Nothing But Words

My uncle Vincent Ferraro teaches political science at Mt Holyoke College in Massachusetts. I recently came across the text of his 2006 Baccalaureate address, and it’s amazing. I can’t imagine more perfect advice for how to approach the challenges of life, all presented in a speech that probably took only about 10 minutes to deliver. Here’s a snippet, but I highly, highly recommend reading the whole thing:

…Remember that the idea of the “world” is nothing more than an artifact of our limited imaginations. Effectively helping an autistic child is more important then poorly negotiating a treaty on nuclear disarmament. Relieving the suffering of a homeless person is just as consequential as discovering a cure for cancer. Because the world is not just the mass of people living on the planet; the world is every single person on the planet. If your strengths lie in saving the one, then focus on that task. If your strength lies in the ability to mobilize the creative talents of millions, then focus on that activity. Let your personal power define the world.

My final bit of advice may sound a little strange in the context of what I’ve just been arguing, but I mean it in all sincerity. Saving the world requires that you laugh, no matter how desperate the situation may be. Losing the ability to laugh, or sing, or dance in the moment of great crisis is a signal that you’ve lost the point of why you need to save the world. We want to save our humanity, not just humanity. Laughing in the face of great crisis is the clearest sign that we have not given ourselves over to fatalism and fear.

We cannot let the world control us. It’s too big, too unpredictable, and too complex. Besides, those who have tried to control it–Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, Mao–only made things worse.

We can, however, control our reactions to the world. Indeed, without that measure of self-control it is unlikely that we will accomplish any good at all.

So laugh because you are alive.

And laugh because the struggle is heroic and worthy.

And laugh because winning and losing is not the measure of your courage or your greatness; only your will to be who you wish to be is relevant. Who you need to be. Who you must be.

And if you remain true to yourself and the values of this place, you will not fail…