Humanity: reason for hope and pride

I have noticed a lot of people lately who are down on humanity. I often find myself less than impressed with our kind. We chastise and patronize one another. We fight even amongst our own divisions. We are continually rude and short tempered with each other. I’ve realize that waving, smiling or just saying a simple “hello” to a stranger seems, well, strange to me. A little kindness can brighten a person’s day and bring us all a little closer together. We are not white or black, we are not Christian, Muslim or atheist, we are not gay or straight; we are people. We are humanity, and we should be proud. Have you ever slowly wandered through an art museum or gallery, feeling the art surround you, sensing the hopes, dreams and desires of the artists? Have you ever seen a photograph, or a sculpture, or a theatre performance that just spoke to you? We are capable of creating such beautiful artworks. We are capable of communicating such complex ideas, such strong emotions, in the most creative ways. In our complexity, we are beautiful. Humanity has progressed from a primitive people who lived in wood huts, to grandiose houses, televisions that cover entire walls (but as thin as paper), satellites that orbit the earth, a diverse public radio, cellphones, computers and fuel efficient cars (they do exist). We have built the pyramids in Egypt, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Chunnel, the Empire State Building and Dubai. The Large Hadron Collider and the John Hopkins Hospital didn’t just pop into existence. Humanity has the ingenuity, the creativity and the ambition to create amazing things. Look outside. The leaves are changing to a mÉlange of bright orange and red. Sunshine drips through the treetops, splashing across the fallen leaves on the ground. Friends relax on the cool grass, pointing out shapes in the clouds to each other. Nature is beauty. Nature connects us all; humanity is a part of this awesome and inspiring nature. We not only create beauty, but we are all beautiful simply by existing. Existence is beautiful; remember this when you are down. I work for a fast food restaurant, as well as my job as a writer. We often get rude customers, and some of our staff can be less than pleasant. It may sound really cheesy or corny, but when I have a really nice customer who is understanding and open to conversation, then it makes my day just a little bit better. It makes my job seem not nearly as bad, and I feel a connection to that person. These experiences reaffirm my faith in humanity; that we are not just a bunch of barbarians, but we are considerate and thoughtful beings. We should all be proud to be the wonder that is human. We have come a long way, and though we have a long way to go, I think it’s safe to say that we are doing okay so far. As John Lennon once sang, “You may say that I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.” Imagine.