PEOPLE LOVE to tell us what to think. 

They may say the past was a simpler, better time: 
 But it only seemed simpler because we were children, 
 And others did the worrying for us.

Or they may say the past was more evil, 
 Since the hardships of our ancestors are better known to us 
 Than those today we might ourselves perpetuate. 

The world has ever been a place of 
 Violence and indifference, 
 Joy and friendship, 
 Vitriol and consolation. 
 It it not, nor has ever been easy,
 It is, and ever has been, full of evil, and good. 

When people tell us what to think, 
 They are usually really telling us how to act, 
 And those actions usually involve enriching the people 
 Doing the telling.