Today, everyone thinks we need to stay positive and hopeful and not be completely honest about what we are seeing, what we know to be true. Whether we're talking about climate change or what's occurring on the streets in Ferguson, we are so afraid of offending people...and then, we only talk to our own constituencies and its' the same rhetoric over and over again until the words become bloodless. {p. 325}
Today, there is a tendency to emphasize positivity and hopefulness, often at the expense of honesty. This mindset leads us to avoid confronting difficult truths about critical issues like climate change or social unrest, out of fear of offending others. Consequently, discussions become limited to familiar audiences, preventing meaningful dialogue or change from happening.
Williams suggests that this avoidance results in repetitive, hollow rhetoric that loses its impact and urgency. By not facing harsh realities directly, society risks becoming disconnected from genuine understanding and action, turning important conversations into detached, meaningless exchanges.
