Optimism in Africa
Americans are consistently found to be among the most optimistic people on the planet. But this Sunday New York Times article points out that Africans are actually even more optimistic than we are.
In my experience, this is absolutely true. It is, I think, some combination of very deeply held religious faith along with a realization that things just can't get much worse.
I'm not a religious person myself, but I'm always deeply moved by the faith of the people I know who are doing incredible service work in poor communities in Kenya and Tanzania. Who am I, after all, to say there's no God when it's a miracle for them even get up in the morning and go on in the face of inconceivable challenges and hardships?
