What's your proof that the world really is a good place ?

[steve2470]

I could name off several things, but the fact that "the universe" allows my son to exist and bring me joy. What's your proof ?

[Bertha Venation]

1. the love of Mrs. V., our families, and that we are fortunate enough

to pass that love on in action. Giving gives me tremendous joy, and I wish I could be invisible and nameless when I do it because it rather embarrasses me. I don't want it known because I don't want cynical people like myself to think that I do it for kudos.

Yes. I'm weird.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. There is no proof, there is only the hope that it's inherent "goodness"

is true.

The joy of a child can be part of that proof and hope, though! I find horses to be "good", and the beauty of the universe itself - stars and galxies and nebulae. And the existence of music.

But mostly, I look at the world and the universe as a neutral place - it is neither good nor bad: it is what it is. Putting a morality on the universe seems, to me, an endeavor without much meaning. There is much of beauty and goodness in it, while at the same time, stars and galxies die, stars go nova and destroy planets, things wear down, disappear, and die. Is that bad? I don't think so. It's all part of the cycle. The cycle itself, in fact, I find beautiful. But I wouldn't say it is either good or bad. It just is.

[amazona]

3. the flight of the monarchs

Every year I see these butterflies, no more thickness of the wing than a piece of paper, bravely flying over a 24 mile bridge on their way to their wintering grounds. And I know this is only a small part of their journey which might be hundreds of miles -- hmm, maybe thousands? -- no idea of how far from the north they actually come. Sometimes a few stop on my milkweeds to refuel along the way.

And of course there is always the classic proof--"Malt does more than Milton can to justify God's ways to man" -- although I might have said "wine" rather than "malt."

:-)

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Broadslidin]

4. For the Quality Conscience Canadians Providing Us With.........!

:smoke: "B.C. Bud" :crazy:

[Senior citizen]

5. Every bit of joy is precious,

but this is still basically a prison planet.

In order to believe the world is a good place, one must be basically schizophrenic. While you are expressing gratitude for the blessings of love, family, friends, nature, or whatever, you are shutting out the pain of those who are starving, being tortured, and being murdered right now.

Perhaps the only proof that the world really is a good place, is that it permits us the schizophrenia to believe it--but what good is a place whose only mercy is permission to live in denial of reality?

[skygazer]

6. Depends on your definition of "the world"

Based on some of the answers here, it seems like some people equate it with the people on it - certainly seems to leave out a huge portion of stuff.

For me, I see my life as a very neat gift, the chance to be around and see so much, good and bad, and learn from it, gain insight from it, be amused or shocked or provoked by it. I'm 44 and have gone through much that others find horribly depressing or shocking - I've enjoyed (for lack of a better word) my entire life so far. It's been interesting and never boring. That, to me, makes this a good place.

[forgethell]

7. 1 wife,

2 cats, 3 children, 4 dogs, plus the memories of others (pets that is ). The world is a good place. :)

It's the people in it who suck. x(

[WindRavenX]

8. This sums it up:

"The Only Animal"
The only animal that commits suicide
went for a walk in the park,
basked on a hard bench
in the first star
travelled to the edge of space
in an armchair
while company quietly
talked, and abruptly
returned,
the room empty.

The only animal that cries,
that takes off it's clothes
and reports to the mirror, the one
and only animal
that brushes it's own teeth

somewhere

the only animal that smokes a cigarette
that lies down and flies backward in time,
that rises and walks to a book
and looks up a word
heard the telephone ringing
in the darkness downstairs and decided
to answer no more

And I understand
too well: how many times
have I made the decision to dwell
from now on
in the hour of my death
(the space I took up here scarlessly closing like water)
and said I'm never coming back,
and yet

This morning
I stood once again
in this world, the garden
ark and vacant
tomb of what
I can't imagine
between twin eternities,
some sort of wings,
more or less equidistantly
exiled from both,
hovering in the dreaming called
being awake, where
you gave me
in secret one thing
to perceive, the
tall blue starry
strangeness of being
here at all.
You gave us each in secret one thing to perceive.

Furless now, upright, my banished
and experimental
child

You said, though your own heart condemn you
I do not condemn you.
~~Franz Wright~~

=====

The fact that we exist at all it enough for me to love life; to be able to think, talk, listen...to have consciousness...makes it beautiful.
There are, of course, tangible things I see as proof that life is good, namely the simple things, like good companionship, cold, good vodka, music, sleep...