I laughed. You're too young to be so … pessimistic, I said, using the English word. Pessi-what? Pessimistic. It means looking only at the dark side of things. Pessimistic … pessimistic … She repeated the English to herself over and over, and then she looked up at me with a fierce glare. I'm only sixteen, she said, and I don't know much about the world, but I do know one thing for sure. If I'm pessimistic, then the adults in this world who are not pessimistic are a bunch of idiots.
In this excerpt, a conversation unfolds between an adult and a young girl about the nature of optimism and pessimism. The adult refers to her perspective as pessimistic, suggesting that she focuses on the negative aspects of life. However, the girl challenges this notion, asserting her belief that her pessimism is a reflection of the foolishness of adults who remain optimistic despite the world's issues.
This interaction highlights a generational divide in understanding and interpreting the state of the world. The girl’s strong reaction showcases her awareness of the complexities of life at a young age, and she seems to feel that a realistic view is more intelligent than naive optimism. Her assertion brings to light the often unrecognized wisdom that can be present in youth’s critical viewpoints.
