I have this thought that I want to express to you but I fear that it will prompt disagreement or come across as confrontational or dismissive when I really mean it in the spirit of compassion. I will do my best:<p>The words you wrote reflect a state of mind that seeks a negative outcome. I&#x27;m sure you don&#x27;t intend it, but you adopt a half-empty perspective. It&#x27;s the same tone that the mainstream news media uses when it turns its attention to Japan.<p>I wish I could convey to you how much that mindset is a symptom of a sickness in your environment. I don&#x27;t mean to sound condescending, but it was an important revelation for me to learn that my tendency to express unhelpful skepticism and pessimism is, in fact, not inherent to myself but rather is a feature of the condition around me.<p>I&#x27;m sorry if it is too abstract or rude, but I encourage you to seek a more <i>hopeful</i> outlook. We could trade evidence of ruination of east and west all day (night for me), but what would we have accomplished? I&#x27;d prefer if we (perhaps naively) focus on those things each side is doing well. That can really move the world forward!