MLK lesson: Hope more powerful than optimism

+ sports betting puts college students at risk for gambling problems US Edition - Today's top story: Hope is not the same as optimism, a psychologist explains − just look at MLK's example [View in browser]( US Edition | 2 April 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [China’s college rankings soar on research output]( - [Global laws to fight fake news do little for press freedoms]( - [Clean-energy manufacturing boom may lead to more dirty power]( Lead story In everyday conversation, “hope” and “optimism” sound like more or less the same thing. We use them to say someone’s looking on the bright side, that they’re confident about what lies ahead. To psychologists, though, there’s a distinction. Optimism “can rely on a sense of luck over action,” explains Kendra Thomas, a psychologist at Hope College (go figure!). Long-term hope, on the other hand, is about more than positive thinking. “Virtuous hope,” Thomas writes, is a mindset that inspires action – action to serve the common good. It “helps people endure challenges, tackle them head-on and keep their eyes on the goal.” Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated 56 years ago this week, [exemplifies that ideal](. The civil rights leader said that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” To Thomas, he was not “describing its natural trajectory, but what people have the power to change.” [[The latest from the the world of philanthropy and nonprofits. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Giving Today.](] Molly Jackson Religion and Ethics Editor The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. speaks after being released from prison for leading a boycott. Donald Uhrbrock/The Chronicle Collection via Getty Images [Hope is not the same as optimism, a psychologist explains − just look at MLK’s example]( Kendra Thomas, Hope College Optimism can rely on a sense of luck, while hope is action-oriented − and often aimed at helping other people. Education - [March Madness brings unique gambling risks for college students]( M. Dolores Cimini, University at Albany, State University of New York The legalization and ease of online sports betting is fueling a rise in gambling disorders among young people. Environment + Energy - [Who are today’s climate activists? Dispelling 3 big myths for Earth Month]( Dana R. Fisher, American University Not all activists are in the media spotlight, but they’re crucial to promoting action to slow climate change. - [America’s green manufacturing boom, from EV batteries to solar panel production, isn’t powered by renewable energy − yet]( James Morton Turner, Wellesley College New charts and data show how corporate demand could boost clean energy investment in regions where renewable energy potential is strong but wind and solar power have lagged. Arts + Culture - [The most important voice on Beyoncé’s new album]( William Nash, Middlebury Confinement was the essence of Linda Martell’s brief career as a country star in the 1970s – and it’s the exact sort of fate that Beyoncé has sought to avoid. 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Health + Medicine - [Affordable stroke-risk screening could save the lives of many children in sub-Saharan Africa with sickle cell disease]( Paul (Seung Yup) Lee, Kennesaw State University Sickle cell disease causes lower oxygen levels and abnormal blood flow in the brain, which can lead to a stroke. New research into noninvasive screening methods could help reduce the risk. International - [‘Fake news’ legislation risks doing more harm than good amid a record number of elections in 2024]( Samuel Jens, Stony Brook University (The State University of New York) Vague definitions and heavy penalties mean that legislation could be used to stifle a free press. - [The April 8 eclipse provides a rare opportunity to witness the sun’s superhot corona]( Martin Connors, Athabasca University The solar corona can be seen during the solar eclipse on April 8. Astronomers are still trying to figure out the mysteries of the corona, including why it’s so hot. - Trending on site - [I’ve captained ships into tight ports like Baltimore, and this is how captains like me work with harbor pilots to avoid deadly collisions]( - [Heart rate zones aren’t a perfect measure of exercise intensity, but regularly getting your heart pumping is still important for fitness]( - [Looking to photograph a solar eclipse with your smartphone? Try these features and think about creative angles]( Today's graphic 📈 [A map of the United States with each state color coded according to the electricity price measured in cents per kilo-watt hour. The northeast and California have some of the highest prices.]( From the story, [California is wrestling with electricity prices – here’s how to design a system that covers the cost of fixing the grid while keeping prices fair]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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