Reasons to dare to hope in 2020

Hope and despair: these are emotions that often come to the surface during this season of the year, when days are short, nights are long, and everyone is supposed to be happy and celebrating, whether we feel like it or not. During this season when we are expected to be cheerful, I pushed myself so hard that I felt exhausted and depleted, and hopeless. Nothing seemed to matter. I walked around in a stupor for several hours on the last day of the year. I realized that I was experiencing something that I rarely feel:  depression.

Early Christians called this “accidie,” a state of mental and spiritual torpor that was often

Monk in despair, weeping

personified as the “Noonday Demon.” Monks often spoke of being tempted by this demon into despair—the one sin that cannot be forgiven because it denies the possibility of healing.

That’s how I felt for several hours: utterly hopeless and beyond healing. I didn’t feel like doing anything, but I forced myself to do something that usually brings me joy: writing checks to good causes I support. As I wrote checks to groups like the American Friends Service Committee, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Right Sharing of the World’s Resources, and nearly 30 more, I began to feel more hopeful.

In fact, I felt in a good enough mood to go to a New Year’s party with my Quaker friends! I was weary but able to engage with people I’ve known and loved for many years, and being with good people helped. I was even able to make fun of myself—a sure sign of spiritual health!

The next day I watched the Rose Parade with my wife and our friend Mark, and was delighted to see that the theme was Hope. And what a hopeful spectacle it was, with floats addressing relevant themes like homelessness and caregiving in an uplifting way. I was also impressed by the racial, religious and ethnic diversity, so many attractive and gifted young people who spent countless hours preparing to march and play and perform. By the end of the parade, after hearing Los Lobos and seeing interracial dancers obviously enjoying each other as they danced their hearts out, how could one not be hopeful? 

Los Lobos rocks the Grand Finale!

Yet it is awfully tempting to succumb to the noonday demon of despair and accidie during these Trumpish days when fear mongering and corruption have become the norm. I asked my wife and Mark to think of hopeful things for the upcoming year and they both drew blanks. So I took time to compile this list and hope you’ll add to it. We need to “dare to hope” during these troubling times if we are going to have the strength to bring about change—in our selves as well as in our world. 

Here are seven reasons that I am hopeful about 2020:

1)     Young people are rising up, especially when it comes to gun control and climate change. Greta Thunburg and Emma Gonzalez are just the tip of the iceberg: countless other teens are taking to the streets and clamoring for change. Surveys show that those under thirty are not interested in organized religion or traditional politics but they are eager to change the world. The spirit of this generation is captured in a show that Jill and I enjoy watching and recommend: “God Friended Me.” Young people embrace progressive values and want to make a difference.  That’s something to be hopeful about.

2)     Women are asserting their power and taking leadership in Congress.  Since the election of Trump, women have taken to the streets, organized politically, and gained power as never before. As of November 2019, there are 101 women in the U.S. House of Representatives (not counting four female territorial delegates), making women 23.2% of the total of U.S. Representatives. My hope is Trump’s nightmare: that women will claim their power and bring an end to the toxic patriarchy that is destroying our country and this planet.

3)     Locally and statewide, leaders are taking the homelessness/housing crisis more seriously.  Jill and I feel we have launched our new housing justice nonprofit at an ideal time, when people are finally waking up to the urgency of our affordable housing crisis. Candidates like Warren and Sanders are proposing major federal programs to address the need for the homeless and affordable housing. Governor Gavin Newsome has talked about launching a “Marshall Plan” to address this crisis and has supported strong state legislation that would increase the stock of affordable and homeless housing. Our city has approved 136 units of homeless housing this year, and increased the inclusionary set aside from 15-20%. The crisis is huge, but we have reason to be hopeful.

4)     People of faith are standing up for immigrants and for those experiencing homelessness. Muslims, Jews, and Christians of all denomination have been standing together to support DACA and oppose the vicious anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration. One of the most striking recent examples was the Claremont Methodist Church erecting a nativity scene with Jesus, Mary and Joseph  in cages unable to connect with each other. Religious groups have expressed similar concern for our homeless brothers and sisters. This is a good reason to be hopeful.

5)     Polls are showing the Trump’s popularity is waning in key states and among crucial demographics, such as women.  A new nationwide survey found that just 37 percent of women said they approve of the job Trump is doing as president, while 63 percent said they disapprove. This is the lowest approval rating since his becoming President, and women are key to a Democratic victory. See https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/469922-trump-approval-among-women-hits-lowest-point-more-year-poll In an op ed piece in the LA Times, Jon Weiner writes that not only is Trump becoming increasingly unpopular nationwide, “in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, since Trump took office, his net approval ratings, which started out on the plus side, have fallen — disastrously. In Pennsylvania they decreased by 17 points, in Wisconsin by 20 points, in Michigan by 22 points. In the midterm voting, those three swing states all elected Democrats in 2018. Wisconsin elected a Democratic governor to replace a Republican, and reelected a Democratic senator; Pennsylvania reelected a Democratic governor and Democrats there took three House seats away from Republican incumbents. In Michigan, which the Democrats lost to Trump by 11,000 votes, the Democrats had a huge victory in 2018, sweeping the elections for governor and senator and flipping two House seats. Voters also banned gerrymandering and created automatic voter registration, which together will bear fruit in 2020. All this explains why I’m quite certain we’ll be free at last from Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2021.” Americans are waking up the fact that our President is a con man as well as unfit for office. Certainly that’s a reason to be hopeful!

6)     The Democrats are finally taking about important issues like climate change, health care and income inequality. I find it hopeful that Democrats at least agree on what’s important and are making serious policy proposals. These are the issues that most Americans care about (not cutting taxes for the rich, deregulating the fossil fuel industry, and making life miserable for immigrants and refugees.)

7)     Even though Trumpism has polarized the nation, and has bamboozled the Republican party, most American agree about key issues and lean towards progressive stances. “An increasing majority of people, as Greenberg points out, believe “immigration benefits our country,” up from 50% in 2016 to 65% today. An increasing majority — now more than 60% — believe that the government should play a bigger role in addressing our problems, especially in healthcare. Free college tuition and a wealth tax have widespread support.” See https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-01-01/opinion-2020-will-be-the-worst-year-of-trumps-life

Just as the last election cycle saw Americans eager for a break from Trumpism, I see the next year as a chance to take back our nation from bigots and corporate crooks. Si, se puede. It won’t be easy and it will take our wholehearted commitment, but yes, we can if we have the audacity to hope and to take action!