Charles Dickens' classic novel A Tale of Two Cities begins, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. ..." This description has deep meaning - not only for Dickens'characters, whose lives were torn apart by the excesses of the French Revolution, but also for many of us whose parents told us about life during the Great Depression and World War II. It conveys that often in the midst of real deprivation and need, you can find acts of mercy, innovation or community building that not only make the condition bearable but even exceptional.
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