Assume Others Are Good Until You Know Otherwise

Looking around us, whether it’s on the news or our various social networks, you’d be forgiven for thinking the only things happening in the world are bad ones.

The rise of radicalized terrorism, whether home-grown or otherwise. Racial tensions. Increases in hate crimes.

These, and more like them, would suggest civilization is on an irreversible downward spiral from which there is no return.

But that thinking would be missing the bigger picture.

Yes, times are hard. Yes, people are broken. Yes...