Humanize the human: #stopthethey
I think I've figured out what's wrong with us. We're polarized with the elephant and the donkey. People I love, respect and admire live at both ends of the political spectrum. I agree with some things on one end of the spectrum and some things on the other end of the spectrum. I imagine that's true for many of us. But how can that be? Aren't I suppose to buy the whole elephant and not just a section of it? Isn't dissecting the donkey, well, just wrong? I suppose it may make life easier to buy into the whole viewpoint, the whole ideology. Having others tell me what to think would certainly ease the burden of having to think through things myself. It would seem that's indeed the way many people operate.
So then what do I see as the problem? Dehumanization. That's a long word and looks weird in print but I think that's it. Dehumanization is the one thing that is represented on both ends of the spectrum. It's the main thing we're arguing about, passionate about and feel like we HAVE to make our voice heard about. It's evil incarnate and we are angry when we see it happening. It's unjust. It's unfair. It is evil. I agree. One of the tenets I hold true from my Christian faith is that we are made in the image of God. We are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, the Creator....MY Creator. The difference between the left and the right is that we dehumanize different things. For some, the 'dehumans' are of a certain race, culture, or socioeconomic status. For some it's those who commit certain crimes, have certain histories or struggles. For some it's immigrants who crossed our borders the wrong way or those who have made one too many mistakes. If someone hurts someone we love...poof..you're no longer human. Abuse a child? Poof dehumanized you are. In the womb? Nope - no humanness for you. Certain religion? Certain class? Certain belief system? Certain identity? Nope - you don't get to be human no more (yep, the bad grammar is intentional).
Here's the problem with that. We react to the dehumanization of certain groups that we have compassion for because something innately within us tells us it's wrong. That still small voice tells us that people have value. People different from us have value. No amount of circumstance or how our humanness is expressed devalues us as unique creations. We intuitively know this. But sometimes we act as if we don't. When it interferes with our own ideology we are quick to jump to the "theyness" of others. THEY did this. THEY believe this. When's the last time you "theyed" someone or a group of people? Those right wingers. Those leftists. Those pro-choicers. Those pro-gunners. You get the picture.
Here's what I believe...what I know to be true. We are all valuable. We are all uniquely created...unique from the time the sperm met the egg. That's when the magic happens and creation begins. We don't really understand how it works, but we know it does. Each of us is living proof of that. When asked, Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God and to love your neighbor as yourself. Who's my neighbor? Everyone. If we are unique creations and unique images of God Himself then the value lies in the being. You are valuable just because you are. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You aren't an accident. You were created with purpose..knit together purposely in your mother's womb. Your value doesn't change because you achieve or don't. Your skin color, ethnicity, age, and bank account balance don't add or subtract from your value. You're valuable because you are.
So no more dehumanizing. Let's strive to see people as unique creations, made in the image of God. Let's stand up for the rights of all people to be. Let's fight for life from womb to tomb. Let's share resources with our neighbors who are hungry and treat people with dignity even if they cross our borders illegally. Let's celebrate different cultures and different ways of viewing the world. Let's dialogue about issues from different perspectives. Let's strive to appreciate the value each person brings to this life experience. Join me in my quest to humanize the human. #stopthethey
-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP
