The best hope

Back in the 1970s, in Sacramento, California, a newspaper was published with the title ‘The Good Times.’ Unfortunately, it folded after just 16 months – because this bi-weekly newspaper carried only good news. One of the favorite stories reported was this: “In the USA last year, 196,459,483 citizens did not commit a criminal offense; 4,896,720 college students did not participate in a riot or student demonstrations, and 201,489,710 citizens did not use illegal drugs.” It may be gratifying to realize that millions do no visible harm. But it’s not enough. The really good news, and the best hope for the world, consists in the countless men and women who give of themselves daily in behalf of the poor, the defenseless and neglected; who devote themselves each day to lighting candles instead of cursing the darkness; who build up and don’t tear down. It’s a select group and it always has room for more members. Why not be one of them? It has also been said that the worst thing that can happen in life is for the good people, the talented, the gifted, the generous philanthropists......to do nothing. When they can actually do so much!