The Only Way We Can Live

A few days ago, my director shared with us the eulogy given at Robert Kennedy’s funeral in 1968. RFK was assassinated on June 5th. He was the younger brother of JFK, US attorney general and senator, and a front-running presidential candidate. Now, I’m not well-versed in American history, but I found his eulogy inspiring. In remembering their relative, the Kennedy's quoted RFK's own words in a speech he gave to the people of South Africa on their Day of Affirmation on 1966. In it, he calls us to pursue an ideal that is greater than our being, to strive for something beyond ourselves. Linking it to today, with all the recent world events — the economic crisis, tragic natural and man-made disasters, violence, starvation, poverty and warfare — this is inspiring to me because it reminds me that even with all the maliciousness and negativity in the world, good can still exist. And if just a few of us in these few moments that we are given in this life, just try to align our lifestyles and shift our mentalities if even in a minor way, perhaps we can make a major change in the current state of affairs. Educate yourself:

“There is discrimination in this world and slavery and slaughter and starvation. Governments repress their people; millions are trapped in poverty while the nation grows rich and wealth is lavished on armaments everywhere. These are differing evils, but they are the common works of man. They reflect the imperfection of human justice, the inadequacy of human compassion, our lack of sensibility towards the suffering of our fellows. But we can perhaps remember — even if only for a time — that those who live with us are our brothers; that they share with us the same short moment of life; that they seek — as we do — nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.

“The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful in the face of new ideas and bold projects. Rather it will belong to those who can blend vision, reason and courage in a personal commitment to the ideals and great enterprises of American Society. Our future may lie beyond our vision, but it is not completely beyond our control. It is the shaping impulse of America that neither fate nor nature nor the irresistible tides of history, but the work of our own hands, matched to reason and principle, that will determine our destiny. There is pride in that, even arrogance, but there is also experience and truth. In any event, it is the only way we can live.”

In an eerie way, this slightly reassures me. It's all too easy to get caught up in this mundane, stressful, chaotic, repetitive and almost robotic lifestyle. This reminds me that underneath it all, even though the work I do is mostly behind the scenes and something I never imagined myself doing, it is bringing about some sort of change to this world... I need to stop focusing on head over heart and mind over matter, and let my intuition govern my beliefs and love dictate my actions.