Optimism annoys me. It annoys me because the people who practice it refuse to see reality. Even when they acknowledge that they are 'hopelessly optimistic', they still believe it is a good thing, and not something they should make any effort to overcome in order to live in the real world. Mostly, it annoys me because it makes me feel nasty and cynical and mean to be injuring such an eggshell view of reality.

And maybe I am, but I hate feeling like I should twirl my moustache and tie the poor optimistic blonde to the railway tracks.

Politics tutorial this afternoon prompted this sudden spill. Under discussion: Should there be a trade-off between development and human rights in developing countries? Answer from my sunny group: No. Rights are necessary, inalienable even, and they should not be compromised. Obviously, (they went on, being the Academic!Optimists that they are) this is a Utopian view, but an effort should be made to stick as close to this as possible.

Point One: People who are starving don't give a fuck about having the vote. 'But if they don't have the vote, how can they make their displeasure at starving known?' Believe me, sweetheart, if the people are in dire straits, nothing in the world can stop them having a voice. That's why god invented riots.

Point Two: There is, not anywhere even near the edges of possibility, but right slap-bang in the middle of the here-and-now, the situation whereby no matter what action is taken, the rights of the people are violated. The rights of the few, or the rights of the many? Who to shaft? Say, for example, a state with ethnic conflict, separatists running a campaign of terror. De-stabilising the government, retarding development, and since the people are living in a war zone, what human rights do they have? Should the government enforce more militaristic actions to produce stability and development, but thereby reduce the total rights of its citizens? 'Well, there should be due process for everyone, even guerillas.' And what precisely is that due process, honey? Listen to their demands, and state firmly: "Well yes, we see your point, but we can't allow you to split our already fragile and only marginally economically viable country into two completely useless parts, sorry." And, of course, the guerillas will accept that, lay down their guns, and go home.

Sometimes, optimism just makes me sick.

The rant endeth here. I'm tired, I'm going to bed.