Such thinking represents cynicism at its worst and most dangerous. It is the thing that will surely seal our fate well before the toxins and the rising seas because it is the one thing that will prevent us from reversing such tides. By raising their solitary voice above the noise, by joining with others to create a chorus of change, by simply choosing to do the right thing and helping others to follow, they can change world. That's a real family value. That's the one that means something.
History is filled with tales of individuals whose solitary actions made a meaningful difference.
And like a Rachel Carson or a Rosa Parks, a David Brower or a Linus Pauling, each of us, on our own, can do so as well. It only takes one person to make the world a better place. All they have to do is believe in themselves and their abilities. So as we end our year, our century, and our millennium, let's also end the age of cynicism. Let's restore our personal and collective sense of hope and optimism.