[lisa]

Just reading this thread made me realize how we seem to become the most human and most likable when things are at their worst -- Sept 11 and the pictures mentioned are a prime example.

Some of my best hope in the human race came from my experience on a suicide hot-line that I volunteered at for 3 years (ending a couple of years ago).

Although desperate and, mostly isolated (emotionally, if not physically), many of the people who called often gave me, ironically, the most hope in humanity in a long time.

They were some of the most considerate and compassionate people I'd ever talked to. A friend proposed the sad theory that perhaps that was the very problem -- that they were isolated because they were considerate and compassionate. I don't know.

I do know that, in some cases, I feel like the world may be a better place because some of those people called and decided not to carry out whatever plans they had.

Either way, it did make a big difference in my life to emotionally connect with so many strangers when we live in a world where everyone walks around so guarded. When people call that line, usually, their "walls" are almost all gone, a state that I believe few of us almost ever achieve other than with those that we know and trust incredibly well.

It seems that when we are at our worst, situationally, we are often at our best, in compassion and humanity.

Basic human nature contains elements of complete selfishness and cynicism, but it also seems to contain incredible trust and compassion -- it's just the specific situations that bring out one or the other.

A friend, whom my daughter had never met, stopped by my house one day and my (then 18 month old) daughter ran right up to him, put her arms up and said "up!" -- indicating that she wanted him to pick her up. He complied, laughing "She just trusts immediately, doesn't she?"

I simled, then immediately started crying. In response to my friend's puzzled look I replied, "You're right... and I just realized that someday, not too long from now, I will have to teach her not to do that." It just saddened me realize that I will have to destroy that pure image of the world to her for the sake of her own safety.

Though apparently contrary to the purpose of this thread, this story fits in one way. The fact that it seems to be her nature to trust and connect is one of the things that gives me hope in humanity. While I may have to teach my daughter to be cautious, I also hope that I can help her maintain some faith in people and herself.