An-Ideal-World-in-My-Mind.docx

AnIdealWorldinMyMindNeithermiscrjnorfollyseemstomeanypartoftheinevitablelolhu11um.And1amconvincedthatintelligence,patience,andeloquencecanleadIhehumanraceoutofitsself-imposedtorturesprovidedi<doesnotexie11nina(eitselfmeanwhile.Onthebasisofthisbelief,1havehadalwaysacertaindegreeofoptimism,although,asIhavegn>wnolder,theoptimismhasgrownmoresoberandlhchappyissuemoredistant.BulIremaincompletelyincapableofagreeingwiththosewhoacceptfatalistically<heperspectivethatmanisIxHn(otrouble.Thecausesol'unhappinessinIbCpastandin(hepresentarcnotdifflcukcoascertain.Ihcrchavebeenpoverty,pestilence,andfamine,whichwereduetohumanbeinginadequatemasteryofnature.ThCrehavebeenwars,oppressionandtortureswhichduetometfsb<stilit>totheirfellowmen.And(herehavebeenmorbidmiseriesfosteredbygloomyCrCCdSwhichhaveledmenintoprofoundinnerdiscordsthatnudealloutwardprosperityofnoavail.Alltheseareunnecessary.Inregard(oallofthem,meansknownbywhichtheycanbeovercome.Inthemodernworld,ifcommunitiesareunhappy,itisoftenbecausetheyhaveignorance,habits,beliefs,andpassions,whicharcdearertothemthanhappinessorevenlife.ImayhaveconceivedIhwrelicaltruthwrongly,bulIwasrightinthinkingthattheirissuchathing,andIhalitdeservesourallegiance.Imayhavethought(heroadoaworldoffreeandlppyhumanbeingsShorWrthanitisprovingtobe.but1wasrightinthinkingthatsuchaworldispossible,andIhatitisworthwhilelolivewithaview(ob11ngingi(nearer.Ihavelivedin(hepursuitofavision,)ersonalandsocial.Personal:toallown>ne11sofinsighttogivewisdomalmoremundanetimes.Social:toseeinimaginationthesocietythatistobecreated,whereindividualsgrowfreely.