A heart and a spirit that won't quit

So much of our daily diet of communication seems to convey the message that nothing is working and that nothing can possibly be made to work. The constant depiction of urban violence and poverty, ethnic divisions and conflicts, economic woes, and political cynicism may foster a feeling of helplessness.

Yet people aren't helpless, and it's important to remind ourselves of this. Not only do people battle back amazingly from so-called natural disasters—earthquakes, fires, floods, tornadoes, and so on—they also show incredible courage in facing and overcoming personal challenges and handicaps.

Sometimes, focusing primarily on the challenges we all face, we lose sight of this remarkable resilience. But one thing is clear, whether you look at tonight's news or the grand sweep of history: individually and collectively, humanity has a heart and a spirit that just won't quit.

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