Human Being : social animal or just animal

Kipgen Sawma Thadou *

"Human action can be modified to some extend but human nature cannot be changed"
ABRAHAM LINCOLN speech, Feb 27, 1860

Seriously, human beings are the most fortunate of God's creation. Nature has provided us sufficient necessities and the ability to reason. Many a time our God gifted intelligence is misused. Often we compromise our wisdom for money and power.

We know that in us there is a necessary aptitude for creating calm, secure, and nurturing environment for all of us including animal kingdom. Yet we are doing opposite.

We have science and technology, yet much scientific enterprise is dedicated to annihilation and weapons, rather than constructing a better world to live in.

We understand human development and the needs for nutrition and healthful living conditions, yet children the world over are dying of starvation by the thousands I considered money spend on any scientific development a right move if our earth has no hunger or has removed hunger at the least.

But considering the predicament of our present world where countless people somewhere on earth are struggling to have one hygienic meal a day, I'm disinclined to say it is a wise decision to spend more money on research and development of science than on poor human beings.

Scientists and doctors achieve medical wonders each passing day, yet we see people dying because doctors and hospital authorities are more concerned in making money/profit.

It's good to see hospitals especially private hospitals coming up with the latest instrument and skilled doctors. Alas! The bill to these hospitals is so soaring that only the white-collar and rich party benefit.

For the marginal wage earners it remains a dream to be fulfilled someday. Satirically these hospitals are built as an instrument to promote further the division between 'the have and the have not'.

By nature, human beings are biased and selfish. We know enough about psychology to recognize the roots of hatreds and fears, yet groups of us continue to find ourselves superior and special, and engross in the dangerous and outmoded "we/they" manner of thinking, rather than considering our whole human family, and admitting that we are of one race.

People no matter what or where tend to be honest only to the one who is darling to them or to the one who is cost-effective. In true term, honesty extends to include being sincere and truthful even to the one who is not honest to you.

The height of human evil mindset is beyond belief. An Inspirational Quote tells of a real life story. There was a great flood all of Vienna, the capital of Austria. It was the time of Hitler's regime and the occupation of Austria by the Nazis. A man fell into the swollen waters of the river Danube. The onlookers were not just afraid but also loath to make a move to save the drowning man.

Amidst the crowd, one audacious (brave) young man made ready to plunge in to save the drowning man. Just then, someone in the crowd cried aloud, "Don't jump! This drowning man is a Jew! Let him die! Don't risk your life for a dog!" The crowd soon joined him, and in chorus they shouted, "Don't jump! Let him drown! He is a Jew!" The rescuer hastily replied, "No! He is not a Jew! He is a German" The young man clung to his conscience against everyone's approval and at a great risk to his life dived in. After an intense struggle, he brought the dying man to safety.

When the crowd came closer to have a glance of the saved man, in great astonishment they exclaimed, "Thanks to God! Yes, he is indeed a German." The deliverer (saver) slowly walked away and remarked emphatically for all to hear, "Yes, he is a German! I am a Jew!"

If the government, politicians, powerful industrialists, religious fundamental leaders, civil servants and police officers that have such a substantial impact on human well being, dare to take responsibility and consider the consequences of their decisions from the perspective of their personal loved ones being affected by conscienceless actions taken such as placing more value on profits than on people, then we would may begin to see a moral arousing and a better world.

Man is not a social animal at the truest sense but a social able animal that socialize only when there is a scope for profit. When we retire from this wild world, we have to answer all the misdeeds we had done on this earth to the One who created us for some purpose.