Humanity is the branch of knowledge that evolves around human beings and their culture. The knowledge shared in leaning institutions elaborates on how humans co-exist with each other in their world, and societies. The humanity studies are history, philosophy, and literature. The main reason for having humanity is that they tell humans where they have been and where they are headed. Humanity is essential for life. It teaches humans the importance of helping, understanding, and empathizing with their fellows. All humans seek happiness in their livelihood. Some attain happiness by hurting others while others by being selfness. In the past, happiness was attained when soldiers’ triumph in victories against their enemies. In the modern world, people seek happiness through technology and other luxurious belongings.
From “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin, she addresses how the people depicted their happiness. However, the people laid their happiness upon a single boy, caged in a room underground. To them, happiness does not entail winning war victories or worshipping in the churches. People from Omelas’ happiness entail making another suffer on their behalf, “…They know that if the wretched one were not there sniveling in the dark, the other one, the flute-player, could make no joyful music…”. The more the boy suffered, the more they perceived their happiness will last longer. It is evident they have an incredible way of being happy.
Humanity is about one’s character, irrespective of being rich or poor. Opposed to the Omelas, people should always let their humanness shine. One should always acknowledge their wrongdoings, and accept correction. Human have learned, and are still learning to be their best in humanity by being better listeners without judging, sharing their perspectives, discoveries, and opinions openly. The humanity theme also entails humans modeling and depicting genuine empathy. The Omelas people were not empathetic to the young boy.
However, the modern humans have learned to be empathetic by listening to another’s feelings. Humans can empathize with one another by reflecting, recognizing, and then acknowledging their feelings. Empathy should be encouraged at all cost whether the situation is disappointing or delightful. Another factor in moral goodness is showing gratitude. Appreciation for one another is powerful. Humans show gratitude by either, smiling, issuing appreciation notes, or outspeaking. Similarly, individuals can also show humanity by expressing respect for each other by being respectful and humble.
Respect should be shown regardless of how long people have known each other. Humans expect respect in each interaction, from the very first to the last. Being respectful shows kindness, understanding and humility. Correspondingly, humility is being self-aware and nonjudging to others. No human is perfect nor have all the answers. Therefore, humans can be humble by acknowledging they do not always have all the answers. Humanity needs one to be open for more learning.
Humanity studies helps humans communicate efficiently with one another. Literature and languages teach on communications, etiquettes that humans can adopt and apply. Philosophy, history, and arts teaches on critical thinking, memory encoding, and interpreting significant images. By leaning the skills mentioned, learners can apply the same in sciences and mathematics where critical thinking, analysis and interpretation is a necessity. Therefore, the two sources, the story by Guin and TEDx, have illustrated how people use their humanity skills to find happiness and the importance of studying humanity respectively. It is important to note that every person is a lesson, and the Omelas people have been a lesson to me.