Select Entry- Cindy McKenney, Age 49

Welcome to our Optimistic Essay category. Here you will find the $1,000 winning contest essay, 5 finalist essays and 15 honorable mention essays and a growing list of hand-picked select essays that readers submitted during our "Why Are You Optimistic About the Future?" contest.

With each generation there is a greater burden, responsibility and insatiable curiosity of spirituality and science. Rather than allow the political and economic chaos disrupt the balance of family and individual freedoms, I believe the basic foundations of humanity are strengthening rather than bowing to the chaos.

Throughout history humankind has endeavored and won the sometimes overwhelming evil that can be practiced by subversive factions of the world. With each upheaval, it appears violence (in the numerous forms of the political realm, economic imbalance of wealth or security, religious bias, random or premeditated,) may be the predominant behavior and action of a community or country.

Conversely, however, humanity has and will continue to counterbalance that violence. Whether an innate need to survive or simply an instinctual compulsion to right a wrong, I believe humanity in its kindest and most admirable form will prevail. The instinctual survival mechanisms within each of us rebels against violence and injustice. In a united front, individuals, communities and countries will strive against oppression. We have proven this over the centuries. As the evils of the world have presented their damaging ideas, judgments and acts, we have, inevitably, won over and become a stronger, more intelligent and compassionate people.

I firmly believe that, in proportion, the more degrading and tyrannical the act, equally or more determined is the response to quell and eliminate that degradation.

As we evolve to a highly technological society, the means to create and thrive in a strong, spiritual and protective world increases. We will see the patterns and behaviors so cyclically reintroduced, albeit with greater cunning, and prevent their domination over our lives.

Our families, communities, churches and countries, in unity, will be strong. Using the past and its predictive nature, we will conquer oppressors (on whatever scale they may present themselves) and enjoy the freedoms we have earned.

We need not fear the future. We have the tools to prevail. We have the strength and the kindness and the nurturing for our fellow man. Our future is secure.