From the font of all good thoughts of the day:

Thus says the LORD:
You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!”
Hear now, house of Israel:
Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies,
it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed,
he does what is right and just,
he shall preserve his life;
since he has turned away from all the sins that he has committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die. – Ez. 18:25-28

All of us, I think, have our personal pile of iniquity to answer for – I certainly do.  Carrying it further, we as a nation have a pile of iniquity, as well.  But we can, at any moment, turn from them…and though our sins be as scarlet, we will be made white as snow.  As individuals and as a people, we can be better…much better.  So better that the resultant peace and justice will make the best times of the past seem a dark and wicked time.

I’m going to try.