Monday, May 26, 2014

The Best Time to Be Alive

Last week's compelling Hans Rosling statistics show the historic progress in longevity and wealth in countries around the world. If that's not enough to convince you this is the best time ever to be alive (as a human), Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of our Nature might. Here is Peter Singer's thorough review of the book, and here is Pinker's appearance on the Colbert Report. (I love the tater tots reference.)


In no way do I mean to say the world is a perfect, or even a great place. But most of us, at least in the Western world, have never had it better.

I find it humbling to consider all those who worked so hard and sacrificed so much in the past to make the world a better place for us living today. I feel compelled – and honored, and humbled – to be be a part of this work, bending the arc of history further toward justice. And I've also been honored and humbled to be able to work with so many of you. Thank you all for your dedication and support.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

That we have really pretty decent lives means we have great opportunities to help those who are truly in need, suffering horribly day after day. I feel obligated to take that opportunity to help others seriously.