Only Human: The Emphasis On Short-Comings And Ignored Strengths
“I’m only human.” The common phrase uttered after a misinterpretation, misstep, or mistake by the humble human. Constant reminders of our imperfections linger in our literature, stock our scriptures, and dominate our dorm rooms without any thought given to this unfortunate situation. The fall of man was preceded by crawling creatures that slithered out of the sea. It seems, dear reader, that we have come a long way. However, we tend to forget this fundamental fact of not just humanity, but life itself. The question is why. Why do we seem predisposed to a disposition of despair? Maybe our media manipulates our minds with extravagant expectations that can never be obtained. Perhaps pernicious powers perpetuate panic propelling us towards paralyzing self-fulfilling prophecies. Or we fear the potential that rest in the depths of the soul of every individual. Either way, we’re only human.
Mass Media Manipulation
Ah yes, our favorite digital prostitutes, the media whorrors. They never seem too far away from the debris left from their ramblings and ravings of division while crocodile tears drip from the eyes of anchors, though they contribute to the sinking ship. Over half of our entertainment contains some form of violence regardless of the medium that produces it. The institutions that proclaim to inform us instead fill us with fear knowing that we stay glued to screens, forever aware of the threats that exist outside our homes. This dries out our creative wells, filling them with paranoia.
And after the spice comes the sugar. Images of scantily dressed women and finely chiseled men appear on our social media pages so altered that they might as well be computer generated images. We try to reach these ridiculous standards knowing they are unattainable. Speaking of sugar, now a word from our sponsors. Advertisements run amok — candy-coated confections and salty snacks that occupy every shelf of every convenience store in every county. How convenient? And should these vittles make one sick, pop up ads of pills to pop appear on thousands of commercials and banner ads. We can’t achieve our aspirations while trying to obtain material.
But the tides seem to be turning. While social media has become a platform to escape the manipulation of mainstream media, the titans of technology that control these tools also seek to control the voices that use them. As it turns out, people don’t like to be censored. People wish to speak their minds, regardless of how repugnant or profound their opinions and thoughts may be perceived. And in turn, instead of becoming offended on the precipice of a crusade, just change the channel. After all, we’re only human…
The Powers That Be
Yes, it’s true, we’re only human and we yearn for freedom. Yet, we want to be led by other humans that are also… only human. The melancholy connotations behind this phrase seem to take detours around those humans with their hands on the levers of power. And as they say power corrupts, especially when one drives the society. Power seems to attract the worst of us, conjuring our worst animalistic impulses and unthinkable actions all in the name of good. One just needs to examine the Stanford Prison Experiment to understand how a seemingly good person can exert evil on their fellow people.
The dualities that we create stifle our chances at peace — inner or otherwise. Some of our fellow Westerners turn their noses up at the Indian caste system, however our culture still wears casts from wounds of a broken past. Or perhaps our castes are simply more intricate and inescapable. Those in power seem to perpetuate and exacerbate these divisions within our society for their own ends. After all, they’re only human stuck with the primal notions of advancing their tribe at the expense of all others if need be.
Kill or be killed. And when money becomes involved, one might as well forget about it. Dreams become lost in the memory hole because of bureaucratic red tape hung by poor souls with intentions of crushing dreams because they could never achieve theirs. Those that do possess the fortitude to go against the grain and make their own way become bullied by behemoths if they feel threatened. These giants go to Uncle Sam because Uncle Sam will make them go away with higher taxes or arbitrary regulations. And if that doesn’t work, well… Uncle Sam will shut down the entire economy.
Then inject the fear and confusion… Was it burning Bushes that set towers aflame and sent bins-laden with anthrax to journalists that dig up dirt just to sweep it under the rug? Maybe Obama shot Osama or was it Hussein that left us to hang in the unbalance. Did we play the Trump card too soon or are we just average Joes that buy into lies? Were we snowed in from the climate change left to our own devices? Shhh… they’re listening! Too many questions… Only speak in whispered tones dear reader… this is for our safety. We mustn’t discuss certain topics.
A society at its own throat perpetually cannot survive. This culture cancer eats us alive while those in power prescribe us poisons that not only kill the disease, but its host as well. Dear reader, these divisions appear artificial and yet, we perceive them as real. Groups divided into cells that never experience mitosis to grow. Over a decade ago, people were Occupying Wall Street. Now we can’t seem to occupy a Facebook feed without losing our minds. Distractions breed reactions to distract us from reactions that should be directed at the power structure… or perhaps a different target. Forgive me dear reader, I’m only human.
We Have Seen The Enemy…
We’re only human dear reader. Far be it from me to cast pebbles from a porcelain potty while posting preposterous prose. There always seems to be an excuse for falling short of one’s goals. Guilty… by action and association. I’m ill-informed, held back, relaxing, working too much, wasting my time… and on and on. We have seen the enemy dear reader… on our digital devices telling us what to believe and what to think. In the halls of Congress where they pass laws with unknown intent and consequence. But mostly, in the mirror that we pass and ignore every morning because we realize that if we were to give a more meticulous look, we would recognize the problem. My wife tells me I have a golden quill; however, I wish I had a golden pill to pop to grant me the will to cure these ills from spiritual hunger pains.
I know dear reader, we’re only human. We have tasks to complete, obligations to fulfill and families to support. Addictions don’t feed themselves and neither do babies. Who has time for selfish goals? The daily grind grinds us mere mortals into oblivion. The sad truth seems to be that we only have ourselves to blame for our mediocrity. However dear reader, inspiration resides everywhere.
We tend to focus on our atrocities and shortcomings rather than our accomplishments and potential. While the argument between socialism and capitalism rages on, we can instead simply treat each other with dignity while retaining free choice. Rather than reward ignorance, we can encourage critical thought. Instead of destroying nature, we can harness its fruits and provide for everyone. We remain gifted with abilities that no other species on Earth has possessed.
Look at what humanity has accomplished! We created language gifting us the means to cooperate, evolving passed mere grunts and growls that allow us to question the deepest quandaries of existence. Then we took this language and created technological advances that grant us the ability to communicate with each other instantly with the most remote places on the globe. Our ideas have literally taken us out of this world. Perhaps this poor fool typing these words is just a dreamer, but I imagine I’m not the only one. It seems that our goals are nothing more than that… ours. It falls upon every individual to obtain their individual aspirations on their own. They will always be out of reach if one refuses to even lift an arm. But then again, dear reader, I could be wrong… after all, I’m only human.
