By Nyariay Kic
What is humanity? The Oxford Translation reads humanity as, “the quality of being humane.” What is even being humane? Back to the dictionary again, “pertaining to or concerned with the humanities.”
First, the word was humanity, now humane and then humanities and so forth goes the lookup in the dictionary.
What is humanity? Do not look around this time, the dictionary won’t help. Yes, the answer is within you! There is no specific understanding to humanity; however, it’s how you perceive it that portrays your individual perspective of humanity. Today, a child who has had a rigorous day at school will return home mentally exhausted, only to be reminded of forgetting to wash the dishes in the morning. They work tirelessly to make you (mom; uncle; aunt; father) proud. And we say we are raising our children to be responsible citizens. Why bark at them? Do you know children reflect on us? We are the mirrors they look into; the first Bibles they ever get to read. In Proverbs 15:1, The Bible teaches us that a gentle answer quenches anger. If our children reflect on us, then let us be kind to them; speak to them with a calm yet persuasive tone; put ourselves into their shoes at times. Only then, can we expect the best out of them. Meekness is Humanity! I give that a point.
What is humanity? Still, searching from within? Today, when we notice the poor in the streets, we immediately pickpocket ourselves for the needy. Why do so? Is it because the Bible tells us in Proverbs 19: 17 that we lend to the Lord when we give to the poor? And so we expect God to repay us the favour by answering our prayers? What would be a transaction then? A rich man who shares the same origins will put in the poor’s basket, not because he expects anything in return, but because they have been through it. Every time they come across such a person, they are reminded of their grim experience, and so they will give in because they understand the poor’s needs. Humanity does not expect returns. I give that a point too.
What is humanity? Are we humans evil, or does the world around us make us so? If I come from the streets and do not know the value of family, am I the evil one here? Or is it because I was never exposed to family life from when I was a child? Today we judge, to the extent that we soon no longer need magistrates in the nation. If you think you are the one on the truck, then instead of judging, rather help this child out. Humans, when given the opportunity, can choose to be good and this individual level gives people urgency over their actions. Humanity cannot necessarily be forced on someone. I give that a point.
I am sad because I find ourselves against each other yet we just share different perspectives on humanity. One is meek; the other is generous, while the other is democratic. It is we that make up a society, imagine how bounded we would be if each persists in their perspective of humanity by portraying it in an approachable way!
The writer is a high school graduate.