“There is no substitute for empathy”

Pete Souza, who was the Chief White House Photographer during Barack Obama’s presidency, utters this simple, powerful phrase during a new documentary about his work, titled The Way I See It.

I covered the film side of this over at my other Internet home, but I had to pluck this pearl of wisdom out and bring it over here. I am sure Souza isn’t the first person to utter this sentiment. How could he possibly be? Even so, I think it’s worth hearing.

"Getting help to his feet after a group photo with the performers. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)" by FHP_Alaska is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Souza is speaking of Obama, and, of course, contrasting him to President Trump, but he could also be talking about himself. Or you. Or me.

You can have all the skills, and money, and power in the world, and it will always go to waste if you don’t see and seek out humanity. It’s all that connects us, after all.