i'm in the middle of reading mountains beyond mountains which is a book about paul farmer. he's a doctor who has spent his life focusing on global health problems and how to solve. he has an amazing story and i highly recommend the book. kidder, the author, recounts a converstaion he and farmer have when flying from cuba to miami. farmer notices a sign at the airport that reads, "the only real nation is humanity." farmer comments that he thinks that is lovely and kidder responds that he isn't so sure and thinks it's just a slogan. his response kind of deflates farmer's mood. kidder goes on to comment, "among a coward's weapons, cynicism is the nastiest of all."

that quote has been stuck in my head ever since i read it. i had never considered cynicism in that way. i had just attached it with pessimism and sometimes with being practical or realistic. i've never thought of it as being rooted in fear. then again, so much of the way i respond to things comes out of fear. perhaps i fear looking foolish, naive, and/or idealistic. maybe i fear being let down or disappointed. or maybe it is just that i fear having to act or get involved. i'm still thinking this one through, but i think the next time i catch myself being cynical i'll ask myself what i'm afraid of.

if you haven't checked out invisible children yet, take few minutes and go to the website.