Hope still springs forth in so many ways

While the news of Osama Bin Laden's death is welcomed in the civilized world as the elimination of a source of hatred and evil, justice served, and a credit to the U.S. armed forces and intelligence services that so bravely and unselfishly protect the world, there were other significant events at home and abroad in the past seven days that should not be overshadowed. They offer a great message of hope for humankind in these days where our hopes are constantly challenged by irrational violence, economic strife and a frustrating, dysfunctional political process.

Pope John Paul II's beatification celebrated a truly extraordinary life and shared with us a wonderfully positive religious ritual to recognize and celebrate, regardless of personal religious affiliation. Whether or not you fully support the church's position on every single topic, in a world where leadership, morality and consistent compassion are apparently a challenging combination, purity of heart and thought, unbridled kindness, and wholehearted empathy are traits that we can and must hold out and laud as exemplary.

At the same time, the marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton provided us a rich, colorful picture of the pomp, pageantry, national pride and outpouring of joy that tend to become buried in our daily struggle.

The aftermath of the destruction in Alabama reminds us that despite our struggles, America continues to wear the proud label of the Land of the Compassionate. From New York to New Orleans to Haiti to Japan to the less heralded streets and even jungles of the world, despite efforts to polarize us -- even curiously, by our leaders here at home -- U.S. citizens consistently offering help to strangers in despair continues to be who we are and unquestionably, is America at its very finest.

This week, Jews around the world observed Yom Hashoah, a remembrance of the 6 million Jews who were slaughtered in the Holocaust. While the events that commemorate the observance are appropriately sad and moving, they also constitute a message to Jews and the world alike that we all need to stand together to make sure that no peace-loving person or people ever again is subjected to such prejudice, atrocity and horror.

We need to have the capacity individually to respect the peaceful beliefs of our fellow human beings, revel in each others' joys, work through our differences, and band together to deal with our difficulties and tragedies. That is what made America the greatest nation and will be the formula for the future happiness and well-being of generations to come.

Adam Epstein, Hewlett