Optimism is a state of mind in which an individual will tend to "expect the best possible outcome or dwell on the most promising aspects of a situation" (freedictionary.com). In recent decades, optimism has become more than just a state of mind; it became an empire in its own right, a power in itself. In Barbara Ehrenreich's book, "Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America," she delves into the concept that optimism, or positive thinking, has emerged as a strong "ideological force in American culture. .—one that encourages us to deny reality, to cheerfully submit to misfortune, and to blame only ourselves for our fate” (Ehrenreich 43-4). breast, a victim constantly bombarded by pink ribbon culture and the overwhelmingly positive attitude that comes with it, shows how America's “withdrawal from the drama of real life and the tragedy of human events is indicative of a profound powerlessness at the core of positive thinking” (Ehrenreich 59). Many movements have been overwhelmed by the power of positive thinking that has swept the nation, including the breast cancer movement with all the campaigns, pink products and corporate sponsorships that the movement has obtained, it is A kind of breast cancer culture has been created. This culture, otherwise known as pink ribbon culture, is deeply rooted in positive thinking. The problem with positive thinking is that it distracts us from the reality we live in, a reality in which we have yet to find a cure for breast cancer, and causes us to lose sight of the bigger issues at play. Positive thinking does much more than divert our attention from our primary goal of completely eliminating breast cancer with the discovery of a cure, it... middle of paper... er, once and for all as long as the thinking positive is a dominant force in America. Works Cited Ehrenreich, Barbara. Silver Lining: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America. New York, NY: Henry Holt e, 2009. Print.Holland, Jimmie C. and Sheldon Lewis. "The tyranny of positive thinking." The human side of cancer: living with hope, facing uncertainty. New York: HarperCollins, 2000. PrintKing, Samantha. Pink Ribbons, Inc.: Breast cancer and the politics of philanthropy. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2006. Print.Sulik, Gayle A. Pink Ribbon Blues: How Breast Cancer Culture Undermines Women's Health. New York: Oxford UP, 2011. Print."optimism." American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. 2003. Houghton Mifflin Company December 7, 2011 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/optimism