The essence of progress

Most people love and respect the examples of men like Moses, Job, Jesus, Buddha, Ghandi, and King. Most people feel sorry for the students at Tiananmen Square or dissidents in Cuba or Iran.

Noone wants to be them and suffer their fates. Very few people would take the risks that these people took.

And that is the essence of the cowardice that animates most peoples' lives.

How do I admire greatness without taking the risks involved with it's example to my life?

Even great politicians, innovators, musicians, artists, and writers will rationalize cowardice in this way.

Genuine greatness is very rare. And very few people are willing to take such risks. And that is why our progress is perpetually marked by tragedy as much as hope fulfilled. Because our cowardice constantly gets the better of us.

Lucky for us, our consciences catch up.

And that, and not some inevitable and forever forward-moving march, is the essence of progress.

The essence of progress is our consciences catching up with our tragedies. And our need and the need of our forerunners to be forgiven for their and our cowardice.

Most people identify with Jesus. But, when push comes to shove, they behave like the mob that killed him, who feel remorse only after he has been crucified.

And that remorse, in our personal lives and in the culture at large, is the essence of progress.

Love,
Ben