While I believe Leob's idea on cynicism is true, I don't believe cynicism is the best word to use. Originally it was an early, almost transcendental philosophy that believed in the rejection of all material belongings and the acceptance of a more simply life. Later it became what we know it as today; an idea of mistrust towards all organizations or actions of others. While feeling that you can't trust anyone around you may cause depression or a lack of desire to help others, it doesn't exactly make you feel incapable of achieving your dreams or helping others. This mentality may make it difficult to help those in need since you would be acting alone, but it is a good concept to keep in mind when help others. You can't always assume that the person on the side of the street that you just gave money to, is going to use it on food rather than drugs or alcohol. It's good to be mindful that not everyone you are helping need it, or are using your help for good reasons. While a completely cynical mindset would destroy the experience of helping others, its wise to keep your mind open to the fact that the help your providing may not be the correct form of help people need.
Instead I would say most people in America are overwhelmed rather than cynical. They either follow the perfect standard described in chapter 2, or see the masses of disadvantaged people and wonder how they can make a difference. As far as following their dreams goes, the concept is the same. They are overwhelmed by the number of those around them who have not fulfilled their dreams, see the very few who have, and are afraid of trying and facing the humiliation and defeat of failure. It's this overwhelmed or depressed mindset that I believe better describes the current situation in America especially the fear of failure.
Just last night I was watching The Office with my family. In the episode Pam tells Jan how it's always been her dream to become an artist or a graphic designer. Jan tells Pam about this excellent program that their company is offering that would help her fulfill that very dream. Immediately, though, Pam starts offering excuses and reasons not to do it. I was startled to see someone have a perfect path to their dream placed before them and they suddenly run from it. Then I remembered, I nearly did the same thing.
I've always wanted to be an Orthopedic Surgeon, specialize in Sports Medicine, and open my own practice. All through high school I kept good grades, remained involved, and built my college resume. But when I graduated my mom lost her job, and moved in with my grandparents who were struggling to tend their ranch with their old age. I moved out to Arizona to help them, and set my dreams aside. I made a point to still go to college so I enrolled at GCC. As I was speaking with my counselor, he looked over my grades and accuplacer and said I shouldn't enroll in the classes I selected. Instead he offered GCC's honors program with the president's scholarship, and offered a plan to get me the credits I would need to one day make my dreams come true. To be honest I was suddenly struck with the fear of actually committing to this dream and the possibility of failure and nearly rejected the idea. Only after several days of thought, and several more visits to the counselor did I finally decide to take the first step in my pursuit. Even today I am amazed by the fear I felt of simply going after my own dreams. So I am able to understand what Pam felt, and what Leob was talking about. It's that overwhelming fear, or even mistrust of ourselves that we don't have what it takes to make a difference, change a life, or follow our dreams.