Where's the limit to open-mindedness?
...I reach this conclusion: humanizing is not the same as sympathizing. You can peel off the stereotypes of a person and not see a beautiful human being. In fact, humanity can be very ugly."
-Kevin Roose, An Unlikely Disciple
Such a good book.
I love his last line - "humanity can be very ugly". This is something I know in theory. We all have our mean, nasty, insensitive, and careless moments. After all, the natural man is an enemy to God.
In Middle School I was asked to write an essay - with supporting quotes - about whether or not man was good or bad. We had just read excerpts from The Leviathan, so, my impressionable mind wrote what the teacher wanted to hear. That life was "...mean, nasty, brutish, and short", and men would generally make the wrong decisions.
I didn't believe it then. I emphatically don't believe it now.
Hobbes failed to humanize the masses, I think. The tone of his writing is rather condescending, to me... so perhaps I am biased.
As to the nature of man, I don't feel the need to compartmentalize something so complex into such paltry terms as "good" and "bad". In fact, I don't feel the need to compartmentalize it all. I feel the need to give everyone their own chance, and not let individual actions define their race, religion, state, or family. We are all our person. That is the inherent gift of Free Agency. We become what we choose to become, and act as our conscience guides us.
That being said, some people have found a way to silence their conscience. This, I understand. "Humanity can be very ugly."
The operative word is CAN.
But I choose to think that usually it isn't.
Alrighty, I talk about literature a lot. Next time, I promise to do something non-lit.
In Middle School I was asked to write an essay - with supporting quotes - about whether or not man was good or bad. We had just read excerpts from The Leviathan, so, my impressionable mind wrote what the teacher wanted to hear. That life was "...mean, nasty, brutish, and short", and men would generally make the wrong decisions.
I didn't believe it then. I emphatically don't believe it now.
Hobbes failed to humanize the masses, I think. The tone of his writing is rather condescending, to me... so perhaps I am biased.
As to the nature of man, I don't feel the need to compartmentalize something so complex into such paltry terms as "good" and "bad". In fact, I don't feel the need to compartmentalize it all. I feel the need to give everyone their own chance, and not let individual actions define their race, religion, state, or family. We are all our person. That is the inherent gift of Free Agency. We become what we choose to become, and act as our conscience guides us.
That being said, some people have found a way to silence their conscience. This, I understand. "Humanity can be very ugly."
The operative word is CAN.
But I choose to think that usually it isn't.
Alrighty, I talk about literature a lot. Next time, I promise to do something non-lit.
I nodded throughout and voiced "hmm" aloud with your last sentence.
ReplyDeleteThe nods are approval.
The "hmm" is interest.
P.S. I hope you don't mind me commenting every single time. I just always feel compelled to. Happy day!
P.P.S. What does your title mean?
ReplyDelete