts to live in balance with its needs and constraints.  We will demonstrate our belief by sharing our joy with you.

4.  Despite the certainty of serious hardships that we cannot predict, we believe that this is a liberating time. Everything that you do is and will be important; every act will count. Knowledge and skills will be valuable, even if you don’t acquire them at a college. The world is real, so you can stop worrying about fake problems: who is richer; why aren’t I famous; whither the holiday Lexus; what do I weigh. 

5. We believe—we know --that we are all in this together. Every person is in the very same boat. All for one, one for all.

Comments

[beth]

Rana, thanks, I hadn't seen this comment at CRN and am very glad you quoted it. (Sorry I haven't been commenting much lately....)

[Linda]

Good article for the kids to give them hope:
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=332289

[Rene]

Funny!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvXz2xaLNMQ

[butuki]

It would be nice if influences like the news and movies and magazines would present more information and excitement about positive things that people are doing around the world and whole nations keeping track of and enthusiastically watching the progress of programs and efforts that are working. From the news you'd get the sense that nothing but bad is happening, but just from everyday life it is obvious that individuals are making small positive changes. These interactions through blogs are just one example. Multiply that by millions and surely something bigger is going on than just the end of the world.

[Crafty Green Poet]

I agree with butuki, there just isn't enough general coverage of the genuinely good things going on to help to secure our futures. At the same time there isn't really enough coverage of just how bad it is in some aspects of the environment. It is a total balancing act in terms of what we can say to children, 'practical hhope' is a very good way of putting it