Hopeful Times?

Nobody is suggesting the current financial/economic crisis is a good thing.

But it does seem to be throwing up some collateral benefits which, if well nurtured, could outlast & maybe even outweigh the obvious & immediate damages.

Before this crisis, who could have imagined Nicolas Sarkozy, of all people, finding top management perks morally unacceptable?
Before this crisis, who could have imagined the possible disappearance of numbered bank accounts?
OK – we are not there yet…

On a different level, who could have imagined many, and senior, catholics starting to publicly criticize the Pope?
Of course that is not directly linked to the financial crisis, but I think there is a link, via the general feeling that things have gone too far, that it is time to speak up against outdated dogma and specifically by the Obama effect – yes we can!
If religions could come to be considered as providing helpful socio-cultural guidance instead of imposing compulsory dogma, then the world would have made a very big positive step.

I don't see much sign of that from the Muslim world yet.
But I hope.
I hope the Obama effect may even spread that far.

Parting thot: "Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world." - Joel Barker