Optimism in a Decadent World: An Opinion

The new decade opened up to us with a barrage of misfortunes. We spent a year (and still are) struggling through the daily terrors of overcoming a pandemic that had — to this day — claimed over 4.7 million lives. And just as we thought that we’ve finally adjusted to this scenario, climate change once again makes a comeback with a vengeance.

At this point, it’s understandable for most of us to resign ourselves into the hopelessness that we’re reaching a doomsday scenario, with the bulk of our imagination crafting our future in the models of post-apocalyptic literature and film. It’s pretty easy to shrug off our eventual comeuppance with the notion that we — humankind — are to blame and that we’re getting our just deserts. I mean, look at the blatant adamance of politicians and mega-corporations that would stop at nothing to cling on to power and wealth, regardless of the implications it would cause for the rest of the world. Of course, they wouldn’t see it while atop their high horses, save for the brief moments when they descend to advertise assurances of positive change to ease our feeble worries.

Even when those with ample fame, fortune, power, and influence do end up being a key ally in echoing our cries for change, a portion of those with similar statuses usually does one of three things: disregard (bring up the topic but don’t act on it)…