Something written eons ago, much more cynical now and I snigger at some of the naivety below. Even then I guess, on the whole still agree with my original concept, with the amendment that I think the "success" is more due to human selfishness, more about Man practising existentialism than altruism. Anyway here is the essay, your thoughts?
I admire Me, me as a representation of the human race. Since many generations it has been the flavor that all ills of society are laid on human innate self-centered, narcissistic, acquisitive nature. Sanctimonious people having read the current articles on environmental changes and historical revisionism rail against the mess we have made of this world, but I beg to differ. I continue to think that blaming mankind is a very narrow and negative attitude. I honestly believe that over the centuries we have done and are doing a better job then anyone has a right to expect.
From the very beginning of our existence we found ourselves alone and vulnerable in a vast universe and not only alone but the only creature to realize it's loneliness. Our early ancestors were not very impressive creatures compared to the other living beings. We had no huge claws and teeth, no wings, no scaly armor, no great strength and swiftness. But we had something more valuable, adaptability, the capability to adjust to changing conditions. We were flexible and experimental and so instead of despairing we turned our attention to make something useful out of our novel situation.
We discovered fire to give light and protection. We found a God to guide us, to provide us with both a sense of direction and a human ideal to live by.
We probed and experimented with everything we thought worthwhile. We did at times falter but tried again and again till we overcame each hurdle that came toward us. We were like blind men in a maze and we had to choose a way forward. We often made mistakes but learned from each wrong path and generally found the right track.
We made revolutionary discoveries. We discovered that kindness and gentleness were better than cruelty and brutality. We found that honesty and trust are the best qualities that can be desired. We found a code of conduct for ourselves and conceived an ideal of justice for all men. Isn't it still news when we commit a crime or kill someone? Ordinarily, courtesy and goodness are taken for granted, therefore never reported, for people are naturally born to graciousness. They are common and seldom noticed.
Alone among all living things we saw beauty in nature. We cherished it and tried to emulate it, thus creating masterpieces in arts and literature. Knowing that we have to be self sufficient to stay alive, we worked with ability beyond imagination. We changed earth from molten lava and great jungles to a vast source of food for ourselves. We take heat and energy from earth and sun and cultivate it year after year. We have taken giant strides in all branches of sciences. We created a governing system to facilitate living together in millions. Every morning we get up to the necessity of a day's work and we go about it with an efficiency that is amazing.
Whatever impossible and insurmountable obstacle man has come across, he has always worked at it, and in due time surpassed it. To quote Bernard Edmonds:
“To dream anything that you want to dream,
That is the beauty of the human mind.
To do anything that you want to do,
That is the strength of the human will.”
I think man has managed to dream and then follow through on his dreams; he is the child of the universe who has inherited eternity. I think he is magnificent and I’m his devoted, unashamed advocate and proud to be one of him.
I admire Me, me as a representation of the human race. Since many generations it has been the flavor that all ills of society are laid on human innate self-centered, narcissistic, acquisitive nature. Sanctimonious people having read the current articles on environmental changes and historical revisionism rail against the mess we have made of this world, but I beg to differ. I continue to think that blaming mankind is a very narrow and negative attitude. I honestly believe that over the centuries we have done and are doing a better job then anyone has a right to expect.
From the very beginning of our existence we found ourselves alone and vulnerable in a vast universe and not only alone but the only creature to realize it's loneliness. Our early ancestors were not very impressive creatures compared to the other living beings. We had no huge claws and teeth, no wings, no scaly armor, no great strength and swiftness. But we had something more valuable, adaptability, the capability to adjust to changing conditions. We were flexible and experimental and so instead of despairing we turned our attention to make something useful out of our novel situation.
We discovered fire to give light and protection. We found a God to guide us, to provide us with both a sense of direction and a human ideal to live by.
We probed and experimented with everything we thought worthwhile. We did at times falter but tried again and again till we overcame each hurdle that came toward us. We were like blind men in a maze and we had to choose a way forward. We often made mistakes but learned from each wrong path and generally found the right track.
We made revolutionary discoveries. We discovered that kindness and gentleness were better than cruelty and brutality. We found that honesty and trust are the best qualities that can be desired. We found a code of conduct for ourselves and conceived an ideal of justice for all men. Isn't it still news when we commit a crime or kill someone? Ordinarily, courtesy and goodness are taken for granted, therefore never reported, for people are naturally born to graciousness. They are common and seldom noticed.
Alone among all living things we saw beauty in nature. We cherished it and tried to emulate it, thus creating masterpieces in arts and literature. Knowing that we have to be self sufficient to stay alive, we worked with ability beyond imagination. We changed earth from molten lava and great jungles to a vast source of food for ourselves. We take heat and energy from earth and sun and cultivate it year after year. We have taken giant strides in all branches of sciences. We created a governing system to facilitate living together in millions. Every morning we get up to the necessity of a day's work and we go about it with an efficiency that is amazing.
Whatever impossible and insurmountable obstacle man has come across, he has always worked at it, and in due time surpassed it. To quote Bernard Edmonds:
“To dream anything that you want to dream,
That is the beauty of the human mind.
To do anything that you want to do,
That is the strength of the human will.”
I think man has managed to dream and then follow through on his dreams; he is the child of the universe who has inherited eternity. I think he is magnificent and I’m his devoted, unashamed advocate and proud to be one of him.
NOT SO PROUD OF MANKIND
ReplyDeleteExistentialism (selfish gene) is the core reason of all species and I agree with you that mankind has done a pretty good job as a survivor so far but as a civilization, has a long way to go.
Human species has realized through Evolution that being altruistic is beneficial for survival than in fighting. That is where all the good things you talk about come into picture but selfishness is part of our being and cannot be suppressed and this is where I start to beg to differ from your ‘Love for mankind’.
Before that, I would like to point out that, in the vast evolutionary time line, all species survive only for a short period of time and then they completely disappear and not come back again. 99% of all species have gone from the face of this planet. Human race is also bound to go down in this time line.
Now, you said “I continue to think that blaming mankind is a very narrow and negative attitude. I honestly believe that over the centuries we have done and are doing a better job then anyone has a right to expect”.
Forget global warming. Lets make a small list of what mankind has done in the last few centuries that I am not proud of.
1. Killing of millions of innocent people through wars, genocides.
2. Continued slaughter of billions and billions of innocent and helpless animals.
3. Factory farming – polluting environment, waste of resources such as water, grain, destruction of forests
4. Over fishing of our seas, oceans changing the whole ecosystem.
5. Slavery, division of cultures, hatred of one group by another group, killing in the name of religion, Ideologies, hatred from race, gender, sexual preference.
6. Corruption, child abuse.
Just to name a few.
The same ability that mankind has, which is creativity, ability to think of future, death etc also is being misused to completely do the opposite which is destruction, inability to understand the bigger picture and the total misunderstanding of ultimate end which is death. How ironic?
I am proud of mankind for these abilities of creativity, scientific discoveries, space exploration, understanding of the origins of life, music, art and literature and I fully support all endeavors in this direction, which actually makes our life worthwhile. However, till there is an enlightenment that dawns on mankind that would change the way it behaves towards its own species, other species and its environment and respects the idea that our life on this planet is too short and all living beings have a right to live peacefully and co-exist rather than dominate, I will have my reservations to be a proud member of mankind and an advocate for this not so magnificent kind.
Peace
Venky Ragotham