History Main / RestoredMyFaithInHumanity

* ''Literature/AmericasStepbrotherAmericasEnemyTwoPointZero'': President Obama is pleasantly surprised to see that, in the middle of the war between the United States and Oceania, donations are at an all time high and everyone is working hard to ensure that the people receive their fair share.
-->'''Obama:''' Just when we were ready to write the American people off as jaded and uncaring, they make us all proud again.

* ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'': Has an odd example where Norman restores [[spoiler: his own faith and Agatha's, as part of their NotSoDifferentRemark moment]].

** Also in the DCAU (''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''), ComicBook/DoctorFate has his faith in humanity restored when {{Superman}} refuses to give up in a fight against an EldritchAbomination.

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* The phrase "Faith in humanity restored" is a [[MemeticMutation popular phrase used by the Internet]] in response to a report of somebody doing an exceptionally good deed.
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* The St. Valentine Day's Massacre: During the 1920s UsefulNotes/AlCapone was almost seen as a superstar by many people, who knew he was a gangster but felt he was somewhat above the general corruptness of society. Since nobody actually saw him commit any crimes himself and judges always declared him innocent he came across as a lovable MagnificentBastard. That is until the St. Valentine Day's Massacre occured in 1929. Capone's thugs had disguised themselves as policemen and shot several other gangsters in cold blood. The news, and especially the photos of their bloody bodies, shocked the nation and reminded them again why Capone was actually not to be admired. Despite an attempt to deflect suspicion by getting himself locked up on a concealed weapon charge in Philadelphia soon after, Capone's image never recovered from this public backlash, and he was eventually imprisoned on tax evasion charges.
* During World War II some Jewish people had hid themselves in an attic to hide from the Nazis. One night they heard intruders in their hiding place so they kept quiet. Unfortunately it were indeed German soldiers investigating the place and one of them did open the attic door. When he saw the Jews there was a moment of awkward silence and fear, but then he simply shouted back at his fellow soldiers: "I see nothing upstairs either", closed the attic door and left. All the Jewish refugees in that attic managed to survive the war thanks to the unsuspected humanity of this one Nazi.
* The Battle Of Solferino (1859) was one of the bloodiest battles ever. No mercy was shown among the soldiers, who slaughtered each other and left the wounded ones to die off alone in agony. Yet one witness was so shocked by this bloody aftermath that he founded an organization that could take care of these victims, while remaining neutral about the conflicts themselves. His name? Henri Dunant, founder of UsefulNotes/TheRedCross.
* As awful as UsefulNotes/WorldWarII was, with all the genocides and mass killings, it did produce several laws and organizations in order to provide humans with an official, legal confirmation of their basic human rights: The United Nations, Unesco, Unicef, the Universal Charter of the Rights of Man, The World Health Organization, The World Bank, The International Court of Justice, the World Food Programme,.. War crimes are officially punishable since these declarations came into effect. The European Union was also created as a result of World War Two to maintain peace and economic collaboration between all its member states, thus ending all wars that have been fought in these countries for centuries.
* The Watergate scandal might never have been uncovered if one White House member didn't step forward to help the investigative journalists Woodward and Bernstein with solving the case. Nicknamed "Deep Throat" this member couldn't take the corruptness inside the White House any longer and decided to bring it all to an end. As Richard Nixon faced impeachment the entire believability of the United States and the Presidency was at stake. Yet Nixon decided to put the nation's interests before his own benefits and resigned.
* German general Erwin Rommel fought for the Nazis during World War Two, but was generally admired for being a decent human being who respected his prisoners of wars. He was even involved in plotting against Hitler to stop his ongoing atrocities, but the assault failed and he was executed via suicide by poison. The very idea that even a high ranking official in an ethically despicable ideology and regime would keep doing what was fair and good for his fellow man and even resist orders from his superiors is amazing.
* Joseph [=McCarthy's=] witch hunts against communists during the 1950s made his position almost untouchable. Not many people dared to question his tactics and general paranoia, which ruined the careers and reputations of many people who would normally be protected by the United States law to have free expression. Yet Edward Murrow, a journalist, risked his entire career by directly challenging [=McCarthy=]'s ethics and methods. His bold stance worked and soon the senator and the general anti-communist climate was deemed unconstitutional and caused his downfall.
* The single most unbelievable act of humanity occurred on Christmas 1914, when both German and Allied troops decided to have an armistice for one evening. They celebrated Christmas together and even played a game of soccer in the fields.

-->'''Obama:''' Just when we were ready to write the American people of as jaded and uncaring, they make us all proud again.

* ''WesternAnimation/ParaNorman'': Has an odd example where Norman restores [[spoiler: his own faith and Agatha's, as part of their NotSoDifferent moment]].

* ''Literature/AmericasStepbrotherAmericasEnemyTwoPointZero'': President Obama is pleasantly surprised to see that, in the middle of the war between the United States and Oceania, donations are at an all time high and everyone is working hard to ensure the people receive their fair share.

* ''Literature/AmericasStepbrotherAmericasEnemyTwoPointZero'': Presidnet Obama is pleasantly surprised to see that, in the middle of the war between the United States and Oceania, donations are at an all time high and everyone is working hard to ensure the people receive their fair share.

-->"Amazing! You've restored my faith in mankind! Actually, no, I still hate mankind. But at least you're okay."

* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', the ComicBook/MartianManhunter flies off to what he thought was a secluded area on Earth, since after [[AMindIsATerribleThingToRead a telepathic sweep of the city, leaves him (accidentally) accessible to the petty]] and [[HumansAreBastards selfish thoughts of humanity]]. However, he soon notices a search party looking for a girl that has gone missing, and hearing their thoughts, as well as the lost girl, learning that [[RousseauWasRight humans are decent after all]], after finding her returning her back to the camp. He goes ''another'' one of this of sorts, in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' when Franchise/WonderWoman notices he doesn't like humans and is "cooped up" in the Watchtower. She then insists he take part in the team's mission, [[PutOnABus before announcing he's taking leave and descends on Earth to live among humans]]. When he returns for the GrandFinale, it's later revealed that he not only was capable of living with humans, but he was ''in a relationship'' with one.

* Ideon does this in the Normal and Good endings of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha 3'', deeming that humanity has a possible future after talking it over with the loli manifestation of a powerful goddess.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Doctor is an...interesting case. He'll occasionally go on a very vehement HumansAreTheRealMonsters phase, calling them violent, selfish and stupid, and then, something will happen (usually sparked by his companion) that restores his faith in them. After all, there's got to be a ''reason'' he hangs out on Earth so much.
** It's actually discussed in the much darker ''Torchwood: Children of Earth'' with Gwen, who reminisces about when Jack used to tell her about the Doctor, and wonders why he sometimes just fails to appear, mostly around atrocities committed by humanity itself. She concludes that it is during those times that Humanity so utterly disgusts the Doctor that even he must look away. This has never been confirmed however.

->''"You've changed my mind Goku, I was beginning to believe that all people were greedy and dishonorable, but you've shown me that there are people that have kind and untainted minds & heart."''

* An alien variant appears in ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'' #8 when the disgruntled semi-defected Decepticon Fulcrum is motivated to make a HeroicSacrifice to save the Scavengers because they've proven to him that the Decepticon cause is still worthy, even if their ranks did become infested with psychoes, sadists and monsters who just used it as an excuse to kill.

** Inverted with Javert: Unable to reconcile his beliefs that a criminal remains a criminal and the fact that Jean Valjean is, well, benevolent and just, [[spoiler:commits suicide.]]

* In the ''Literatue/CallahansCrosstimeSaloon'' story "The Time Traveler," the Rev. Tom Hauptmann has [[EvilStoleMyFaith lost his faith]] after being imprisoned for a decade by a Latin American dictator, no longer understands the world around him, and is on the verge of suicide when he tries to hold up [[GoodGuyBar Callahan's.]] The patrons convince him that life is still worth living and Mike Callahan even hires him as a backup bartender.

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* The High Evolutionary's plans to wipe out humanity were once waylaid by the Hulk's determination to survive in spite of everything.

* ''FanFic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness'': Though she no longer works for Fairy Tale as of Act IV, Akua still believes that HumansAreTheRealMonsters and can't understand why Moka and other monsters would want to co-exist with them. Spending time with Tsukune and the others gets her to change her mind, leading to her rescuing a human boy from death during the climax of the act; by the time of Act V, she's become an advocate of co-existence.

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* One ''ComicStrip/BloomCounty'' strip had Opus wallowing in gloom, thinking he's lost the Christmas spirit forever. Portnoy appears and gives him a gift which turns out to be plastic dog-vomit. Opus hugs him, saying in total sincerity: "Thank you. You've pulled me back from the brink. I'll cherish it forever." [[GilliganCut Cue]] Portnoy wallowing in gloom.
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** WordOfGod for ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'' notes that Nolan (who suffers from the game's general lack of character expansion) [[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/fe/akatsuki_bk/chara/chara03.html has this as part of his backstory]].

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* In ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAForest'', Cornelius, due to an experience as a child where hunters caused him to be separated from his parents, believed that humans were monsters, his belief refortified by an accident that released a deadly gas into the forest. During the climax, however, when Edgar was caught in a hunter's trap, one of the men who were cleaning up the accident let him go before smashing the trap, opening Cornelius's eyes in realization that there were humans who genuinely cared about animals.

* The Battle Of Solferino (1859) was one of the bloodiest battles ever. No mercy was shown among the soldiers, who slaughtered each other and left the wounded ones to die off alone in agony. Yet one witness was so shocked by this bloody aftermath that he founded an organization that could take care of these victims, while remaining neutral about the conflicts themselves. His name? Henri Dunant, founder of TheRedCross.

* Ceres from ''Manga/AyashiNoCeres'' starts out despising humanity ([[DoesNotLikeMen especially men]]) for what had been done to her in the past. As the series progresses, Ceres learns that humans aren't evil, [[HumansAreFlawed just flawed]], and her faith in the human soul was restored from watching Aya and her friends and loved ones.

* The St. Valentine Day's Massacre: During the 1920s UsefulNotes/AlCapone was almost seen as a superstar by many people, who knew he was a gangster but felt he was somewhat above the general corruptness of society. Since nobody actually saw him commit any crimes himself and judges always declared him innocent he came across as a lovable MagnificentBastard. That is until the St. Valentine Day's Massacre occured in 1929. Capone's thugs had disguised themselves as policemen and shot several other gangsters in cold blood. The news, and especially the photos of their bloody bodies, shocked the nation and reminded them again why Capone was actually not to be admired. Despite an attempt to deflect suspicion by getting himself locked up for a day for carrying a weapon without a permit in another part of the country, Capone's image never recovered from this public backlash, and he was eventually imprisoned on tax evasion charges.

* The St. Valentine Day's Massacre: During the 1920s UsefulNotes/AlCapone was almost seen as a superstar by many people, who knew he was a gangster but felt he was somewhat above the general corruptness of society. Since nobody actually saw him commit any crimes himself and judges always declared him innocent he came across as a lovable MagnificentBastard. That is until the St. Valentine Day's Massacre occured in 1929. Capone's thugs had disguised themselves as policemen and shot several other gangsters in cold blood. The news, and especially the photos of their bloody bodies, shocked the nation and reminded them again why Capone was actually not to be admired. Capone's image never recovered from this public backlash and he was eventually put in the jail.

* German general Erwin Rommel fought for the Nazis during World War Two, but was generally admired for being a decent human being who respected his prisoners of wars. He was even involved in plotting against Hitler to stop his ongoing atrocities, but the assault failed and he was executed. The very idea that even a high ranking official in an ethically despicable ideology and regime would keep doing what was fair and good for his fellow man and even resist orders from his superiors is amazing.

** Inverted with Javert: unable to reconcile his beliefs that a criminal remains a criminal and the fact that Jean Valjean is, well, benevolent and just, [[spoiler:commits suicide.]]

* Jean Valjean, in ''Literature/LesMiserables'', after being [[AllCrimesAreEqual put in prison for almost twenty years for a minor infraction]], is wandering the streets of a small town looking for somewhere to spend the night after a day in which nobody will pay him full wages or rent a room to him because he is a convict. Nobody will let him even stay on their stoop, but one person points out the door of the local bishop. He is given pride of place at the bishop's table, a room for the night, and respect as a fellow human being. However, this trope doesn't take effect until he steals the bishop's silver and makes a run for it, and instead of denouncing him to the police, the bishop actually gives him the rest of the silver as a gift. Cue HeelRealization, MyGodWhatHaveIDone, and [[TheAtoner redemption]]. Valjean goes on to become one of the most [[NeutralGood benevolent and just]] characters in fiction.

->''You've changed my mind Goku, I was beginning to believe that all people were greedy and dishonorable, but you've shown me that there are people that have kind and untainted minds & heart.''

->''When I first created the Dragon Balls, I did so in order to encourage acts of bravery and give the people of Earth a sense of hope. But soon I learned that the hearts of men are easily corrupted, people began killing one another in order to attain the Dragon Balls, their greed and lust turned my noble pure endeavor into one of evil. However, you've changed my mind Goku, I was beginning to believe that all people were greedy and dishonorable, but you've shown me that there are people that have kind and untainted minds & heart.''