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In May 1992 I graduated from 8th grade. That summer, I was glued to the televised Democratic and Republican National Conventions, even though I can only assume everyone else was the same age. Neither was as interesting as in previous years, but as a 14-year-old I was captivated by the speeches and the pomp and atmosphere.
The Democratic convention that ultimately nominated Bill Clinton for president took place 32 years ago, and I still remember parts of it vividly. Two things stand apart in my memory. The first is that Governor Mario Cuomo, who is without a doubt one of the greatest orators of my lifetime, gave a great speech. Second, there was a great biographical video about Clinton called “The Man From Hope.” Looking back, the 1992 election was fascinating in many ways, but I believe video played a key role in Clinton’s victory a few months later.
It may be a pure coincidence that Bill Clinton was born in a town named Hope, but his advisers deserve credit for making that point. Because I would argue that hope is perhaps the most essential of human emotions. Throughout history, we encounter moments that are almost beyond comprehension: epidemics, wars, genocide, famine. Atrocities like the Holocaust make us question not just how people survived, but why they survived. The answer comes back to hope, again and again. I hope you have a bright future.
In a recent sermon, my pastor, Dr. Patrick Devane, told a story about British children who were orphaned by the Nazi bombing of London during World War II. Despite being moved to refugee camps where their needs were met and they were showered with love, these children faced difficulty sleeping at night. Determined to make the children feel safe, caretakers found an unconventional solution. The idea was to send the children to bed with bread. It worked miraculously for most children. When asked what kind of magic there is in bread, one child explained that you can eat it that day, and holding the bread in your hand gives you hope that you will eat it the next day. The bread was not a substitute for a stuffed animal, but rather a symbol of hope that would bring them comfort and rest.
Our world is becoming more and more critical, and it’s noticeable. People complain about the smallest things and the worst things. Whether it’s something forgotten at the drive-thru or a national policy, people are quick to share their criticisms. Because people participate in discussions just for the fun of them, many avoid the spotlight and avoid involvement in business, politics, and civic life to avoid relentless criticism and character assassination. Much like the sleepless nights of children in war-torn London, it’s quite understandable.
People may not realize the impact of their criticism. Each complaint chips away at the souls of those who strive to make the world a better place. It’s human nature and 99 compliments can be overshadowed by one derogatory remark. With each criticism, the flame of hope dwindles, sometimes to the point where only glowing embers remain.
Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk who witnessed unspeakable horrors in his homeland before fleeing into exile in 1966, once said: If you believe that tomorrow will be better, you can endure today’s difficulties. ”
If we want to improve as a society, which I believe should always be our goal, we must believe that tomorrow will be better. I hope none of us go through what Han and the London kids went through, but we also know what personal challenges each other faces in our own lives. Recognize that you never know. We need to ensure that our actions help lift each other up, rather than causing destruction. We need to make a concerted effort to avoid making the situation worse through ill-advised comments. Or, as the famous words of the 1988 political convention implored, we must do our part: “Keep hope alive!”
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