Progress is slow, and hard. Hope, and willpower, and love drives it forwards. History seems to show us that when you look at the big picture, things get better over time. Dictatorships gradually replaced with democracies. Though millions of people still struggle, in most countries the poor don’t starve to death like they did in ages past, and they have a right to an education so they can strive for a better life. In the last century the rights of women, ethnic minorities and LGBT people were fought over and many battles were won, progress which has continued into the new millennium.
But in life things are rarely simple or easy. It can feel like we take two steps forward and one step back. For instance, we could say that the First and Second World Wars were one step backwards, when a toxic climate of competition and hatred, spurred on by more powerful weapons than ever before produced, seemed as though it would engulf and destroy us. Thankfully, love won out over hatred, and we moved into a new era, with more peace and freedom.
Now it feels as though the world is again stepping backwards. On one hand we have terrorists, with ever more violent and untenable aims, and dictators who murder their own citizens. On the other hand, we have our own governments, who maintain relationships with abusive regimes, who have lied to get us into wars, who scream at each other which such harsh rhetoric, and fail to solve any of our problems. Then there are lone attackers, who though they may not belong to any organisation, are no doubt influenced by the hatred that seems to hang over the world, like a dark and ominous cloud.
Caught in the middle, there are countless victims. People trying to go about their lives in peace are shot dead by terrorists, by police, by twisted people who were allowed to get their hands on a weapon. People are bombed by those who wish them dead, or by those who purport to be saving them. People fleeing violence, oppression, poverty, are allowed to languish in refugee camps, or drown in the sea.
How can we have hope when on all sides there are people telling us to be afraid? We should fear the Muslims, fear the immigrants or fear the racists, fear for change or for stagnation, fear rebels or fear the government, fear for our livelihoods, fear for our lives.
The reactions to such events can vary massively. There are university students who wish to live with their fingers in their ears, views unchallenged, unoffended, cowering away from the complicated, nuanced and terrifying world. Others throw themselves into debate more fervently than ever and stick two fingers up to their adversaries, for better or for worse.
Perhaps the two things we should be in a time of crisis are two of the emotions which it is hardest to make ourselves feel: hopeful, and calm. Not to give up, to let society collapse around us, nor to give in to the constant baiting, nor to launch ourselves into tirades of hatred and frustration and become what we despise. First, we need to take time to grieve and gather our strength. Then we can take action, always thinking about what we are doing and why, fight hard but carrying peace and love in our hearts.
We didn’t have to grow up in world wars like our grandparents did; let’s make sure our grandchildren don’t have to grow up in a world of terror like we have done. Remember what we have lost, but know that the world is not lost for good, and there is still so much we can do to make it a better place.
