“In the Peace Corps, in the war against poverty, we’ve learned that the challenge before America today is not to become richer or bigger or stronger, but to become more human. [...] Early in our history, we sought political unity and we got it. Humanity unity is much harder to achieve. It’s going to take all of the energies of everybody here. People who want to build people. We can build everything else — planes and highways and computers and buildings and spaceships. What we need are architects for humanity.”
Our Quote of the Week reminds us that unless we place the welfare of humanity above all else, in our politics, commerce, and in all of our systems, we are prioritizing the wrong things. This is a timely message in a moment when so many communities at home and abroad are struggling with economic hardship, natural disasters, political turmoil, and violence.
In a 1967 Address at the University of California, Sargent Shriver recounted stories from his time leading the Peace Corps and building the programs of the War on Poverty. Drawing from his personal experiences and from world events, Sargent Shriver admitted that there were many examples of injustice, inequality, and violence occurring around us. He stressed, however, that we all could have and must have a role in creating a more just and loving world for each other. It was in this context that he spoke of a need for “architects for humanity.”
Sargent Shriver frequently encouraged us to use our skills to empower others. He stressed that no matter our backgrounds, we all had the ability to play a role in making the world a more peaceful place. As we go through our days, let’s take his message to heart. Let’s all do what we can to be architects for humanity.
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