Last Saturday we went to a small street celebration of the Chinese lunar new year. There was music, and there were Kung Fu and Tai Chi performances, and I liked them more than I thought I would. But the great thing was seeing all the older couples and young families and groups of friends, the little kids, the dogs. People of all races and beliefs. It felt good. Reassuring, reaffirming.

In these times of disillusionment, polarization and fear, even small events that bring communities together can make the world seem a lot less hopeless.