There is just so much about this video that I love.
One, his perspective on winning, on greatness, and on how we handle moments of power: “to give a voice to the voiceless.” For whatever reason, those who can act have been given a platform from which to stand and an allowance into our homes and minds and hearts. For many, that is an incomprehensible responsibility, and for many others an opportunity for further gain and self adulation. Those who use that platform for the benefit of others are the ones that no only last the test of time, they significantly impact the world and make it a better place.
Two, his perspective on animals and sentient beings. What I love about this is that it isn’t popular, that it isn’t something I believe in, and that it is probably easily considered radical. But we need people like this (to an extent) because it keeps bringing us back to the center. Without people who challenge our core beliefs, who question our way of living, or who critique our most basic understandings of life (like eating meat), we would easily fall off the cliff of radicalism. Us meat eaters need the Joaguin’s of the world to bring us back to center. And he needs the meat eaters of the world to pull him and his circle back.
Three, this whole damn thought:
We fear the idea of personal change because we think we have to sacrifice something to give something up. But human beings at our best are so inventive and creative and ingenious, and I think that when we use love and compassion as our guiding principles, we can create, develop, and implement systems of change that are beneficial to all sentient beings and the environment . . .
I have been a scoundrel in my life. I’ve been selfish, I’ve been cruel at times, hard to work with, and ungrateful. But so many of you in this room have given me a second chance. And I think that’s when we’re at our best, when we support each other - not when we cancel each other out for past mistakes, but when we help each other to grow, when we educate each other, when we guide each other towards redemption. That is the best of humanity . . .
Run to the rescue with love, and peace will follow.
Soon after watching Joaquin’s speech, I stumbled across this one, by Kurt Vonnegut, and it reminded me of an Austin Kleon Tweet where he mentioned how much he enjoyed reading several books at once because at times it seemed like they were “having a conversation with each other.”
I feel the same about Kurt and Joaquin.
Although a bit abstract in their connection, where I felt Mr. Vonnegut was contributing to the discussion was this. Joaquin was attempting to explain the best of humanity, to help each other find redemption. Vonnegut clarifies what many of us are thinking, “I’m a human too,” and my story looks radically different than hers or his or that person’s over there. Which is fine, because although we each have our own personal story with various possible story lines, the purpose of our story, of all GOOD stories, is to help each other find redemption.
That is the best of humanity! And we are all capable of discovering it, no matter where our story starts.
Unless, of course, you are destined to be a cockroach.
For more on . . .