Patton Oswalt Pens Inspirational Missive on Humanity's Inherent Goodness in Wake of Boston Marathon Bombing
With little yet truly known about today's tragic bombing at the Boston Marathon besides the fact that a bombing took place, average folks are desperately seeking someone — anyone — to blame.
But in an important reminder that is inspiring thousands on Facebook and other social network, Patton Oswalt insists that, while it may be natural to despair humanity would be far better served by recognizing its inherent goodness.
"I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, 'Well, I've had it with humanity,'" Oswalt writes in the post. "But I was wrong... the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak."
On Twitter, Oswalt quoted Fred Rogers quoting his mother's memorable words to him on what he should do when scary things are in the news.
"Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping."
On Facebook, Oswalt expanded on the notion, and added an assuring maxim of his own.
"So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance," he wrote, "just look it in the eye and think," he wrote. "The good outnumber you, and we always will."
Read the full post below:
Boston. Fucking horrible.
I remember, when 9/11 went down, my reaction was, "Well, I've had it with humanity."
But I was wrong. I don't know what's going to be revealed to be behind all of this mayhem. One human insect or a poisonous mass of broken sociopaths.
But here's what I DO know. If it's one person or a HUNDRED people, that number is not even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the population on this planet. You watch the videos of the carnage and there are people running TOWARDS the destruction to help out. (Thanks FAKE Gallery founder and owner Paul Kozlowski for pointing this out to me). This is a giant planet and we're lucky to live on it but there are prices and penalties incurred for the daily miracle of existence. One of them is, every once in awhile, the wiring of a tiny sliver of the species gets snarled and they're pointed towards darkness.
But the vast majority stands against that darkness and, like white blood cells attacking a virus, they dilute and weaken and eventually wash away the evil doers and, more importantly, the damage they wreak. This is beyond religion or creed or nation. We would not be here if humanity were inherently evil. We'd have eaten ourselves alive long ago.
So when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, "The good outnumber you, and we always will."
