From 'Our World' to Today: Reminder of the Importance of Love
A reminder going into next week to love instead of hate, appreciation instead of contempt, and unity instead of division.
Next week, the United States will once again participate in its quintessential four-year event—the presidential election. This election has already been billed as too close to call, and the nation stands deeply divided, with both major parties seemingly prepared to reject the results. The specter of civil conflict looms ominously on the horizon.
I have no intention of telling you who to vote for, nor do I want to try. Instead, I believe that what we need most in these turbulent times is a fundamental reminder of the importance of love. Let me share a story that underscores this sentiment.
The Our World Event
On June 25, 1967, a historic event unfolded—the first live multinational, multi-satellite television production known as Our World. This groundbreaking broadcast featured 14 countries and was coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union. Over the course of two hours, an estimated audience of between 400 and 700 million people across 31 countries tuned in, making it the largest television audience ever at that time.
Bringing Our World to life took ten months and the efforts of 10,000 technicians, producers, and performers. There was one strict ground rule: no politicians or heads of state could participate in the broadcast. This was a period of significant strain in the United States, marked by the unpopular Vietnam War, widespread government distrust, and the vibrant hippy spirit of the "Summer of Love."
One of the standout performers on the Our World broadcast was the Beatles. They need no introduction, but on this special program, they played a simple, yet powerful song written specifically for the occasion: "All You Need Is Love." This anthem has since become a timeless reminder of the power of love and unity.
Today, our world faces numerous conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, the Palestine-Israel conflict, civil wars in places like Sudan and Myanmar, and much more. Despite these challenges, it’s important to recognize that, relatively speaking, we live in one of the least violent times in human history. Much of the perceived violence is amplified by our hyper-awareness of negative events, driven by the 24/7 news cycle and the pursuit of clicks and views by media outlets. Positive news often gets overshadowed because it doesn't generate the same level of attention. Attention needed to sell more advertising.
Empathy is the most crucial skill to cultivate in our modern world. Instead of hating or contesting those who vote differently, we should seek out and cherish the common ground we share. Engage with people who have different perspectives, build local, real relationships, and spend genuine time with those around you. It doesn't get any more real than that.
While I believe that educating and teaching people how to think, rather than what to think, is essential for addressing some of our most significant global challenges, for now though...
All we need is LOVE.
So, go out there and say hi to your neighbor, appreciate your friends, and tell your family how much you love them. Remember...
LOVE is all you need.
If this message resonates with you, please like, comment, and share it with your community. Let’s enter next week with love instead of hate, appreciation instead of contempt, and unity instead of division.
Talk to you next Friday.