Crisis = danger + opportunity

wēijī

The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word “crisis.” One brush stroke stands for danger, the other for opportunity. In crisis, be aware of the danger, but recognize the opportunity.

—John F. Kennedy

According to Wikipedia, some scholars argue that the second syllable jī has many meanings, depending upon its context. In the case of wēijī the meaning of jī is closer to "crucial point" than to "opportunity."

Regardless of whether Kennedy's quote is "wishful thinking," as implied by Professor Mair in Wikipedia, I believe we must look for the opportunity in everything, including danger and the adversity we are collectively struck with in this economic crisis.

Most of all, we must try to focus our attention onto something other than economic travails, and stop feeding the sense of despair that is in the collective consciousness today. Easy to say, isn't it.