Every person I talk about Honors lately (former students or no) I cannot get off the subject of humanity and what we have made it. Martin's words: "Well, that's how men treat one another" stuck to me, reinforcing all that has been engulphing my mind the last few weeks. My word we must love the people. The PEOPLE. They are not tools. They are not means to pleasure. They are not just your assistants. They are not your source of money. They are not your source of fame. They are real people, with real eyes, real hearts, and real minds (well- most). It is not acceptable for us to operate in hate for one another. It is not acceptable to become numb to the hurting. We should be restless considering the state of humanity and our perseption thereof. Let our discontent with the world and "the way things are" increase as our love for each other increases. Seek justice.
The beginning of Candide really stuck these emotions in me. However, towards the end... as Voltaire is basically slandering people who have annoyed him I, in turn, got annoyed. I felt like I was reading his middle school Facebook posts. However, I can't deny the brilliance in which he does so. Much better than the kids from Lucedale.
commented on Rachel's
I adore what you said here about loving the people and not operating out of hatred toward one another. To a degree, I think philosophical optimism has a good start to approaching the world, but it is passive rather than active. This optimism has a sense of submission, which must come before love can thrive. Submitting to situations, submitting to how people are--viewing them not less than yourself, but more than yourself brings about true service and compassion. The old woman had a better start than Candide did; she saw the hurt of people, and she submitted to it. While she may not have shown compassion in all her ways, she showed true service to Candide and Cunegonde in their messed up little world.
ReplyDeleteBut in all seriousness, this was some real talk. Kudos, Britt.