Fear, Hope, Global Warming, and Scary Politics. Katharine Butler Hathaway weighs the reasons for decisions between those based on fear and those that come from creativity. There must be, she says, “a rule something like this that makes jonquils and crocuses come pushing through cold mud.” This is a good creative and practical image for hope. I would add that figuring a creative response or action that fits our vision and our nature in response to all that seems beyond our control is empowering and world changing. Reaching toward the sun pushes the cold mud aside.