I'll admit it: I didn't want President Barack Obama to win the 2012 presidential election.
I wasn't happy about Democrats gaining two seats in the Senate.
I'm in concurrence with the 53 or so percent of this country who believes that the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction.
Much like half of the country, I don't like Obama's health care overhaul (though I don't believe the Republic Party should focus all of its attention on its repeal). Needless to say, I'm frustrated with Chief Justice John Roberts.
At the federal level, I don't like all of the stimulus bills, the excessive federal spending, the uncalled-for bailouts or the ridiculous, foreign policy speed bumps, not to mention the increased threat of irrational, Middle-Eastern countries and their desire to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Would we do anything about it, even if we could?
At the social level, I'm appalled at the death of marriage, the percentage of single mothers having children and the never-before-seen execution of the traditional family unit.
As you can tell, I think there are a lot of things that are shocking about modern American society. Maybe, based on what I've said above, you even consider me to be the “Debbie Downer” of opinion columnists.
But I need optimism and if you're like me, you need optimism as well.
Optimism is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a doctrine that this world is the best possible world.”
Optimism — and more importantly hope — is what will serve to bind us together, no matter what our political and philosophical differences.
We are rational creatures, and we will find a way to overcome all the problems that we face today.
America needs optimism.
As hard as it may be to convince yourself to look at the good in something or someone when faced with unpleasantries, it must be done in order for society to survive.
This illustrates a change in the way I, as well as many others, need to think.
Perhaps Obama, with his optimistic, forward-thinking political rhetoric recognized this; maybe that is one of the reasons why he appealed to so many people of so many demographics and heritages.
Perhaps Republicans, with their overtly critical approach to Obama's presidency and their refusal to seem optimistic about the country, even in many controlled instances, contributed to their party's shocking downfall during the 2012 election cycle.
Optimism and hope are separate from political rhetoric. They aren't partisan and they don't play favorites.
After all, they can be applied at the individual level, can they not?
Even with all that you may consider wrong with society, if you believe that this reality is the “best possible reality,” it should make you feel a little bit better about the current state of humanity.
Things could be so, so much worse.
Reach the columnist at spmccaul@asu.edu or follow him at @sean_mccauley.
