In 1994 Deo Gratias left behind the horrors of genocide in Burundi and arrived in Manhattan with $200 and speaking no English. Two years later, he was enrolled at Columbia University and a few years later was accepted into medical school at Dartmouth. Today he heads up a nonprofit health clinic, Village Health Works, in his native country.
Deo’s story, the subject of Tracy Kidder’s recent book, Strength in What Remains, is nothing short of remarkable. It is a lesson in survival, optimism, and the indomitable human spirit, as well as a reminder about the importance of community and the kindness of others. I am sure that many of Maine’s residents from Somalia and other African countries have similar stories to tell.
In contrast, I just finished reading Charles Lawton’s recent Maine Sunday Telegram column about Mainers’ dismally low ranking, 48th out of 50 states, in rating our current and anticipated future life situation. Lawton suggests that our pessimism (which is difficult to understand given our ratings on other quality of life measures in the same Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index) could relate to income and poverty rates. We have a disproportionately small population of young people (the reasonably well-off optimistic group ages 25 - 44) and a disproportionately large population of those aged 65 and over (many of whom represent the poor and pessimistic).
It is hard to see beyond the challenges Maine faces: state budget shortfalls, unacceptable poverty, high unemployment, low rates of higher education attainment, and (remember my last blog?) the cold days of January. Yet our situation is far from hopeless, and we should not let pessimism dominate our thinking. We have a great deal to be grateful for: livable communities, a vibrant nonprofit sector, an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, cultural amenities, good schools, and -- most important of all -- a rich tradition of working together to solve problems. We’re as smart and capable as any other state; maybe it’s time to act like it.
Let’s hear it for hope and optimism. What’s your good news story?