human being
–noun
| 1. | any individual of the genus Homo, esp. a member of the species Homo sapiens. |
| 2. | a person, esp. as distinguished from other animals or as representing the human species: living conditions not fit for human beings; a very generous human being. |
Origin:
1855–60
(Definition provided by http://www.dictionary.com )
I cut and paste the above definition from dictionary.com . (I love that place!) The definition is accurate as far as physically explaining what humans are and as far as what space human beings occupy in this life. However, being human as a species isn't all we're made up of, or is it? Is 'being' human good enough when it comes to fulfilling the role of living on this planet? Are these the only requirements and responsibilities of being human? Is everything else we think about, achieve or strive for (or avoid doing) just mere bonus, par for the course? Or, because we've been given the ability to feel and hurt and enjoy, are we supposed to be 'nice' or share or hate or love?
There are people out there who live a lifetime not knowing who they are or searching for who they are. Some don't care who they are. They are just fine with 'being'. They spend their years on emotional autopilot doing what other people tell them to do, or doing what they think they are supposed to do or they do nothing at all and let others take care of them. On the other end of scale, there are people who strive to become 'more' spiritually, intellectually, or monetarily, as if just 'being human' and fulfilling the physicality of it, is less. There are people who run into walls trying to achieve something they think they are supposed to achieve, never realizing that maybe there was no point in trying to achieve such a thing at all! Most of us battle with each other, or with our ourselves over what it's meant to be a human being.
This means there are two separate issue to contend with. Our physical and our mental being. Are we meant to explore both or is the mental stuff just a bonus?
We are all endowed (supposedly) with the ability to know what's right and what's wrong. But, that trait isn't physical. It's emotional. As human beings we are all supposedly given the ability to express emotions, which is what sets us apart from our pets. If that's true, then why are there criminals? Why are there murders? Why are there people who do wrong and bad things who may or may not regret it? Why are there people who are actually born with mental imbalances that impair their judgment and ability to know what is majority rules wrong?
Most people agree that Hilter was pretty dern awful. Idi Amin, Saddam Hessian, Osama Bin Laden, the list is pretty massive, were all terrible people and if anyone believes in a place of damnation, most people will agree that all of them should be there. However, from each of these people's twisted, backward, selfish view point, they felt they were doing the world a gigantic favor by being alive and doing the awfulness they wrought. But, then you have Mother Teresa, Ghandi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. another long list of people who thought that altruism and extension of self through others was the way the world should exist. They spent their lives giving all of themselves to a world in hopes that it would be better for everyone. All of these people bad and good, are human like the rest of us, yet a more diverse group you couldn't create! But, why is that? Both groups thought themselves correct. Can we all be right?
I have realized something. There is no perspective when it comes to being human. It just is. We are at will to contend with our factor specs. For example: My computer came with a monitor, key board, mouse and tower containing hard drive. If I had wanted speakers, a printer, a desk to put it all on or a mouse pad, I would need to go out and 'add' those on to the list.
You are flesh and blood, that's pretty much it. Anything else you 'add' to yourself, is simply a bonus.
1855–60
(Definition provided by http://www.dictionary.com )
I cut and paste the above definition from dictionary.com . (I love that place!) The definition is accurate as far as physically explaining what humans are and as far as what space human beings occupy in this life. However, being human as a species isn't all we're made up of, or is it? Is 'being' human good enough when it comes to fulfilling the role of living on this planet? Are these the only requirements and responsibilities of being human? Is everything else we think about, achieve or strive for (or avoid doing) just mere bonus, par for the course? Or, because we've been given the ability to feel and hurt and enjoy, are we supposed to be 'nice' or share or hate or love?
There are people out there who live a lifetime not knowing who they are or searching for who they are. Some don't care who they are. They are just fine with 'being'. They spend their years on emotional autopilot doing what other people tell them to do, or doing what they think they are supposed to do or they do nothing at all and let others take care of them. On the other end of scale, there are people who strive to become 'more' spiritually, intellectually, or monetarily, as if just 'being human' and fulfilling the physicality of it, is less. There are people who run into walls trying to achieve something they think they are supposed to achieve, never realizing that maybe there was no point in trying to achieve such a thing at all! Most of us battle with each other, or with our ourselves over what it's meant to be a human being.
This means there are two separate issue to contend with. Our physical and our mental being. Are we meant to explore both or is the mental stuff just a bonus?
We are all endowed (supposedly) with the ability to know what's right and what's wrong. But, that trait isn't physical. It's emotional. As human beings we are all supposedly given the ability to express emotions, which is what sets us apart from our pets. If that's true, then why are there criminals? Why are there murders? Why are there people who do wrong and bad things who may or may not regret it? Why are there people who are actually born with mental imbalances that impair their judgment and ability to know what is majority rules wrong?
Most people agree that Hilter was pretty dern awful. Idi Amin, Saddam Hessian, Osama Bin Laden, the list is pretty massive, were all terrible people and if anyone believes in a place of damnation, most people will agree that all of them should be there. However, from each of these people's twisted, backward, selfish view point, they felt they were doing the world a gigantic favor by being alive and doing the awfulness they wrought. But, then you have Mother Teresa, Ghandi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. another long list of people who thought that altruism and extension of self through others was the way the world should exist. They spent their lives giving all of themselves to a world in hopes that it would be better for everyone. All of these people bad and good, are human like the rest of us, yet a more diverse group you couldn't create! But, why is that? Both groups thought themselves correct. Can we all be right?
I have realized something. There is no perspective when it comes to being human. It just is. We are at will to contend with our factor specs. For example: My computer came with a monitor, key board, mouse and tower containing hard drive. If I had wanted speakers, a printer, a desk to put it all on or a mouse pad, I would need to go out and 'add' those on to the list.
You are flesh and blood, that's pretty much it. Anything else you 'add' to yourself, is simply a bonus.
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