white mans burden

Half devils! Half Devils? You are calling us half Devils? How can you! Call us half devils if you are a full devil! You are the one that killed a lot of us and kidnapped a lot of us and used us to work for you and you didn’t even pay them! You abused us! And some of us you left alive but you left them alive but with nothing! You took everything from us. And now you guys are behaving like we are the bad people? And now you call us half devils? You changed everything in our land! There are still people of your kind in our country and still trying to be the boss, seriously let us alone and get a life!

white mans burden? by hanna 10a

they took away our children,

our culture,

they changed us.



they knew nothing those little fat white people. they think that we have nothing but we have alot, we have a king, we have rule, we can even fight disease (wait nevermind that OUR diseases, because who can fight the things the little fat white people bring in, anyways back to the piont...)

But still they find the need to come on in and say "well you dont have a leader, and if you do he is lower than us anyways so were just coming here to take all your stuff kill your people if you try to revolt and take some of your strong men and women to sell them to other rich little fat white men" and worst of all most of us (well all of us) dont understand them because well they speak the white people language. they change our religion to make us "happy" but how can that be?

and then to say that we are half devil half child, and tell everyone that we are horrible and kill them how can we kill them! we have spears, rock, bows and arows they have guns and cannons i mean how are we to compete with that?!

So why are they trying to change us if they arent perfect and got bigger problems back in white mans land?

they are trying to bring us hope? why dont they first give back what they took so that we can be happy and live our lifes because of them our lives will never be the same.

What does it mean to be human

What it means to be human is to proud be of who you are and where you come from, many people don’t understand how beautiful it is to be a human being it’s a great gift. Human beings have highs and lows but without that you could not fully experience what is human. To be human you must experience and know all of you emotions. And know what is most important to us as individuals but also for our community. To be a human you must know no bounds and explore the planet that we are on and go beyond your expected limitations. This is what it means to be human.

Response to A White Man’s Burden By: Khushbu Chawla

We appreciate that you want to help us become better people yet we don’t understand what is wrong with the way we live. As friendship means to accept the person as who he/she is how come you want to change us? Now friendship is what you want? If it is friendship you want we are more than willingly going to accept you as you are. Hoping it will be the same from your side too. Though, if it is a burden on you, you might as well just leave because if it isn’t friendship you want then we cannot give you anything. We would appreciate you just as much if you would not try to change us for it is our destiny that we are living this way. We aren’t half child- half devil but if you provoke our humbleness we might as well let you know we will stand up, even if it is against those weird shaped funny arms. We will not let you take us in captive we will not work for you as servants. We believe we all are god’s children and therefore we are equal not less nor more.

-From an East African Tribe

-Chief Machemba’s Tribe

The White Man's Burden – Pierluigi Mancinelli

Let it be known that the white men have come. Let it be known that we have labored under him intensely, and despise him for subjecting us to grueling drudgery. Alas, let it also be known that I see in the white man reflections of the very essence that lay within you, me, and every other man of our kin present here. I see in his eyes the pain of multitudes of his fellows lost—just as we have lost, and pain for those who we have seen fallen. I see in him the will to smother the earth—as has made itself evident to me when we ourselves laid waste to the dwellings of men nearby that we now happen to consider our equal, but who in other times would prove to be but discontinuations for the toss of our spears, in a struggle against a popular enemy.

But most clearly I see in the white man’s eyes a fire, the nectar of rage that resides in all men, and that transcends all things living by the natural order inherited from creation—from the hue-varied man, to the lion, and the deeds often done by the savage idols wherein we manifest our depths, and which they, as us, have in the past adored, and continue to adore and pray to as if they were not but cold and inanimate thoughts and objects reflecting the abyss of our soul and the compassion often found therein. A compassion that resides along hate, and which brings us to ephemeral highs, and savage lows portrayed as being the influences of nought, instead of our own undertakings.

What I preach to you today brothers is that yes; the white man has brutalized, but let not for an instant your mind make you believe that we have not done similarly in the past. Let not us be like he who sees a man of different complexion as “another man”—but let it be us who embrace the fact that under different circumstances it would be us soaked in the blood of those who have fallen to us; and willingly so would we—as they have—accept that benediction upon the victory or our kind, and in-so-doing the sanguine affirmation of our actions. So my brothers, while indeed the white man’s existence must be brought to an end upon our shores, it must be made again the shores not where we live in the pretentious fantasy of harmony, but the shores where we as men who act by nature bring back savagery upon our own. And so we can be freed and inflict these very pains currently restricted to our palette upon others, as is done and is expected, from the creature known as “Man”.

And let it also be known that today in these colonial times, my reckoning of great pains doomed upon this land—perhaps by prolonged affects of the white man’s havoc—shall be principally pains inflicted by us upon those who carry our very resemblance. And that these shall be carried out not under false-pretext and blame, but under the banner of being Man, and the call that Man emits, which sings vociferously from veiled quarters within psyche: “sorrow through want”.

Response to Rudyard Kipling's The White Man's Burden

Half-child, half-devil? Who are you talking about? It certainly can’t be us, because we did not end up on another person’s land in weird attire suddenly telling them to listen to us. The only people who I know can be half- devil are you white men! Who do you think you are, God? What do you think, you were given the power to come and “fix” us? You are not fixing us, you are just ruining us. If I came to your land and told you it was wrong to wear those foolish garments and grow a mustache, would you listen to me and stop doing what you did? I don’t think so, so why should I follow your dumb rules? I don’t understand why making us like you is your duty. I think your duty is just to live your way, and let us live our way. You cannot make me believe that what religion you practice is right, because I believe mine is, and I cannot make you believe that your religion is wrong either. Listen, Mr. White Guy, I think it’s just best for you to go away from here, because we don’t really want you. We are never going to accept your ways of living, so no need to try. Don’t treat us as children who are forced to obey their parents. We are not your children, or little brothers. We don’t need you; we just need you to go away. The way we live is the way we want to live. We don’t like your fancy stuff, if you believe that’s what it is. We are happy with our simple life, unlike you people who want more. I want you to know that we are not your burden. You yourself are making us your burden. Don’t send your children to teach us about your medicine, law, and religion, because when they die, we will be the ones blamed. Guess what? I have already lost so many of my close ones; I can’t even imagine where they have been sent, what they must be doing. How is sending my family away from me helping me? You know what I don’t get? You call us savages, yet you want to come into the savage land and try to “save” these savages. Go live in your own world with no savages. Isn’t that better? But let me just tell you. Your world is also full of savages. You have those modern maxim guns. That’s great, but you know what? Those things kill people, and that’s just savagely. Once again, please leave us alone. You will get fed up of trying. We are not listening to you. You can’t destroy us, no matter what you have. Just leave.

Sandhya Parwani 10C

"The White Man's Burnden"(By:Gaurav Ganwani 10C)

All I can say as an African is that you senseless white men have made our life hell. How do you even have the guts to call use half-devils? You came to our land and slaughtered our people; with this machine you call guns. Took our strongest men and shipped them of somewhere so we could never see them again, just so they could work for you as slaves. Took all of our natural resources and left use empty handed, and dirt poor. You tell use to follow your religion and this how you white people behave. Someone who follows a religion should respect and not just find away to get what you want and if not given you use violence. I bet the religion you followed is made by the devil and that why you’re so ruthless and cold hearted

Ruyard Kipling's White Man's Burden Response

SC

History 10b

I See the Tears of my Village

As a young boy growing I had heard stories. The elders of my tribe had recollected them countless times warning us of these demons who frequented on the other side of the world. They came to our land. They ravaged us, they tore our brothers and sisters from their homes. Then it grew worse. Corruption, backstabbing, brother against brother sister against sister. There was no comfort in our Momma Africa. The unity that had once been strong between us had become cankered and diseased. Yet our tribe remained isolated, the elders at the time, hid from these strange pale people. They were not to be confronted with. Our job was simply to protect ourselves and our people. And we did that, moving deeper and deeper inland, the humans slowly catching up with us. We knew it would not be long, but suddenly it stopped. The men where there no longer, their vessels had departed and the only remnants of their very existence were in the garbage that they had left behind. It was a day that was a bittersweet victory, these men had gone and we would now be safe, but our friends had been lost forever. Little did I know this was just the beginning.

I remember that one fatal day clearly, and has plagued my memory. The sky was a clear blue and the sea was calm. In the distance a small speck was floating far, far way. It was moving at speeds faster than the lion on the prowl. We ran, my brother and I, to the village. This was not that rival canoe, these were our enemies coming back for us. We prepared grabbing our spears and our weapons ready to fight to the death. The oldest man of the village who had seen the last of these creatures leave our shore so many years ago led the batallion cane in hand. I saw the tears of my people. Men began getting off the contraption carrying spears that could shoot for distances farther than any of our own. A man slowly got off of the boat, the elder walked slowly to him.

“Tell your people, that this king” said the pale man taking out a picture of a fat man who sat on a throne, “will now be your king.

“Why should we heed your king, if we have no king but a council?” said the elder.

“It does not matter we bring advances for your people to make them as grand as our home. Our laws will become your laws, and our progress will be shared with you.”

“We are fine the way we live.”

“We will simply… make it better” the man said with a smile

With that the old man backed away motioning us to return, he had seen the arms these men carried and knew it would be imprudent to act.

Momma began to get sick. It was a sickness we had never seen before, the white men tried to take her but we kept her away from them. We needed to rid her of the worm. The illness grew worse, she would not eat, she would not sleep. All she would do was moan.

“My child,” she said to me.

“Yes my mother”

“These men will bring us down, we must not let this happen, protect the family.” she said in a harsh raspy voice. “It’s our only chance for survival, do not trust these men, they come with a hidden agenda…My son your father is calling me, I must go…” With that here eyes became glossy reflecting the clear night sky, which she could not see.

Months passed and these men began to grow, more people would arrive or stop and they would try to make us trade our goods for theirs. These men are unreasonable, how is a garment more useful than a chicken. I began to learn about these people as we began to speak more, they were revolting but intriguing all at the same time. I learned that they arrived to help us, to feed us, to cure us. When I tried to tell them that we were fine, the man laughed at me. We had never experienced disease until these men had arrived bringing new worms, or what they called ‘diseases’. We had always had food until they stole it. We had always been connected to one another, but the white men broke those connections to install their own. They took some of our children on boats but they promised they would return, we did not believe them but their machines were quite convincing. They spoke of freedom for us, but I only see oppression, as they gain more liberties they strip us of ours. They seek glory but we see them destroying us and making us fragments of what we once were, suppressing our culture and introducing their own G-d, one who would save us and was merciful if we did his bidding. A G-d who preaches choice but denies us of our choice.

It is madness to fight but it is madness to remain in this position of fear and despair being unable to do anything. They call us their burden, we call them our menace. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.One day, we will take revenge, we will rise up.

White Man's Burden My A.......

These white men think they know everything around here, but I don’t trust them for one bit. They might look nice and all, but I know what they are up too. They want this place almost as much as we want it. They say that we are their burden but we are NOT their burden to bear. We can handle everything fine without their help. The chief does not believe that though, he wants them to help us. I heard that he trades people as slaves to get beer. I don’t believe this man, that he would trade his brothers and sisters for things he does not have. He is not overcome by stuff. He wants more and more. The white men want us to be more like them, but aren’t we all equal? I’m sure we are not compared to them. They think that we are savages or something. But they are the mad men, going around and telling other people that we are following the wrong religion, and that we cannot run anything, and that almost everything we do is wrong. Who are they to judge? What gives them the right to do that? These men come here with their clothes and shoes, and say that we are savages and that we are mad because we run around naked. This is what we have been doing for years, we don’t mind, I like the wind between my legs. Not only do they bring clothes, they also bring diseases and famine. They bring diseases on rats, diseases we don’t know how to cure. I am scared out of my mind. They also bring guns and fire-arms so that we can defend ourselves, from what? From them, if you ask me. I don’t like these tall, white, hairy, men. Better yet, I despise their existence. I also heard one of these men say that we are half child, half devil. What the H. we are the devils? Are you serious? How in god’s name are we devils? I don’t know what these men are up too but I don’t like it. I want them gone. Fast.

- Robbert van Doorn 10C

The White Man's Burden

Oh, I see conservatism hit in Africa to. Ok. These so called “Europeans” are crazy people. They come right to my face and force me to change my lifestyle, how I dress, act, and everything. Who the hell they think they are? My parents. Screw them! Those bastards stole my family, my son and my wife away from me and send them far away. They send my other family and friends to camps or tribes to do there dirty work. They stole my farm and make me work for my own farm. I sleep in the barn and they sleep in my house. They gave me alcohol which tasted so bad! They want to convert our religion specially the kids, sending them to Catholic schools. What is going to happen after we convert? We can’t practice our own religion at all. We are puppets and the Europeans are our masters. When they pull the string, we must dance. Why should we? It is time to cut the strings! We will fight for our family, land, and our rights. So what we don’t have guns or ammunition, we have our strength, self respect, dignity, and god. Viva Africa!!!
- Amrit

The White Man's Burden

The White Man's Burden

They came to took over, changing our lifestyle, changing the way we dress, they way we act and in what we believe, yes they, the pale people, yes those with powerful weapons able to kill the strongest man with one shot.

What more do they want? They took my wife, my son, my daughter.
They sit back while they send my brothers(other tribes) to do their job and when I asked for what they said for some liquid drink called alcohol.

What more do they want? They are taking my land and my animals.
Eating, and killing them. They use their powerful weapons to kill animals and when I asked them why? They said it's a game we have at home. Killing all our animals, And they just let it rot there, at least they could have given it to someone who needed it.

They are sending all the children to Catholic/Protestant School. Why? To teach them about these stuff, maybe even telling them pale people are better.

They tried to convert me the other day, telling me that this religious is better. Is it?
They come, they destroy, they leave.

You try to reason with them, but you know how these pale people are. Arrogance runs in their blood.
If we fight they may kill us all with their weapons.
But al least we can try.

- Ganesh

A black man's burden...

This morning really isn't so good. It is a black man's burden. I remember the days, I'd wake up in the morning and I'd have one aim, to survive. Then when I'd get back after all the hard work and bring my family some things for survival, we'd have our grand family dinners. It was all about living and happiness. There wasn't any time for anything else. Then came these weird looking white people. They wore long red clothes, of this ugly material and wore things on their heads. They came and took our people. Took them to some far away land. We never heard from them again. Those people ruined everything. They took our people and left us in turmoil. We fought our own neighbors. They brought hatred into our hearts. They fooled us. They are inhumane. Those white skinned devils. They think we're stupid. But they don't know what life really is. Life is waking up in the morning and breathing in fresh air. Life is working hard for those that you love. Life is about coming home and feeling a sudden warmth. Life isn't about drinking a stupid cup of tea and speaking like there are a bunch of cockroaches in your mouth. If they think they are helping us by changing us this way, they are wrong. Very wrong. They are by no means helping us or making our lives easier. Look into the future. Do you see Africa as a leading land if these whites take over? I don't think so. It will bring us great sorrow. No culture, no values, no tradition? Then all I can see is sickness and death. That is my home, without culture... death. I can't see my land die like this. The saving my land is a black man's burden.

Himangi Bhavnani

The White Man's Burden Shira 10B

I am who I am . Or more true for now I am is who I was. The devils came in and destroyed who I truly am. They think they are helping us. What they are not getting is that they are just killing us. Killing our minds and killing our spirits. They try to educate us to become like them . Well they are ridiculous....if they think they can do it. They feel so tough coming here and trying to "save us" . I believe that are ways are fine. Living in trails led by our chiefs . That's who we are. You think we are primitives? Well that's just your fault. I wanna live like I used to kive. In my own freedom in my own society. So what if I didn't wear shoes? or used my hands to eat? this is who I am. So you can't come here and try to change me. So don't think you're doing any favors for us. We would like you to leave and let us live our lives. Without you and your authority. WE know what's right for us. And you? you are just wrong.

" The Sky People have sent us a message that they can take whatever they want and no one can stop them. But we will send them a message, you ride out as fast as the wind can carry you and you tell the other clans to come and tell them Toruk Makto calls to them! And you fly now, with me, my brothers, sisters! And we will show the Sky People that they cannot take whatever they want! And that this... This is our land! "

Rudyard Kipling's "White Man's Burden" -- Stephanie LDE -- 10C

First of all you guys are the demonic and not even half but full devils! Do you think that before, I used to work my butt of to bring some food home for my family and now part of my family is not even here to bring food too. You have taken my children, my culture, and my religion away from me and still we are the demonic and half devils? Like seriously dude, get a live. Start looking at our lives the way we look at it. All I have suffered because of you guys! Just because you are white you say that! It doesn't mean that because we are black, you think that we are less than you guys! The same rights that you guys have as white people we also have as black people. What if we exchange for just one day and you will see what it means to live as a slave for a dumb, selfish European. (papiamentu accent)

Survey Question- Stephanie LDE - 10C

Ask 10 people outside of ISC: When you think of Africa, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
-lions
-poverty
-animals
-heat
-poverty
-world cup
-aids
-starvation
-my family in South Africa
-black people

White's man burden

I feel used, there's no way that I'm living my life like I should be living it. White people coming in and taking advantage of us, taking everything that we have, this isn't fair. What about my kids future, its just really sad since they where just born by the time those white people came and took our country, our place. I'm sure that there's another life that I haven't lived since they are taking mine and I'm not able to live it the fullest. Half- devils? what is that? have you even stop and think about what you white people are doing to us? You should be called half-devils, we don't even have control of our own life. What about my brother who was sent in a ship to go some other country, would I ever see him again? How come you are taking my religion away, just because you say yours is better? How can yours be better than mine when you hurting me, when you are hurting my people and my world.

At least hope is the only thing that you can't take away from me. We have been living just fine, we never needed your studies, we never needed someone to teach us what to do since we have our on culture, well we had, because you took that too. I just hope that one day this would end so I can give my family the life that they deserve.

by: Ana Chapela

"The White Man's Burden" by Rudyard Kipling – Elie Weinstein 10A

You white men have ruined my life–all of our lives! Only g-d knows where my father is, or if he’s even alive after you took him away from us in shackles! And how dare you call our kind half-devils? How are we demonic in any way possible? Was it not you who savagely slaughtered our tribe’s men, stabbed us with those machines that spit pointed pieces of metal, took the stronger men on ships were we will never see them again, and used our food and resources? This is utterly ridiculous. Go away, leave us be. Go back where you came from, never to walk our land again! And to remind, we are certainly not burdens, and if you folk are so wound up in your religion, then how can you justify all of the terror and massacre you have caused. You are all nothing but barbarians. Why take what is ours when you have more? I fear that the effects that your kind have had on our minds, our bodies, and our home will have o dreadful, infinite impact on us all.

Wait, what's going on?!

What the hell?!
Who do you think you are, coming in and telling me what to do, what to say and everything else.

Our ways are fine, I just don't understand what you're doing here.
One minute a misionary is knocking on my door telling me that my religion isn't useful, and I should convert to Christianity or Muslim.. listen and pray to some other God; the next minute I have to give up my land to you guys.
What are we? Children? No? Well, you sure are treating us like one, I mean, it's nice that you build schools, and medical clinics, not to mention some gorgeous churches, but what's in it for you? Are you genuinly caring and helpful? If so, how can I believe you? You took away everything that was once ours: my family, my friends, even my enemies (not that that's a bad thing, but who am I supposed to kill now?); to be slaves in the big land of dreams they call the Americas.

Just like Chief Machemba said to Herman von Wissman: "If it be friendship that you desire, then I am ready for it... but to be your subject, that I cannot be... I do not fall at your feet, for you are God's ceature just as I am."

Confusion can be solved by talking, if you guys just sit down and talk with us, and live our lives for a bit, then you guys can tell us to change. Until then stay out of it, if we can't solve it, then you can't either.

I mean.. I just.. I guess.. well I don't know.. I just, well I just don't understand. Why do we need to change our ways? I guess that's all that I'm asking, is it that hard to give me an honest answer?


Sara de Jong
10A

response to Rudyard Kipling's "White Man's Burden"

I'm an African and i'm telling Rudyard Kipling that something is wrong with you if you think i'll actually like your poem. We are human just like you are, but where are our human rights? My family was already suffering, but we were better off before you marched in. You people are crazy, and you need to open your eyes and start being smart. We have been running around with no shoes and clothes and our family work hard every day for us to get food, i know our lives is a bit suffering, but it was way better before you brought in your dumb ideas. We'll keep on asking Lord to help us, and we know he will. We never asked you to come, and we never needed your help, so go back where you came from, and let us live our life suffering but alteast better then when you are around.

- Jacinta Marie Da Silva Correia 10A

White Man's Burden Responds

I came back from hunting with the other hunters.

I see this strange thing in my village.

What’s going on?

This man named Kipling together with his men,

They’re trying to change us,

Trying to make us like them.

They call us savages and look at us in strange ways.

We hope they don’t stay.

They try to make us wear these things they call clothes,

But this is Africa, we run around with no clothes.

We hunt our own food and don’t make other do stuff for is,

That’s just not good.

We have our ways, they have their’s,

But still they look and they stare.

Lord help us, what will happen now?

Please tell me they will leave and leave us alone.

These people are crazy and dumber then stone.

-Stephanie v Romondt 10b

White Man's Burden

You say that we are a burden and that we are just a nuisance. We did not ask for you to come here and take our land and resources. We have been living our lives for many generations without shoes or clothes. Why must you take our friends and family away from us? You say that you are helping us and teaching us, but i see no good change. All i see around me is death and destruction. Now my family is hungrier than ever with you here. I cant afford to buy my family food. All I ask is that you leave my home before you take it towards the point of no return.

Wael Kaddoura

The White Mans Burden

The White Mans Burden is a poem that is very harsh to us Africans but we got to keep up with them or els theil kill however we should still not let them take advantage of us like half child half devil, like hes not a devil. Then if hes not a devil why does he do this to us?


By:Hatem 10A

White mans burden

I as a fellow African have made this statement, for everyone to hear.
They can not just humiliate us, like they just did. Just because we do not have the same technological advances, does not mean they can just use us for their dirty work, and tell us what to do.We are people just like everybody else and we also deserve rights. I am tired or people just running us over, and people thinking that all we are is slaves to the white people. I find this passage by Kipling very innapropiate. We Africans should not take this nonsense from all these people.


Daniel F.

Response to Take the White Man's Burden - Adriana Baiz

My peaceful world has vanished, my sense of liberty gone. Before I saw black and brothers, now I see white and death. This white spots, appeared one day, and claimed we have a new ruler, they called him "king" as of what they say, it sounded like their God. They kept mentioning that we were now part of them, and thereby have to follow their rules. To be honest at the beginning it made me laugh, but later made me cry.

This white beast, were not only white, but also very different. Their hairs curled or strait, and had many colors. Their eyes, filled with arrogance, could be brown with hatred, or even gray with death. They also wore funny clothing, covering all their human spirit, you could sense their souls suppressed in their bodies, for this cold men didn’t feel any emotions. Except that of ignorance, hatred, and ...power.

To me the real question was always, why did they come? They just appear and want to take the way we live, and destroyed it, trying to change it into "the right way". I don’t see in my land, any of the animals, fighting that way, they just do it on survival. These men instead believe that they are better. When they address us, they do it, in such a way, that they think they are doing us a favor, a favor for what for the end of our world?

My family has always asked me, if it were easier if we just let them be, and try to live like them. To me this is absurd, we can’t let them win, it’s a savage act what they are doing. Yet they call us that. With that arrogance they have, they do not have time to look into their hearts, and feel the reality of our human soul.

Response to "The White Man's Burden"- Jacob Krijt

I have made this statement to make my opinion about our national disaster heard. The outsiders to our land have come to claim it ruthlessly and even as we defended ourselves we were defeated by the foreign warriors. They have challenged our way of life and sought to demean us by forcing us to work for them. Our labour is now their profit and the fools beleive themselves justified. Merely because we do not have their advanced weapons or ways of transportation is no excuse to demand our livelihood and humiliate us. This arrogance has gone on for too long and I beleive it should end. Our way of life is threatened everyday as they send their people to try and force their hollow teachings upon us. I will worship no man anouther one forces me to.

We have all become part of a foreign scheme for wealth and power and we have no say in any part of it. All of us should be able to live as we choose. I shall not stand idly by while outsiders try to make fortunes from our sweat and blood. We are not tools, we are people, and no one is justified in forcing someone else to do something they are forced to act on. Sometime soon there will come a time where this audacity will be taken even further. I fear that as a part of their empire we are little more than tools for their use. We have seen how they traveled here, and who is to say that they will not force us to travel away from our homeland. I urge everyone to spread this message so that action may be taken.

What it means to be human – Pierluigi Mancinelli

Recently I was asked to give my thoughts regarding this question to the class, and can say I failed in providing a coherent view (as often occurs with me and my ambiguity in describing my thoughts in person). But I’ll now present to you my fine-tuned “raison d’être” (reason for being).

Being human is to me—in exclusion of all “puffy” and “hopeful” senses here—what you make of it, and how this creation of your making interacts with others’ (almost identical) creation. From these involuntary interactions between one another follow reactions or responses to you as creature and modus (or “way of being"), and the later ensuing of miscellaneous phenomena that in combination weave together an arrangement we name “our lives” and the immediate world we live in.

Where most of us get lost and bogged in is in this fabrication of what we choose to be and why we choose to be it. People have come to assume that everything regarding an individual follows minute change but remains in conclusion static and in some way preordained; be this personality-wise, likes and dislikes, limitations and illimitable talents, or one or another family "code" or expectation passed down through generations. Many of us could not be further from the truth; and I shall reproduce my previously given reasoning for this (which I gave in my “Inspirational individual” assignment): “... that abstract concept that there isn’t one exclusive line or path life goes by, and which one person (you) follows. Just because two things aren’t compatible—[Aleister Crowley’s outlandish and eccentric ways and the basis of a youth-inspiring assignment], for example—doesn’t necessarily mean they have to be. And that one could in all instances—however pristine and unchangeable you've been lead to believe these definitions are exclusive to you—shift trajectory and be one moment a 'specific' individual (with all his or her 'unique' bequeathing), and the next moment follow the functioning perceived characteristically as pertaining to another type of person."

Being human therefore has (to me at least) nothing to do with how much I love this or that, who I choose to spend my time with, or any further interdependence. It is in fact just me in a world where I paint the painting of what is to be around the "me"—and how sound or unsound I sketch it based on whatever be it that is convenient to me at any given time, and as long as it affirms the obtaining of what it is I want/quenches my hedonistic thirst—and the experiences that arise with having to confront others that also seek (be it consciously or unconsciously, and in whichever intent) to procure what it is they want as well. Being human, and having to go through the life we've (as I've stated above) create, is about having to deal with what scenarios arise from this intense "egoism" or “Me über alles” (wish you to call it so) that is imbedded at the moment of conception into the nature of this weak beast which all of us, including myself are; and which varies not in this imbedded thing itself, but only in it its degree.

"It is not sufficient that I succeed. All others must fail." — Genghis Khan

“The concept of ‘evil’ is the product of the ability of humans to make abstract that which is concrete.” — Jean-Paul Sartre

“Ah! yes, I know: those who see me rarely trust my word: I must look too intelligent to keep it.” — Jean-Paul Sartre

Aleister Crowley – Inspirational individual

Allow me to be frank at the commencement; my character, born on October 12, 1875, as Edward Alexander Crowley; later to be known as Aleister Crowley, the noted writer, yogi, but above all occultist—the most highlighted feature of his life—hence deemed “Practitioner of ‘black magick’ and blood sacrifice” by the New York Times, “Wickedest man in Britain” by the Daily Express, and through which he attained, according to the Sunday Express “The lowest depths that human depravity can reach,” is not a character to be instantaneously exalted without scrutiny and instances of appall.

Likely to be seen as a lunatic, drug addict, sexually depraved man, or a faggot by the end of this; or perhaps understood by others as a man who was unquestionably entrenched in the practice of free will, dedicated to the atypical, and a most detestable figure—in all auspicious implications of the word. One surely wonders as to how such a figure ends on a list commemorating those inspirational to the youth... but I digress.

Aleister Crowley while at Trinity College, Cambridge—a feat that alone should distinguish him as character—came to harrowingly denounce the Church of England, and by extension the family tradition of being involved in an exclusive faction of the Plymouth Brethren, a conservative Evangelical Christian sect. “If one would take the bible seriously one would go mad. But to take the bible seriously one must already be mad.” Later he would pursue a path of occult and mysticism; came later to conclusively see worldly pursuits as useless, published the the Thelema, and to partake in several other eccentric affairs I shan’t divulge in now.

What Crowley has taught me, and why I have chosen him for an assignment which according to many would exclude figures such as himself, is that abstract concept that there isn’t one exclusive line or path life goes by, and which one person follows. Just because two things aren’t compatible—his reputation and the conventional basis of this assignment, for example—doesn’t necessarily mean they have to be. And that one could in all instances shift roads and be one moment an individual, and the next moment follow interests perceived characteristically as pertaining to another, but which suit his current requisites.

Now naturally these shifts (or erasing the lines) to things often so unalike carry varying consequences in the minds of others perceiving your virulent following of a philosophy which makes personality and relation to others inessential and dispensable. But a character to undergo such an individualized trajectory of life should likely not care much for such response, and whose foremost judiciousness has likely already provided required adjustment until the succeeding metamorphosis.

So what I in fact adopt from Crowley is this insouciance, if not outright apathy towards the way life is expected to take, and that—no matter how many perceptions you unfurl, people you displease, or how many fists to the faces of those on tenterhooks you deliver—ones life is merely a toy in a big game where it matters no wit whether you do or commit to one thing, or turn around and proceed with the exact opposite; be it so regarding religion, morals, or anything else we’d presume untarnishable; to be in all senses a strict (if not brutal) realist; one which understands with what little knowledge the world is actually run, and someone who sees exploiting a particular situation is neither wrong or good, but just necessary. It may be perceived as mere egoism, but even this is subjective.

Crowly shows that the tinkering on fear one has in going against the current is lost by pushing with unremitting consistency towards the borders—if not depths—of “being,” and observing of the functions of the world we’re often too busy for and ignore. It’s in the clasping of these immaculate virgin understandings which we restrain ourselves in, and in defilement of these representations of a misunderstood and made-to-be-subjugating world that we truly gain borderless perceptions.

What you should adopt from Crowley—without making it seem like I’m somehow making this some pamphlet-esque work paying homage to teenage insubordination—is for one to seek to define oneself from the “common sphere,” which (quote Rorschach from Watchmen) “reads like an abattoir of retarded children”, and to in this case come into contact, if not recognition at least, of the starless tracts of being human, found at the rims of social tolerability.

"Out beyond the ideas of good-doing and wrong-doing there is a field. I will meet you there." —Jalal as-Din Rumi

— Pierluigi Mancinelli

What does it mean to be human?

Being human is following the basic insticns integrated in the human mind. No human has a greater conscience or an inner evil dictating their actions. Morality hardly comes into question. People do whatever serve their best interests and do everything according to what best suits them. Humans are not truly given a choice to be good or evil. It is forced upon them either way. Humans react to their envoirnment in almost every aspect of their life so that they can cope and in many instances make their lives easier. A person could have a goal they wish to accomplish but they hardly ever really acheive them. They go along with what comes, because all to often some goals cannot be acheived even if you persue them. Realizing that all humans do is survive, easier from some more than most is the meaning of what it means it means to be human.
By Jacob Krijt

What does it mean to be human?

What does it mean to be human?
By: Khushbu Chawla

Answering this question was hard because for me being human always meant to be caring and having emotions of good. To be honest having researched this gave me many ideas but, I was sure that being human had nothing to be caring. Since if being human was to be caring none of us would actually be called human because in one point of time everyone loses their ability to be caring and greed comes in the way. Well, actually for everyone there is a different meaning to be human. For me to be human is to be able to react to motions and emotions around and within you. To analyze before you react. People say, “Think before you talk.” Well the mind processes the information before you even know it. Some reactions you make might be spontaneous but your mind has processed the information so quick that it becomes an immediate reaction. When we are hurt we have pain and we react with an, “Ouch!” or some people hold the pain in and try not to react but the still feel it they just don’t express it. The “ouch” is an immediate response from your mind and holding in the pain is a very analytical reaction. There are lots of cases that could probably prove this. Yet, I am not sure if this is actually what it means to be human. If we knew what it means to be human we would have probably understood many more things which are just queries now. To be human if different to every human and we should respect everyone’s views.

What does it mean to be human?

It really does take some thinking to answer this question. Well, not some thinking, a lot of thinking. Knowing the answer to this question would just make us all the same. Human is just a word we use to identify ourselves. We believe that we are superior to animals, but I wonder, how are we any better than animals? What have we done to say that we are great? We live in this tiny world, unaware of anything going on in other “worlds.” Forget about other worlds, we don’t even know what’s going on in our world. Being human today just means trying to be the best, always competing and hating when we lose. The truth, however, is that we’re not the best. We’re nothing. The earth is not the only planet, and the Milky Way is not the only galaxy. There are billions of galaxies. Who knows what “creatures” are out there? There can be another world, and the creatures living on that world may act the same as we do. They might not know about us. So how can we say that we are the best living things?

What are we doing in our lives that make us so outstanding? Do we know? Isn’t that the whole point, to try and discover why we were brought onto this world? Many of us haven’t stopped to think what we are doing here. Our life is just to go to school, get pressurized to work harder to get into college, get a job, get married, work for our families, and die. During this process we are too occupied with all the work we have we get frustrated, and sometimes tell ourselves we would rather die than stay alive. But really, who told you to work so hard? Who told you that you have to become a millionaire? Did society? Well if that’s the case, then I would not know what to say, because it’s your own choice to listen to those idiots or not to. Anyways, as I was saying, we get so busy with our lives we don’t get a chance to actually do what we want to, or do something extraordinary, yet we are living with the idea that humans are exceptional. There are only those rare people who set out to do something different in life, those couple of people who are so determined to accomplish their goal. Why can’t we all be like them? We could do wonders if we did.

I don’t believe that we can compare ourselves to animals, because even though we are so much more complex than animals, we don’t use this brain we have. What are we creating? I know, global warming. That’s why humans are so useful, we actually do something, but that something is just ruining our world. Ruining the place we were given to live. What are we going to do when we completely destroy the earth? We might just blame animals, because they’re stupid. They can’t talk, so whatever, we’ll just blame them, like we blame everything we do on others. You see we actually try to do something good, but when everything gets messed up we blame another person and don’t try to fix anything. What really irritates me is that every human being is fake. If we don’t appreciate a person, we shouldn’t make them feel that we like them. Just don’t talk to them. A lot of times we just use people for our benefits, and when we don’t need them anymore, we let them go, not realizing that they are still attached to us. Being human today means doing everything for ourselves. It means running a race all your life trying to get ahead, not bothering to look behind if anyone has fallen. Even if we do turn our head (probably to see whether someone is catching up or not), we continue to run, because all we want is to help ourselves, not others.

Being human, is a great thing, because we were given the opportunity do things which animals can’t. That’s the power we have. The power to help and empathize. To see others in a good way, and hope everyone is successful. Our problem is that we look at success with too much greed, which is why we can’t get it. Being human is just allowing success to come to you, not following it. Human life is precious, because there are so many wonderful things we can do, so much knowledge we can receive. We are able to express our ideas, and share our knowledge. If we only learn to take some time out of our busy lives to find our purpose on the earth, we would maybe not be so selfish, or greedy. Maybe we would learn to slow down in life, and actually experience it, rather than speed up and not pay attention to anything. It’s hard to answer what it means to be human, and sometimes we come up with different questions to answer this question. Who knows, we might just discover the answer to this question one day.

Sandhya Parwani 10C

human?

What does it mean to be human? Being human is something really special for me being human is a gift that you will only get 1 time. To use this gift for a long time you have to live your own life, to do whatever you want, you have to enjoy it but not abuse it. You have a lot of rules you have to follow, being human is like being a game player you have to play fair and good according to the rules, when you play bad it’s game over. Being human is really unique because everyone is different not only different in appearance but also inside, like feelings and thoughts and how people act etce... To be a human is not that easy you have a lot of responsibilities like finish college, get a job, and raise a family etce… you can’t really explain what being human means because the meaning is different for everyone.

Arnaud Scheper 10c

What does it mean to be human?

What does it mean to be human?
Their will never be a specific answer to the question because every body has their opinion about what it means to be human.
Some people may believe living their life to the fullest, like having fun just partying all night long, and some might believe
that they need to be someone important in life to be human. What I believe is that living your life with enjoyment and be someone
in life, accomplish something so that people will admire you. I also belive that we are send here to earth to do something because we are a special kind, where made by someone we call god.
Nobody has 100 % proof of that, but we believe that. One thing I know is that we will not now why we are existing, whats the purpose, or what is our mission to be a perfect human being? What is proven is that
nobody is the same, every one has their own set of skills, and that makes the human being survive because most of work together and we discover greater things. The symbol yin and yang shows a perfect example what it means
to be human, it shows the good side and the bad side, it shows the race of black and white. In the real world we have struggled many times with racism, but that makes us human. I think every one has to just live their life
and think whats best for them and what normally happens is that way the person lived his life could maybe have been a great help in life, or maybe not, but their is always something good what the person did and that goes for every one
and which makes us human.

By Traves Servage

What Does it Mean to be Human?(By:Gaurav Ganwani 10C)

To define what being human means is very hard, because almost everyone has their own view in life. But according to me being human is to make decisions, change, and mature. But there is more than that too. Being human means to experience things and really be curious about life. But one thing now days that being humans is turned into is consuming for some reason and destroying the planet. Even though were the smartest species known to man.We still make the dumbest mistakes and don’t try to fix the main issues. Like global warming since the industrial revolution we started global warming and we know after a while if we don’t do something the world is going to be destroyed and were going to die. But we didn’t do anything until we were at a point that we witnessed what global warming caused , like for example end of 2009 was the coldest time recorded and the Tsunami that killed huge amount of people. Why couldn’t we do something before? These stupid mistakes make me re-think if we are actually the smartest species on earth. Well other than that I think being human even means to learn in life and to develop knowledge that can help the world.

What does it mean to be me?

Being human used to mean to survive, to live each day on its own, and to complete our duty. Now we can't quite say that anymore. We do not live each day or do everything just to survive. Now we live for money. We want to make money so it can help us survive in this world. A piece of paper or a number on your computer screen has started to mean more than our labor and talent. But it;s not only about survival. If it was, we'd be happy in a small house, some clothes, and food to eat. But money has created more greed in the human mind. It has caused us to start valuing McDonalds and Nike more than just surviving. What it means to be human has changed by the world of money. In my culture, greed is one of the 5 bad qualities that humans must stay away from. According to our ideals, we must try to get rid of these from our life. Even though I may not believe every single thing my religion teaches, I do believe that greed is one of the thingsblinding us humans. Greed and showing off is the reason we can't recognize ourselves.

Being human doesn't only mean greed, money, and survival thoug. I think being human is more than that too. Now that like has become much easier than it was, we have time to concentrate on other things. Being human also means to obtain as much knowledge as possible from wherever possible. It is about experiencing life and learning from whatever we can. For example, scientists have been trying their best to learn about the universe or even about how they can save humans from diseases. Humans mean curiousity. Learning new things and asking questions. Eversince the beginning, we tried answering our questions. In the past, we referred to our religion to answer our questions, but slowly science took over. Sometimes, religion may be ridiculous, but I feel that some of the things you get to learn are true and they do answer my questions sometimes. I think my religion is one of the major things that identify me. I believe that religion is one of the strongest roots of humans. So I feel religion, science, questions and answers play a huge part in human existence.

Another part of being human that's very important is expression. I think we are very priveleged to have ways to express what we feel. Emotions and feelings are two things we can express in various ways. For example, one of my friend's little sister has a puppy she really loves. He got really sick in the December break. She would wake up in the morning and before even brushing her teeth, she'd go pet him and see how he was. If he wouldn't sleep, she'd sit there trying to make him fall asleep. (He would actually stop crying and go to sleep.) She literally played with him or spoke to him all day. After seeing all the war and hatred in the world, I just thought it was wonderful to see someone love an animal so much. It makes me think how dumb the adults are. I think she has a better understanding of being human compared to any adult. Her innocence and the fact that she expresses herself are her strength and power. Even her pet understood this affection. Thus, I feel emotion is a great part of being human.

Obviously, I'm not some great philosopher or anything to really be answering this question. But whatever I say above is what I believe through experience or knowledge. It is what I feel as a human. I also feel that being human means understanding yourself and doing what your heart tells you to. If you have a passion, fulfill it. If you have a dream, live it. The world has changed as well as the way we think. All I can say is being human is a blessing we aren't recognizing. We should recognize our qualities and understand what it means to be human.

-Himangi Bhavnani (10c)

What does it mean to be human?

You can find many definitions of “being a human” if you go to Google. But all the things that the people tell you can’t be proven (I think). Being a human is a mysterious job. Really, who made us? I mean, we’re not made in fabrics and we don’t come out of the ground like trees. Why are we even here? To built houses, and destroy the planet, or to do something good and make changes? “What does it mean to be a human” is a difficult question and I’m glad that that someone who made us humans, also made philosophers. But beyond Google and philosophers I think that being a human is living your life in your own special way and make a difference in the world. I mean, why else are we here? Everyone is unique and has its own ideas, and that’s great! So, every human is living its life in another way, some do good things and live in peace, and some do very evil things. All these different humans create a balance. Like the yin and yang symbol! If we didn’t have these different people, everyone would be the same; there is no news, there are no exciting things, and life would be boring. Be proud of who you are and don’t bother about how to life your life. There isn’t a user guide to help you. There are many rules and laws that say many things, but they don’t tell you how to live your life and what it means to be a human.

- Alaïa Fonk

What does it mean to be human ?

What does it mean to be human?

It means to feel and care
to have emotions
not to be perfect
to make mistakes
to have empathy
to have freedom
to control your own future/ to make your own decision

-Ganesh

What does it mean to be human?

To be human:
The biggest question to the human race is what is our purpose in this world? Well to me, the main difference between our human essence and any other animal is that we are aware of our existence. This is a very important fact, because we actually have the interest to explore our world, and our minds. To me being human is sitting in that mountain or the beach, and look up at the stars and wonder what’s up there? Is there another form of intelligent life, is our universe part of another atom. What I’m made of, and why was I born the way I’m, and who made the rules of humanity, were I`m rich, you are poor, I`m white you are black. Is it in our nature, to always look for power, for money, for ourselves? Or is it part of what we’ve become through out history. To me to be human is to seek for the answers, and hopefully before we die, we should have accomplished and left a print in this world. Right now my mind is filled with more questions than answers, maybe those questions are meant to be kept as a secret, but that’s yet another question.

Adriana Baiz

What Does it Mean to be Human?

SC

History 10b

What does it mean to be human?

Absolutely nothing and utterly everything. Really how else could I answer this question, a mere tenth grader answering a question that has kept philosophers, religions, men of science, and every human being busy since the moment our race could start thinking. I have just barely to begin to see the world around me, let alone understand it. I haven't even figured out my place in the universe and what I’m supposed to be doing here. To figure this out for an entire 6.7 billion people that share the same characteristics as me but are all individual and different at same time. Not an easy task, but then again nothing we ever get for History is an easy task. So as I sat here in my room waiting for some type of revelation to come to me, I remember two things. The first one being that we are extremely tiny and insignificant things floating in the nothingness of space, not even a speck in the galaxies so far way from us. The second thing being extraterrestrial life. If we exist than something in our ever shrinking, or ever expanding, universe must be out there, how would they be different from us. Still no revelation

Religion provides answers to these questions and add meaning to people’s life. Some people just need to be told what to believe and think because they need that type of control in their life. It sounds so much better that everything in our life is planned out and controlled by an omnipotent and merciful, for the most part, deity, than we floating an inconsequential rock in the bowels of space. Religion provides guidance that many people seek and redemption and salvation for all they do. Religion is wonderful and terrible. It has caused the biggest wars and destroyed the most amount of people ever, yet almost all major belief systems emphasize the basic philosophy of loving thy neighbor as you love thyself. Does this mean that as a general rule Human beings cannot follow directions, maybe.

The dictionary defines being a human being as “a man, woman, or child of the species Homo sapiens, distinguished from other animals by superior mental development, power of articulate speech, and upright stance.” Honestly, this is by far the worst definition I have ever found in a dictionary. The only difference from us and a caterpillar is because we can walk up straight? Superior mental development, just ask Mr. Kinzer about our “superior mental development” and how we continue to amaze him with our “intellect.”

Being able to empathize, predict, and to hope. I think these are the biggest and most descriptive traits of human beings.

We have long ago realized that we are all connected. It is a fact that has been lost and found once again. Science has begun to prove what philosophers have always hoped for. We are all related, this makes empathizing such an easier job. My ability to put myself in someone else’s shoes using nothing else but my imagination is an all too incredible phenomenon. It is as if I immerse myself in their essence, actually becoming them. Empathizing allows me to relate, emote and reason. It helps me understand what someone else might be going true, making me a more understanding and patient. But empathizing has its limitiations. For example as I watch the news clips about Haiti I cannot easily empathize with them. I can sympathize but that is not nearly as interesting or insightful attribute.

If I'm sitting at the table and I see a glass close to the edge of it, I will move it. For two reasons, one it might fall, and two if it does I’ll get blamed for it and get in trouble. This seemingly frivolous task is one that is phenomenal. We can look at something and imagine and predict what might happen to it. It’s truly like seeing into the future, prophesying. Up until now, no scientist has ever found reason to believe that any other organism on this earth can perform this task.

In times of total darkness for people, there is always a little part of you hoping praying, asking for your situation to change. Hoping for peace, hoping for love, hoping for survival. There is an old Greek Myth that explains that a young woman, Pandora, was given a box, which she was told by the gods of Olympus under no circumstances to open. Pandora being extremely curious opened the box and let all of the things that plague our world today out of the box. Jealousy, accusation, distrust, lies, scheming, gossip, despair, scolding, hate, old age etc.etc. All of these things had been unknown to man. Horrified Pandora shut the box just in time to keep Hope from flying away. We would never loose hope. But we cannot only rely on hope, action needs to be taken for anything to occur in our lives. Simply thinking about something, will not instantaneously make it appear.

I still don’t know what makes us human, and I don’t think I ever will, but I do know that my life and all of our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to anyone and everyone who needs us.

What does it mean to be human? by:Stepahanie Lde10C

Since the beginning God said that he was going to create humans and animals and everything that is around us. He said that he gave the power to humans to be able to think and have a conscience. This was the mayor difference between human and everything he made. Humans can think and know the consequences of their behavior. Animals on the other hand, can’t.

When we use or conscience we actually think before we do something whether it is good or bad. If it wasn’t according to what we had planned it starts to worry us. Sometimes humans do things knowing that it is wrong. We are set to born, live, and die.

Sometimes animals can be more humane then humans.

What does it mean to be Human?

To be human means to discover something new every day. We as humans brought peace to the nature. But as humans we cannot decide anything amongst ourselves. We always include the law to everything. As humans we are considered as being a part of nature. We use the nature to live. We as humans make mistakes everyday in life. From those mistakes we learn to become better. We are the future for the universe. We as humans are considered the smartest species living on this earth. Being the smartest ones we still destroy the world by giving global warming. On this planet humans are given the right to try to save this planet, but instead we are trying to destroy it. We create something and then we try to stop it. As a example, Norton makes antivirus protections, but have you ever thought what causes a virus? Norton makes the virus and then makes a protection to get rid of the virus. We as humans are best at doing that. We create a problem and we try to get rid of the problem by ourselves. I as a human being still don’t get a idea what does it really mean to be HUMAN???...........

Dhirenraj Dhruv

What does it mean to be human?

Being a human being is something very special, and something to admire. Being human gives us the ability to do so much. You can create your own personality your own style and make everything unique. There are approximately 6.8 Billion people in the world, and they are all different. There is not one thing the same from those billions. We all have different opinions and different perspectives.
Being a human means to have power.

On earth being a human you can change so much. You have the power to change others around you. You have the power to decide for yourself and show others what you think is right. There are so many roles in being a human and they all have a power. Every individual has some power on earth. It can be the president, who makes most of the decisions for the people. It can be a teacher who will learn the next generation good from bad. It can be a bum on the street that will open the eyes of others so that they will not follow that road.

Being a human is something very magical.
You have to be proud and make the best of it

Andrea Holevas 10B

Robert Sapolsky: The uniqueness of humans | Video on TED.com

Robert Sapolsky: The uniqueness of humans | Video on TED.com

What does it mean to be a human being?

what does it mean to be a human being? I think that it has a different meaning for different cultures. Like when your in Africa, you get born and like when you become 7 or 8 you already have to start working to help your parent(s), but in like Holland or the U.S. you get born have a quiet relaxing life, go to school, leave house and start living on your own and get a job. So for them life is school and work. And the people who decided to let it run like that are long gone, but still we just have to follow what they kind of set as rules. So being a human means working...but that's probable not what most people want...but what being a human is, is an easy question, because I think it's special. ;-)
latersss,
Mikey

What Does It Mean to Be Human?

What does it mean to be human? A question that came across my mind many times yet I find my self struggling to find an answer to it. I cannot help but suspect that at one time in the history of thinking that people believed that it meant that we were spiritual and that we could make choices and were capable of aspiring to higher ideals… like maybe loyalty or maybe faith… When I think of what it means to be human I think of compassion. Of being able to see others' wan
ts and needs not just your own. It's to be able to feel emotions. To fall in love. To be sad when something happens to you. To feel pain when you get hurt. It's to know that in a point in your life it's all going to end but you still live everyday like it's your last. But I guess all other animals do all these things as well.
So how do we differ from all the other animals in the world. I guess for two main reason. First of all we're on the top of the evolutionary pyramid. No one eats us :) That's basically it. WE on the other hand kill and destroy the nature . For what reason? Oh to make our life easier. But there is another main reason we're on that top of the pyramid. Humans like no other animals live on abstract thinking and not instincts. All animals live according to their instincts while we think before we do something. So for me It means to be physical - with all of the hurts and pleasures that come with it. It means to be spiritual, with all of the hurts and pleasures that come with it. It means to be eternal - with all of the rewards and punishments that come with it.
Shira Hebel 10 B

What Does it Mean to be Human?

Humans… it’s what we are, it’s what I am, but what does it mean to be a human? Tuesday during our history class this question was raised. We were asked to think about what it meant to be human. Well, what does it mean to be human? Does it mean that we are species with a highly developed brain? Does it mean that we are social? Or does it mean that we a capable of destroying Earth? Yes, being human does mean that we have or are able do these things, but it also means much more.

A few weeks ago I rented the movie “My Sister’s Keeper.” Millions of tears rolled down my cheeks while watching the first 30 minutes, but it made me realize that I had to be thankful for the healthy life I have and that I have to be thankful for all the things I don’t have to do because I don’t have a sibling that is dying and needs one of my organs. Anna Fitzgerald was a child born only for one reason, to save her sister’s life. Anna was a baby made by in vetro fertilization so that she could be a genetic match for her older sister, Kate, who is a leukemia patient. For Anna being human meant giving up her organs when needed to save her sister.

What it meant for Kate to be human was to live her life as a leukemia patient struggling to get better. Even worse, she had a mother that did not give her the right to die. Kate lived in pain. Does being human mean we have to live in pain?

The recent earthquake in Haiti also made me think about what it meant to be human. Right now, people in Haiti are going through a very tough time and a lot of people are dead. In this case did they have the right to die? Some people may argue that it would be better for most Haitians, who have very bad injuries, to die. This would mean that they wouldn’t have to suffer from all the pain and injuries that this earthquake may have caused, but also, this earthquake made me open my eyes to learning that to be human might mean that you can do something good or something to help in a time of need. While watching CNN News, a clip was shown of CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent and neurosurgeon, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

A 15-day old baby girl had just lost her mother because of the earthquake. Her house collapsed on her and she received a head injury. According to the clip, they had been begging for a doctor. Sanjay Gupta took care of the baby’s injury and said that she would be ok for now. This made me think, does being human mean that you can reach out and give a helping hand?
I have not decided what it means for me to be human, I don’t even know what I want to do when I grow up, but I do know that part of what it means to be human for me is always trying to give a helping hand. Being there in a time of need, but not having to give up my organs like Anna had to do for Kate. Maybe as a human, I can’t always do the extreme, but as a human I can give a helping hand.

by: Stephanie v. Romondt 10b

What does it mean to be a human being?

Being a human being has no definition. Everyone goes on living life as its given to them. So i think that the definition of being a human being is to live life the way you want to. That means that you make up your own rules. There is no one on earth that lives this way. Our goal as humans should be to get to the state at which we all become human beings. Once we get to that enlightened state their is nothing we cant do. There would be no limitations on anything. The day we all get to be human beings we can solve all the worlds problems.

Wael Kaddoura

What does it mean to be human?

Hummanity defines itself by what you build up, you make your own existance. When you are born you are nothing, not even human, so all of this, even the the word Human, is up to you to define. All of these words, and letters, are composed jibberish that we as humans gave existance to, and allowed it to mean something. What does it mean to be human?
It's up to you.

Angelica Pita

Whats does it mean to be human ?

To me being Human is to have the intelligence to recognize and apply choices . And to imagine what our choices might lead to . As in connecting the dots .

Jordy Bosnie 10a

What does it mean to be human?

Well, nobody's perfect. Humans make mistakes, and we learn from these mistakes. there is so much hate in the world between humans. Us humans dont have any value for being here, for being alive. we are the most smartest species, but yet the most complicated. But, what does it mean to be human? are we lucky to be human? Or are we better off as something else.

What does it mean to be human?

The definition of humanity is a very hard term to describe. I believe that one of the main aspects of being human is to constantly create one’s self, change, develop, and make decisions. These four elements are constantly happening until your death. Your ideas change, your looks change, and you are always making decisions concerning everything from walking, to going to school, or talking to someone--these decisions constantly allow you to change and develop your views, thus altering your life. It is what makes every human unique, even if your twin looks identical and has the same fingerprints as you, we are different on many social, financial, cultural, and aesthetic levels. Being unique is very important to being human, otherwise we’d be just like any other animals be it fish, bird, or dog--they look the same and and all they usually want is food.
Another aspect of humanity is that all people want. People always want things regardless of wether they need it or not; objects, wealth, love, caring, certain lifestyles, to live somewhere else; anything. People’s desires change and develop as they create themselves, and their desires identify them as well because everyone has varying desires and interests.

Elie Weinstein 10A

What doe sit mena to be human?

What does it mean to be human? That is the question. I believe that being human is a chance to see things from a different point of view and to explore new things. I believe that we are humans, because we have the desire to grow and discover. When we discover new areas we destroy as well. Discovering is something that makes us human. I also believe that we are put in this position of mental power, we have one of the most powerful and developed brain in the animal kingdom. We are still animals, this is clearly visible in our savagery in wars and how we behave. We are now not only destroying our own homes but also those of our furry friends. Animals are affected ever more then we are. They are losing their homes, and we are the cause. I feel that we are put in the human body so that we can make a change. Some people use this “brain-power” to do well and try to stop global warming or the destruction of the Amazon for instance. You might think that a thousand years ago we did not have this problem, and we didn’t. The human race is also an animal species, but we have evolved so much that we are the dominant species, we are superior, and so we think. We might be so smart, but why are we so stupid, so stupid that we are destroying the planet we call home. We are not the only ones we call home; we share it with all the other living creatures on this planet. I am not saying that the meaning of being human is being stupid and that we have to look out for our animal friends, but it might be something that we should learn to do. What the basic meaning is to be human is to explore. We explored the moon, the furthest corners of the earth and our solar system. We are so bright and we can accomplish amazing things, but we should be careful with the consequences that could follow as a result of our actions. Being human, like any other living being on this planet is of course to survive and reproduce, but to be able to do this we should use our big heads of ours more often. Some people’s view of surviving might be to have food in their stomach for every thirty seconds; other’s meaning to survive might be to be able to have something to eat in a week. We are also reproducing way to much our population dwarfs that of any other on his planet. Being human can be many things but in my eyes I see that we should explore and discover new things, while still keeping our animal instincts alive and looking out for our creature links.


Robbert van Doorn

What does it mean to be human?

To be human is to be different from each other. To think differently, to react to actions differently, etc. The first people that were on earth were like students. They were not smart. They learned by themselves how to live life, how to build things, and do things. Then they passed the information to everybody generation after generation. The actual meaning of being a human to me is that we are send by god to protect the earth. He made and now we have to take care of it and protect it, which some of the population is doing it and the rest aren't. I think there is no meaning to be human. We exist because we have to learn and pass this information to our kids. They will tell there kids, and so on and on. To me we are like robots, we go to school to learn, then college for more education, get a job, have a happy family, become old, and die. All the info we were thought we told our kids. After we die, we reincarnate, if some people believe in that. All the human beings who have made history such as discoveries, creations, and etc were important to most the people in the past, but now I feel that history of the people and cities that were found and got lost again is not important to almost half the population. There is no other reason to me about what does it mean to be human. The actual answer of what does it mean to be human is inside you. You only have to discover it, talk to it, and should listen to it to. That is what I have been told. The actual definition you will find is inside of you.
THE END - Amrit

What does it mean to be human?

Umm...wait...what DOES it mean to be human?? So many answers are running through my head! Well...personally I think being human means finding yourself and who you are as a person. It's living life to the fullest and being happy and care free. You definitely make mistakes, because no one is perfect. ( Trust me! I've had my fair share of "OMG, what did I dooo?!"s, fails, and days of clumsyness. :D ) But if you're smart or you just have a little common sense, then you'll learn from those mistakes. As humans we make connections, too. From friendships to feeling like twins, Pre-K boyfriends and girlfriends to real heart-throbbing love, frenemies to archenemies we do it all.
Then you turn yourself around. And THAT'S what its all about! :)

Elizabeth Anne Edwards
10A

What does it mean to be human? Phaedra H.

There are many different meanings on what it means to be human. My meaning of humanity is not being perfect. All humans have many flaws, they lie, they’re easily influenced, the make wrong decisions, they speak without thinking, say negative things, etc. But hey “we’re only human”.

Another aspect of humanity is instinct. When babies are born, it is said that they can feel who their mother is, they’re instinct I think creates a special connection to their mother and their other family members. It’s the same concept as a “mother’s instinct”, when she feels that something is wrong with her daughter, or that her daughter is lying. Many people say that twins have also have telepathic abilities, for example, if one twin breaks an arm, the other one will also feel pain. Humans have the ability to create connections to one another, like falling in love, or trusting one another; which is something that I think animals can easily do.

what does it mean to be human??

Being human means being unique, being unique means being human. A human is individual; it has feelings, rights and more. Humans live, they can do anything they want to, but some have rules, humans live in a world that has right and wrongs, good and evil, black and white and a lot more. A human is like a ying yang, some people understand it and others don’t, it has 2 sides buts it’s filled with many more. A human is like a world but it has its own little master in its brain that keeps it alive and makes its choices. This master rules the human, It has rights, feelings, it can do whatever it wants but most of the time it would be good if he choose to do good stuff.  I like being human and I love the master in my brain 

-Jacinta Marie Da Silva Correia