Many of us still carry the weight of the 2024 election, choosing to tune out anything that might remind us of an outcome we are still grieving. Disillusionment and doubt grew stronger as the votes were counted, leaving some resigned or overwhelmed. Even in these first 24 hours of the new administration, the pain persists, especially for those whose rights were clearly and unequivocally threatened during the campaign season. Yet in these moments, hope can guide us, keeping our moral footing secure.
With that in mind, I am launching a new blog series called “Hope is a Moral Obligation.” Over the next five weeks, each post will look at a different aspect of hope, rooted in the idea that it is a call to act with purpose. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s view of hope as moral responsibility and Paulo Freire’s emphasis on critical awareness will serve as the grounding framework and a reminder that true hope demands more than passive optimism. It requires us to face painful moments, like the one we are living right now, while imagining a future we have a hand in shaping. Hope compels us to reclaim our sense of agency.
Together, we will consider how individuals can foster hope within themselves and share it with those around them. We will reflect on the difference between hoping and simply wishing, how to remain hopeful when cynicism creeps in, and how communities can unite to strengthen their shared aspirations. We will also consider historical moments when people refused to let despair shape their fate. Finally, we will close with practical steps for weaving hope into daily life.
While no one can ascertain whether or not this administration will uphold its most cruel promises, we choose hope as an active stance. We choose hope as a call to protect what we value, speak out against injustice, and imagine new possibilities even when fear or despair grows. We choose hope because we won’t let anyone rob us of our power to act. Each post in this series will appear weekly, inviting us to rediscover a sense of purpose in these unpredictable times.
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I will see you next week with the first post of this series.
Roque Neto 