I sat in the House Chamber of the Capitol Nov. 1 listening to Barbara Ehrenreich. She gave a speech about her new book Bright-Sided.

Ehrenreich is a critic, author of over 20 books and a social activist. In Bright-Sided, Ehrenreich challenges the ideology of positive thinking that Americans project in every aspect of their lives. She believes that as Americans we have become saturated with the idea of being positive all of the time.

Having stumbled upon the speech by accident, I had no prior knowledge of her work or what she was going to speak about. However, her message was clear, blunt and somehow hopeful.

I was relieved that her message was not to think negatively. Instead she offered advice that a nation in the middle of a recession and two wars could actually identify with.

“We should be thinking realistically, focusing on what is really happening in our nation,” said Ehrenreich.

She says that thinking positive isn’t a solution to our problems and to think so would be naïve.

“If this recession has kept you unemployed for the past six months, don’t say you are staying positive, get angry,” she said. “Get angry at a political system that cannot figure out how to employ qualified individuals.”

The crowd was in agreement, interrupting her many times with loud applause. It was clear that Ehrenreich enjoys an avid fan base.

Her speech also focused on her battle and triumph over breast cancer. She said that she didn’t get rid of her cancer with positive thinking; she knew that realistically, medicine had to help her through.

“There is no scientific proof that positive thinking helps your immune system fight disease,” she said. “To believe that is foolish.”

She recalls that her experience with breast cancer support groups was not easy.

“Members of the group were told to think and act positively during group sessions, or they would get kicked out,” said Ehrenreich.

Although today’s experience with Ehrenreich was an accident, it proved to be educational and thought-provoking.

Why is our culture obsessed with being positive? Why don’t we take Ehrenreich’s advice and live realistically? Perhaps that is the best advice we can use during a pretty ‘real’ time in our nation history.