In 1996, when Magic Johnson returned to basketball after four years of retirement, I discovered the Olympics and the magic of Michael Johnson. Apart from being enthralled by the man in the golden boots, the other thing Atlanta ‘96 gave me was a fascination with national flags. In the years to follow, the back of my schoolbooks became a vibrant tapestry of colors, adorned with sketches of flags from around the world. Name a country back then and chances were that I could draw its national flag from memory. Today I can’t even tell the difference between the national flags of Australia & New Zealand. I only remember something about red stars.
One of my favourite flags at the time, due in no small part to their national football team, was the flag of Brazil. Of all the flags I drew, that one I recreated probably as many times as all the others put together. I always struggled with the words that were inscribed on the ribbon because of scale so I often left it out. It was in a language I didn’t understand and as a kid fascinated with the colours I had no interest in knowing what it meant either. Last year I stumbled upon its philosophical origins.
“Ordem e progresso”, order and progress, was adopted from the positivist manifesto by Auguste Comte. In full it reads “Love as a principle and order as the basis, progress as the goal. Order and progress, and above all else love.” It emphasizes the significance of love as a fundamental principle that underlies all human interactions and actions. It struck an immediate chord with me. What is a greater guiding principle than love?
As it reads in 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Let all you do be done with love.” Love, as a guiding principle, infuses our actions and interactions with care, empathy, and a genuine concern for the well-being of others. It calls for a compassionate approach to societal development, where progress is not pursued at the expense of love, but rather in alignment with it.
The second part, order, isn’t an advocation for the way things are. Rather, it prompts us to cultivate a sense of awareness and consideration for one another. By embracing order, we create a harmonious environment that nurtures cooperation, respect, and understanding. It is through order that we recognize the interconnectedness of individuals and strive to build a society that functions cohesively.
Lastly, progress, the ultimate human ideal. We should never be too comfortable with the way things are, a better way may just be one question away. It invites us to explore and seek innovative solutions to shape a better future. Complacency stifles growth, while progress encourages the relentless pursuit of knowledge, advancements, and societal betterment.
Together, these elements create a framework for a more compassionate, harmonious, and progressive society. The legendary choral conductor Robert Shaw once remarked, “One can educate orchestras and one can educate choruses, but ultimately, one should not conduct them. I mean, ultimately you educate them to do the performance within themselves.” Comte’s is a grand vision, and every day we get to bring it to the stage of life, to make space within ourselves for above all else, love.