sometimes our expectations of ourselves or of others can disappoint us, and at other times, they can cloud our view. Hope itself may be a veil—it can prevent us from acknowledging something we fear or consider unjust and, consequently, from doing the work to confront it. Concealing our fears with hope might make things more palatable, but if we avoid inspecting fear and injustice—in ourselves or in the world around us—it can lead to complacency. It’s only in finally seeing what we are afraid of that we can find ways to address it. Perhaps there is a place for pessimism when it comes to our
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