Copyright extension, fist fights in sports arenas, dishonest people who run the world and/or receive accolades … all of this and more makes me wonder if this is not the immutable nature of humanity. Naaah, that’s too nihilistic for this bee, who reasons that her cheer and hope would be absent if heartless beasts is all we are.

That affirmation is echoed in Commissioner Stern’s decision to suspend 9 players and raise the standards on NBA-player conduct; his hope is his decision will discourage such acts in the future, and initiate some serious soul-searching on the part of players and franchises alike. Vive Le Stern. If only this attitude will carry over into football, the music industry, and world government … it’s not okay to punch a fan because he threw something at you, uncool to knife someone at an awards show, and definitely not kosher to commit international atrocities from a position of auto-bequeathed power and morality.

We’re better than this. We’re nicer than this. So, why aren’t we, the good guys, winning? CEM, one of the most hardworking grad students of all time, must have read my mind because she sent me the following. It got me believing that good doesn’t work all by itself and constantly needs a helpful hand.

That jerk has his degree. His way was smoothed over. How do I get so lucky? I know I am better than him, smarter than him. Is it because I [wasn't] smart enough to be born with a penis?

Nope, it’s because you are true to yourself, and he is a weasel who knew how to get his shit done w/o extending himself. However, your weakness lies in that you let yourself be used and then bemoan it later. I’m not saying that you become callous or turn into this guy, but street smarts, if well-placed, is a good thing. This includes learning how to say “F* this” and change the situation or walk away to find something new, figuring out which situations don’t require your complete truthfulness and hard work, and retaining your energy for what counts. The let-it-slide opportunities are few and far between, but serve as practise for the real world. Again, if you suddenly get all cynical on me, I will come over there and sic Albert on your ass, but take a few pointers from the bear: Retain your own honest and dependable nature, and learn how to play the jackasses.

This has to be the way to be good and not get run over. Additionally, there can’t be any room for self-pity. We have to take the time to recognize the situation for what it is, empathize, and strive to change it. We’ve got to play ball, too, but we have to play it clean and hard. There is hope for humanity yet.