A Treatise in Four Parts - Part IV

Dan Rather

Sometimes a person of faith can issue a clarion call that cuts through the madness and materialism of our modern age.

Last night, his Holiness Pope Francis delivered a surprise TED talk about power and humility that is as memorable and important as I've seen in some time. He said the future of humankind depends upon how those in power treat those less fortunate.

Pope Francis warns in TED talk: 'Power can ruin you'

Pope Francis, an outspoken champion of science and technology, gave his own TED talk Tuesday night, speaking from the Vatican with a three-part message calling for a "revolution of tenderness" and warning those in power to act responsibly or "your power will ruin you."

In his remarks, the pope addressed the connection between the rich and powerful and the less fortunate, with a pointed appeal to those with wealth and influence.

He called for a "revolution of tenderness" toward the weak, the poor, children and the "sick and polluted earth" by everyone, particularly by the strong.

"Please, allow me to say it loud and clear: the more powerful you are, the more your actions will have an impact on people, the more responsible you are to act humbly," he said. "If you don’t, your power will ruin you, and you will ruin the other. There is a saying in Argentina: 'Power is like drinking gin on an empty stomach.' You feel dizzy, you get drunk, you lose your balance, and you will end up hurting yourself and those around you, if you don’t connect your power with humility and tenderness."

His remarks also addressed the concerns of the sick, of migrants "in search of a brighter future" and of prison inmates, asking why these people faced such heavy burdens and not the pope himself.

"I, myself, was born in a family of migrants; my father, my grandparents, like many other Italians, left for Argentina and met the fate of those who are left with nothing," he said. "I could have very well ended up among today's 'discarded' people. And that's why I always ask myself, deep in my heart: 'Why them and not me?'"

Francis once again showed strong support for scientific and technological innovation but added it would be "wonderful" if such advancements went hand in hand with more equality and social inclusion.

"How wonderful would it be, while we discover faraway planets, to rediscover the needs of the brothers and sisters orbiting around us," he said.

"Only by educating people to a true solidarity will we be able to overcome the 'culture of waste,' which doesn't concern only food and goods but, first and foremost, the people who are cast aside by our techno-economic systems which, without even realizing it, are now putting products at their core, instead of people," he said.

While the pope noted that the future of humankind is not exclusively in the hands of politicians and leaders of big companies and that "we all need each other," he did issue a pointed message for those with power and wealth.

"People's paths are riddled with suffering, as everything is centered around money, and things, instead of people," he said. "And often there is this habit, by people who call themselves 'respectable,' of not taking care of the others, thus leaving behind thousands of human beings, or entire populations, on the side of the road."

When Amy was little, she said: “There’s one thing Heavenly Father does every day.”

“What’s that?”

“He peoples.”

She’s the same one who knows Heavenly Father loves girls more than boys, except for handicapped, sort of, like Ed, and who glimpses the TV during General Conference as the camera scans over the general authorities and down into the center section where all the stake presidents and bishops (used to) sit and asks, “Where are all the girls?  Is this just a church for mans?”

“Mom, I know we are sort of robots—I mean God made us and he sort of programmed our minds.”

“Who told you that?”

“I just figured it out.”

Out of the mouth of babes.

To remain true to ourselves, we have to stick with God, regardless of what anyone says or does to us. I don't believe He would hurt anyone for any reason. Hugh B. Brown often quoted Sheldon, "It is better to break a rule than a heart." 

This may seem like a mishmash of subjects and quotes but to me they all point to the same problems: 1) The abuse of power. 2) Inequality.