BECOMING PART OF THE HOPE

Hope for tomorrow

"And there is faith and there is hope...It's practical to hope, because the hope is for us to survive as a human species." So states Studs Terkel when he was 91 years and interviewed by Missy Daniel for the book, The Life of Meaning. For Studs, hope is a fundamental human expression and what gears us to keep moving forward. Different from optimism, hope is that which can be present even in despairing times. "I'm hoping for a better tomorrow," one might express in the face of adversity.
What is "hope" for you?
Terkel speaks to hope for the world today. Technology has made great strides in medicine but also horrific strides in the ability to destroy our very existence within a moment. As part of his expression of hope for our world it is for America, while being a great nation, does not act as if it is the only nation. "We are not the only people in the world."
How can we, as a people, fulfill this hope in the world?
Taking part in community action. "When you become part of something, in some way you count. It could be a march, it could be a rally, even a brief one. You're part of something, and you suddenly realize you count," Terkel remarks.
What involvement would motivate you?
In the last paragraphs of the interview, Terkel says, "I hope for peace and sanity - it's the same thing."
How do you interpret this statement?


Walter Morton for Terra Incognita