HOW TO BE HUMANE - Story and Photography

To have the same line of thinking is as impossible as turning back time - at least for now. To be certain otherwise would create a picture of absurdity - people going in the same direction, wearing the same clothes, speaking the same language - an image of superb duplication which will eventually inch closer to lethargy and boredom.

Scratch the portrayal.

We live in a world of differential frequency of mind. In reality, people have distinct philosophies, values, desires, dreams, upbringing, and cultures. Here lies that certain degree of beauty - the gift of freewill. But at the end of the day, the endowed freedom bites. It creates chaos and misunderstandings. It promotes hatred. It elicits different preferences to which, because of the drive to attain it, disregards certain mechanics and rules. Not that it is always against what is enshrined in the book of propriety, more so because it creates conflict of interests.

Hence, problems are created.

If we lay indifferent to these problems, it will eventually lead to another and another. This is blamed in our willingness to create solution, to talk and negotiate because for us, we are eternally right. More precisely because the cards are in our favor.

Nobody changes their mind. We succumb to our personal interests, aggravating what was once a glitch has now become colossal. This may be attributed, nonetheless, to our innate tendency to go with the flow - whether this flow is constructive or otherwise. Thereupon, there will be an unending scenario of unresolved conflict - overt or covert.

But no matter.

We can take it as a natural course of the society that we are, more often than not, in harmony with each other. However, the acceptance of its normalcy is never an excuse not to remedy this. It should not end with the acknowledgement that these answer the question 'how to be human?' Instead, it should proceed with the question 'how to be humane?'

But how can we be more humane?

Imagine if people know the word 'compromise'. Imagine of all of us meed halfway. Imagine that if a certain problem arises, the compulsion to talk about it in the most civil and sincerest manner is embedded within us, borne out of the need to feel at peace and secure.

True enough, a society is governed by rules which are enforced by the people vested with the authority to do so. The rest, including them, are mere followers. But if the societal norms and rules do not serve the very purpose to which it is created, necessary adjustments must be done. Agreemetss, which are strongly acted upon, create peace. A win-win scenario is and will always be the consequence.

Indeed, to compromise for the common good is to be humane.

In the ocean of negativities lies in its horizon a line which signifies hope and optimism. For when we opt to become humane amidst adversities can we find that patch of silver lining.

This is one clear way of traversing down the path to be humanness. Henceforth, a better society.