[su_dropcap style=”flat”]O[/su_dropcap]NE HAS TO WONDER, based on recent events, if humanity isn’t failing to be human. Presumably being “human” includes a certain amount of understanding, compassion, thoughtful consideration, and well, acting in a “humane fashion”.
Granted wars have been fought since the beginning of recorded time, and probably long before. Islamic sects have been butchering each other for thousands of years as have Muslims and Hebrews. Christians perused a convert or die policy for hundreds of years. Of course there have always been those small radical groups like the KKK and others that took vengeance on a particular segment of the society.
But, in today’s turbulent times it seems that there has been a huge increase in the number of “humans” that act and react violently for no real cause. Shooting up schools, churches, fellow employees, family groups, and even total strangers has become a weekly event. Now we even see violence among high school and college kids on spring break. Ranchers in Oregon recently took over control of public lands to protest an over reaching government. First responders, sworn to help people, are being gunned down in our streets.
Please don’t think that I am arguing for gun control. Anyone that believes criminals and those bent on violent acts will be deterred by gun control laws is naive. It is the people and their attitudes that is the problem, not guns, or butcher knives, or axes, or broom sticks.
Some will argue that these violent and aggressive acts have been going on all along, we are just more aware of them due to media coverage today. Perhaps that is a factor, though I don’t think we can dismiss it all on that basis. I grew up in a time and local where most kids had guns in the house, many had their own guns. No one ever took one to school, much less thought about shooting their siblings or parents.
So, I come back to the original premise. I think humanity is losing its humanity. Hate and even violence is becoming almost a norm. Why is that? What has changed to cause this sliding of humanity into a darker place?
I realize this is an oversimplification, Ken, but I hear you. I am reading this just now, having marked it to read several days ago, but am just now able to catch up on my reading. The simple answer, as Danny said, is people follow their own selfish hearts. And along those same lines, insurmountable pride. It’s unbelievable that someone has the audacity to think I could have the wrong view of what I so adamantly believe is right. From growing irritation with people in general to road rage to public attacks on private citizens we are in danger of imploding at the next chink in our armor. We have lost sight of what it means to be tolerant because even the definition of it has blurred. TV, movies, video games – these have desensitized us to the reality that if I mow you down with my car or shoot you with my gun, I will not, in fact, pop back up and live again.
I guess that was a pretty long answer to a short question. Having just read about the attacks in Brussels and hearing about two young men here in my own city senselessly killed by a frienemy “just because I could’, it’s impossible to get my head around the why.
Good point, Danny. Thanks.
The further people draw away from God to follow their own selfish hearts, always lead them to their own destruction and the destruction of others. Well written Ken!