Yes, it’s true. According to the Saturday Seattle P.I., hope is dead. While the rest of the country was desperately doing chest compressions, the Post Intelligencer decided to cover up a yawn and just call it. Time of death – 2am, Saturday, February 21st.
It’s sad that they’re such Debbie Downers but they’re not the only ones. Despair makes for drama and drama makes for exciting news. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard a news anchor use the words “Great Depression.” I keep waiting for the black and white street urchin photos to start being rolled out.
And have you heard the latest Hyundai promotion? If you lose your job within the next year, you can return the car with no penalties. My first thought was, “That’s nice.” And then I thought, “Oh wow, that’s depressing!”
I wonder if they’d extend the same deal to small business owners who lose so much business that they can barely keep their heads above water or people whose hours or commissions are cut drastically. Just because someone isn’t laid off doesn’t mean they’re not affected by the crappy economy.
It’s pretty scary out there and we’re watching the current economy affect everyone around us but I have to say that I still have hope. I’ve seen people reach out to each other with amazing acts of kindness and offers of help. I feel a sense of community and family growing because we’re all realizing how much we need each other.
That’s not hopeless. It may just be the most hopeful thing I’ve seen in years.
I’m glad you’re keeping hope alive at your house. We’re doing our part for her over here too. Despite all that may occur in the way of hardships and trials, I still believe in Faith, Hope and Charity. Long may we nurture them!
I can’t find a job and don’t have any children to live for. I would like to die now.
Hope is big. And alive and well here, as well. Poor, poor Seattle. Glad there are “pockets” of it up there. Nice post. Again, hope is big. Never ever lose it.
Sometimes I wonder if the place our economy is in right now will change us for the better. Not that I wish hard times on anyone…but if it will snap us out of our materialistic, succeed at all costs attitudes, then maybe it can be used for good. And to see people helping people – that is definitely hopeful.
I agree. I think that when times get tough like this, it helps us refocus our hope on things that REALLY matter, and it gives us opportunities to help other… we can become useful, forget about our own silly problems, and bless other’s lives.
I also really like the second headline on your paper that points out that if you see a murder you should tell someone. That’s a very helpful tip.
I can bear witness to that last paragraph of yours. I have two Girl Scout troops, and we expected cookie sales to be down from last year, but so far we’re actually doing better. People seem to be more willing these days to help each other out and to stand up for a good cause.
Hope is alive and well! Someone call the paper!
It’s sad that many band together only in times of crises.
Sad, but hopeful.
well-stated, and I agree that we’re seeing a lot of acts of compassion that make me proud. “Hope is not a plan” is a common phrase at the USMC, where DH works, so I’m interested in hearing the plan tonite. Happy week, and thanx for your positive spin!
I wonder if the PI is just a little bit bitter that they aren’t finding any buyers for their paper… last I heard they were either going under or going completely online
I also think optimism is an important step to recovery. We’ve got a long ways to go, but without hope we don’t really have a chance. Although maybe I’m too optimistic… I really don’t see an alternative to recovering, and in the end we’ll be a lot more appreciative of what we have.
Amen.
I cringed at the headline in our paper today, who reinstated hope and announced its savior: “President Obama is giving the nation the audacity to hope.”
Sorry if that’s political but we’ve lost sight that not only do we need each other, but we also need to look to the right source for hope.
I full heartedly agree.:-)
When we were driving home from Utah the other day my kids were watching Winnie the Pooh. I couldn’t help but chuckle at Eeyore. What a depressing dude, feeling all sorry for himself all the time. And who really wants to be around him? I wouldn’t want to be. Made me wonder…am I an Eeyore? I certainly hope not.
A friend said something the other day that made me think…she said that when you turn on the news, all you hear about is how 10% of the workforce is now unemployed. Everything on the news is negative. But what they DON’T mention is how 90% of Americans actually have jobs. 90% are doing okay! That’s a HUGE amount!!
So I’ve changed my way of thinking the past couple of weeks. We have a lot to be happy about, a lot to be grateful for.
I have a few friends and former colleagues who work in the newsroom at the P-I. They are feeling a bit down and have basically thrown their hands in the air in defeat. They are looking for jobs.
For many of them, this isn’t the first paper they’ve worked at to go under. Remember the King County Journal? Well, maybe not. But, after it went under, many of their employees went to the Times and the P-I. Now, the P-I is going under. It’s like hopping from one sinking ship to another and I can see how that would feel hopeless. You feel like maybe I’ll just give up and sink with the ship.
But, I agree with you. I wish they wouldn’t take us all down with them.