"I still believe, in spite of everything ...

[NanceGreggs]

... that people are truly good at heart."

Anne Frank committed those word to her diary on July 15, 1944, less than a month before she and her family were arrested and sent to concentration camps - where she, her mother, and her sister eventually died.

I think of Anne a lot these days. It is impossible to not be amazed by her faith in her fellow man, given what she knew, what she heard, what she'd witnessed during her years in hiding from those determined to annihilate her and her 'race'.

I think of Anne when I see photos of baby strollers lined-up at railway stations, left by the citizens of neighbouring countries to assist Ukranian mothers with small children who might have need of them when they arrive.

I think of Anne when I see people of bordering countries lining up their cars to take Ukrainian refugees to safe shelters - even to their own homes.

I think of Anne when I see the leaders of nations speak in one voice to say what happened then will not happen again.

The legacy of a frightened, but determined teenager lives on decades after her schoolgirl scribblings made their way into a diary - personal notes, never meant for public consumption, that speak to the heart of the matter decades later.

"I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."

If we allow ourselves to lose sight of that vision, we are truly lost.

[hlthe2b]

1. Most people... May Anne Frank and those she spoke for never be forgotten.

[EYESORE 9001]

2. I have to put a qualification on her assessment

I believe that many people are good at heart. By the same token, I believe that many others are irretrievably bad, and the world would be a better place without them.

[Meowmee]

3. Unfortunately she was wrong

The people who murdered her were obviously not good at heart.

[multigraincracker]

4. A few bad apples......

are all it takes.

[dlilafae]

5. Nance, you make a lot of great points as per usual,

but I find myself wondering (also), why we can feel so deeply moved for the people of a war-torn country, but not care enough for our fellow man here, and abroad - protecting them from nearly 1M+ easily preventable deaths? Was this not a war in its own right?

~ This will never stop confounding me.

[lagomorph777]

17. I think the sudden shock of the war, and Putin's impaired ability to export propaganda,

...is actually giving some people the opportunity to come to their senses. Many are lost causes, but some are beginning to wake up a little bit.

[Mr. Ected]

6. I want to walk hand in hand with Anne Frank and do my part

I still approach everyone as if they are truly good at heart.

Unfortunately, evil lurks in even the most gentle and generous people and the wrong impetus can draw that evil out.

We are cursed with a lot of people in the world whose life mission appears to be triggering others to draw them into the darkness. Social media gives them a vast, 24/7 platform to make their pitch. They prey on fear and greed and moral imperfections.

It's not naive, though, to carry on in spite of them and to continue to shine the light on those darkened souls. We have absolutely nothing to lose. We have to continue to play by the rules even when they cheat and steal and lie to maintain their power.

I am again grateful to be on the side of the Democrats here. We're not perfect, but at least we're trying.

[70sEraVet]

8. I've always been kind of naive and trusting, and I have apologized to my kids

for raising them to be the same way. I know there have been times when people have taken advantage of their trustfulness. But they've all said that they prefer to have trusting natures, that it makes life more enjoyable.

[Farmer-Rick]

7. She wrote that before she was betrayed and dragged off

To kill her. They murdered her as a teenager. She was not allowed to live her life because she was born into the wrong religion.

I don't think she was right.

[onlyadream]

9. Exactly.

Did she still feel this way once she was sent to the concentration camp? But, yes, some people are good, however, some are also without empathy (I would guess around 30%). The problem is those without empathy can do some real damage (obviously).

[KS Toronado]

10. Don't believe "... that people are truly good at heart."

holds as much water as it did before The Tea Party took over congress, and helped
all their followers with their 2nd Amendment freedumbs.

[XacerbatedDem]

11. That last line...

"If we allow ourselves to lose sight of that vision, we are truly lost."

I try to give every person the benefit of the doubt, but then some of them open their mouths and I have to walk away...

Oh to be young again, and so full of hope...

[Piasladic]

12. And then she was murdered

I think I get the message.

[Cozmo]

13. Used to believe, not anymore. Just look at the majority of repukes for an example. Who'da thought

[housecat]

14. Many are, many are not. It's like two different species that just happen to look alike

[Seinan Sensei]

15. The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people
but the silence over that by the good people.
MLK

There are some who are evil, who are selfish, who are bad to the very core of their being
The worst of the bunch have no problem abusing the good graces of good people
Best response?
1) shine a light in all the dark places
2) legislate a hedge against abuses
3) "Go fuck yourself," spoken directly and often

[RussBLib]

16. I believe far too many humans are warlike

sure there are good people, but war and fighting has been with us since time began. Endless conflicts. Maybe we should accept that and commit ourselves to oppose those who seem to want more and more war.

Just a thought.

[alphafemale]

18. I very much doubt she still believed that when she died.

Hoe could she?

[TexasBushwhacker]

19. When people complain about the cost of things

and how small their house is, etc, I think of her. She, her sister, her parents and 4 adult men shared 450 square feet of space for over TWO YEARS. She wrote in her diary that it was quite "luxurious" compared to some of the places they had hidden.

[Xoan]

20. I must be lost ...

Putin, Trump, Johnson, Murdoch are EVIL.

[PatrickforB]

21. I have a dear friend who says that people don't wage war - governments do.

And he's right, I think. Everyday people want decent jobs, a place to live, clothing, food and so on. Enough, you know. Most people just want enough - food, clothing, savings for a rainy day. People thrive in peace.

In a world economy controlled by oligarchs, however, we see that profits are consistently held above the welfare of actual people.

War is quite profitable for shareholders in 'defense' companies. And, of course, these companies employ quite a lot of people so if we decide all of a sudded to beat our swords into proverbial plowshares, lots of people will lose their jobs, and we will slide into recession - it is kind of built that way.

Greed causes it - the illusion that if we amass wealth and/or power, we will somehow be better off. Greed, and the illusion of scarcity, complete with the zero sum equation (for me to win, you must lose).

That's how oligarchs roll, hence how most governments roll, including of course Russia. But look at the US - we have tried to apply the profit motive over and over in places where it is in direct conflict with the interests of our people - prisons, the military, healthcare, childcare, and K-12, colleges and universities.

So, yeah, if we really grow up and plan forward as a species, our government will truly and necessarily be 'of, by and for' the people, and will use the monies we pay in taxes for programs that actually benefit people instead of shareholders. Reminds me of Lennon's Imagine, you know. And to quote him, I'm not the only one.