THE ANIMAL CALLED MAN (2)

Hullo once again, friend and good day. It’s another Monday today as we continue in our quest of finding the way forward. Last week, we had a little exposition on the topic as we discussed some of the characteristics of Man and his origin. I also appreciate the comments made by some of our readers: Essien, Consider, Anonymous, etc. –it was really rewarding. So we continue; I still hold to the view that man was not originally created as, or to be, an animal. Yes, we are not animals! However, let us hear what others have said so far.   

Olusegun Obasanjo (1998), in his book “This Animal Called Man”, attempts to examine Man’s existence on earth and the purpose and ways to achieving that purpose in this world and in the next world to come. Having man as his focus, he says that man can best be understood through the appreciation of God. According to him, “the universe is of unfathomably great immensity, seemingly great in confusion, held together and controlled by God of infinite power, intellect and majesty”. Obasanjo asserts that the purpose of Man on earth is “to live to the glory of God”, but unfortunately, Man has turned out to be a disappointment to his Maker. He also argues that it is through faith that Man conquers his “lower animalistic nature and instinct”. (Cited by Uzor Maxim Uzoatu;www.cnenigeria.com/als/october1999.htm)

Pico della Mirandol, a philosopher of the Renaissance, in his Oration on the Dignity of Man says that “when man philosophizes, he ascends the chain of being towards the angels, and communion with God; and when he fails to exercise his intellect, he vegetates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oration_on_the_Dignity_of_Man). The root of this dignity lay in his assertion that only human beings could change themselves through their own free will <Emphasis mine>; this therefore implies that Man tends to lose his dignity when he fails to exercise his intellect, which is one faculty of the soul (nothing more, nothing less!). This “exercise” of course should always be geared towards positivity, possibility, productivity/usefulness, and not negativity, wickedness or evil. When Man fails to exercise his intellect, he therefore is tagged a/an (real) animal, a fool, an idiot, and stupid, useless, mad, worthless!

But I ask; is his failure to exercise his intellectual powers enough reason to make Man lose or deny him his dignity? Perhaps, the founders of UNN who sought “to restore the dignity of man” would help us answer this. Is the toilet cleaner in our hostels not worthy of this same dignity just as we who are “learned” are? Are the barrow-pushers, bricklayers, beggars and hawkers, (local) cobblers, tailors, carpenters, farmers, traders, security personnel, and the poor, including their children, not also worthy of having this same dignity which we who are “better off” have? Please note that I am not trying to condone poverty or laziness. This is because, “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.” (Prov. 6:10-11, 24:33-34, KJV). Actually, the statement by George Orwell is right, that “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” (as a result of social stratification).

What then have we been saying all this while? Let us rethink on our attitude towards the different human beings we meet on daily basis, irrespective/regardless of their facial disposition, class, physique and/ or background, inasmuch as they consist of different characters, temperaments and personalities. (We need “tactics” to handle each of them differently) This is because another thing I have learnt about this life is that the people whom we think matter now, may not matter in the future and the people whom we think do not matter now, may matter in the nearest future. You want some respect and affection right?? Why don’t you give same to others? (Didn’t they say that respect is reciprocal?) Lucky Dube, in one of his tracks says, “Be good to the people on your way up the ladder cause you’ll need them on your way down”. This is because they are beings who can Move, Respire; who get Nutrition from food; who feel Irritation and have emotions; who must Grow; who of course Excrete; who can Reproduce, and who of course will Die one day. If you do not have a reason to respect the dignity of the animal called Man, then do so based on the reasons stated above. Note also that you can only be complete (restore your dignity) in Christ, if you accept and walk with Him. (No apologies for sounding thus!)

Finally, in conclusion (tautology intentional), I believe this article has in one way or the other provided another stepping stone to the way forward. To add more stepping stones, kindly send your write-ups to the contact below. We must find the way forward!

This topic is actually a very broad one and cannot (categorically) be fully exhausted in these few pages. You may wish to enlarge it. Expect another exceptional write-up same day, next week on the topic: HALITOSIS                                                         Watch out! <www.skola93.blogspot.com>

Skola: +2348138404469, skola.chidi@gmail.com.