Monday 21 March 2011

Evidence That People Are Basically Awesome

We hear so much about how people are basically selfish, that kindness doesn't exist, that every action of man eventually leads to his own benefit.

We are so often told of a dog-eat-dog world in which we must fend for ourselves, because no-one helps anyone.

We are subject all the time to the sentiment that faith in humanity is misguided and naive, that only the cynical are making any sense.

There are moments, like these, where I just want to stick two fingers up to the cynics and say "suck it, bitch!". But I can't, because I'm too moved to do anything but stand and gape.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20110318/twl-nuclear-ninja-suicide-mission-to-sav-3fd0ae9.html

It's not the first time something like this has happened, either.
Life-sacrificing heroes were present at Chernobyl, 9/11, in every major war, in every earthquake and Tsunami. It's a sad world where more people know about Adolf Hitler than Edith Cavell.

Yes, people are willing to lose everything to make a safer, better world for others. No, it's not just those trained in the art of rescue and sacrifice like soldiers or firefighters. The men involved in the operation detailed above are technicians, engineers. This is the first time, almost definitely, their work has been anything remotely life-threatening. Yet they have walked into the face of such immense danger with no hope of reward and virtually no hope of survival.

One of the most commonly-asked question in the world goes: "are people basically good, or basically bad?"
The answer goes: "Neither."

People are basically awesome. That, my time-killing web-surfing friend, is the simple truth.

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