I mentioned that point in the post. This is the logic of not doing the laundry today because it may rain tomorrow, or next week. The future is beyond our knowledge or our control; all we can do in the present is make a difference, set an example, send a message, and hope. If the difference we make is no difference because we're terrified someone else will make a different difference another day, if the example we set is of the frightened fourth monkey sitting on his hands for fear of what someone else might do, if the message we send is that we are helpless pawns (or rather flotsam) in the maelstrom of history and the best thing anyone can do is do nothing...

...well, then, we will have deserved everything that our successors (who do not) will get. And hope is without point or purpose.