touching greatness

through almost pure fortuitousness, we got to hear archbishop desmond tutu speak at usc’s president’s distinguished lecture series last night.

he spoke for less than an hour, but it was very entertaining and inspiring. he reminded us that back in the days of apartheid, even people dedicated to the cause were questioned, “what could possibly happen through your protests? what is the possible outcome? could it ever end, and if it did, would it not be violent and destructive?” and yet we’re coming up on the tenth anniversary of free elections in south africa, proving that it is important to protest and believe in what’s right, do what’s just, and believe and act in goodness. he told us that we are creatures born out of goodness because of god’s love for us, and despite all evidence that this is a world full of evil, that instead we are full of goodness in a world of goodness, because evil does not last. the despots fall one by one into footnotes of history, while we continue to persist and exist. we continue to be outraged at violence and injustice because we are inherently good, and thus we continue to try and make the world a better place.

it’s quite hard to argue with this adorable man, with all that he’s seen.

we also, serendipitously, were able to get tickets to the reception afterwards, where we got to have our pictures taken with archbishop tutu. we even got to shake his hand! (mental note: when going to see a nobel peace prize winner, always dress better. you never know…)

we also met a journalist from south africa, who had just flown in for the first time to the states, who was here to help teach a course for the journalism department where they would be here for three weeks, and then the entire class would go to south africa for a month!

man, i’m telling you: engineering is for suckers.

Posted at April 1, 2004 12:28 PM