Humanity: It's Terminology and terminality

Humanity

It's Terminology and Terminality

Humanity is one of the universe’s most mysterious homonyms. It can represent the trait of appearing, behaving or acting like a traditional, modern Homo Sapien. More commonly than not, however, it used to describe the core value of compassion- the things that we often describe as humane. It is the quality of being benevolent, helpful, understanding, gentle, sympathetic and familiar.

Over the years, and in today’s rapid world, ‘humanity’ seems to have been reduced to its scientific definition of being a collective term to describe the human race, and the latter meaning seemingly only used only on paper, both terms having been tossed into the realm of harmful indifference.

It is as if the grey pavements and black formals of big cities have grayed the minds of people too. No one has enough time to help a distraught man, not even seeming to bother about one unless it's for an internet trend or attention. Political leaders ask for support on the basis of the welfare of the poor, while taking cuts from said welfare for their own benefit, like income tax. We, the common people, aam aadmi; aren't on the highest pedestal of moral righteousness either. Many treat society’s so-called “small people” inhumanely as well.

Many times have I seen mothers pull their children away from streetside sweepers passing by as if their aura holds poison. I have seen people treat waiters like they themselves pay their salaries, or are indebted to them.

Many a time, people who help us in our day to day lives, like household helpers, security guards, construction laborers, garbage collectors, waiters, and many others, don't get the respect that they deserve as fellow human beings, innocent of the inherent crimes that we punish them for everyday with our unpleasant glances and apparent disgust.

People nudge themselves away from the poor or the ill dressed, people and our watchmen and guards and such without any apparent reason, almost as if breathing the same air as them proves as Zyklon B was in Austerlitz for all of us. We have all been conditioned into justifying our treatment of these people due to our own innate prejudices. All of us chant about equality and purity of the soul, but how likely is it that you would embrace a poor chap who's selling his wares when he should be learning in school and dreaming of becoming an astronaut?

Humans are weird creatures. Some yearn for power, influence and all that comes with it, while the rest want the same to a certain extent, but refuse to acknowledge it publicly, or even worse, recognise this trait in themselves. They are also astoundingly hypocritical in their practices. Imagine this, if you will:- You, the reader, likely do not care about the issue.

“How does it matter?” you think, or perhaps “I'm not like that! I'm a morally sound person!”, though we all know you practice, perhaps subconsciously (hopefully only subconsciously) the act of seeing the poor and the weak as inferior to you. If, however, you were to switch places with the weak and poor, you would suddenly care a lot more than you do and call for action. I personally believe that it is this trait of selective disgust that is not hereditary, but is still transmissible.

As I conclude, I would like to ask the readers a question. What is the true meaning of the word ‘humanity’? Is it only a term for the human race, or is it a description of the quality of being humane? Who is more human in your eyes:- Someone who ostensibly looks human and abides by human instincts, or someone who ‘acts’ human and treats others humanely as well?

Humaneness does exist in many, but does that not imply that the majority of people’s mindset is to be changed? Isn't it our social calling to pay attention to our own prejudices? Then, comrades, should it not be our duty to help the unruly and blinded see the true meaning of “being human”?