Being Human(e)?

 

'Humanity' is a concept glorified by everyone, understood by few and practiced by even fewer. Does being human make one humane too? Or is it that being humane makes one human?If someone is not humane, does that make them any less human?

Ideally speaking, shouldn't humanity come as naturally as breathing to "human beings"? Aren't they the very traits that makes us human?  Is 'humanity' really innate to humankind? If so, why is it so hard to find kind people in the world? why have we reached a point where there is a need to reawaken and remind people to be humane? Is it because, it was never ours to begin with? Is 'humanity' a mere concept that is idealised and developed  later on? 




We human beings are often referred to as 'intelligent animals'. Over time we have been focusing on the part 'intelligent ' so much that we have overlooked the next part. We shouldn't forget that though intelligent, we are animals nonetheless. Being intelligent doesn't take away our innate instinct, that is 'to survive'. Survival has been and will continue to be the ultimate goal of our existence. Being humane means to fight this very instinct. Being kind and benevolent requires sacrificing things that would have made our survival easier. It requires sheer willpower, determination and control.

But, maybe somewhere amidst trying to build an ideal society and propagate the idea of 'humanity' we have forgotten what it takes to be humane. In our effort to normalize humane behavior, we have overlooked these sacrifices and have taken the benevolent beings for granted. Instead of recognising and appreciating the act of kindness, we have started to just brush them off in the name of mere humanity. As if kindness requires nothing beyond existing — but it truly does.



Being humane is what human should be and not what human is. Now, it's high time that we realize and recognize the difference between this and appreciate the effort it takes one to be humane. It's not the idea of humanity that needs to be glorified but the humans that practice it. 



-Panchami Kabbinahitlu 


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