A Human Being By Any Other Name

[maggiebee]

Beware of anyone who describes a human being as something other than a human being.

"Refugee," "homeless," "losers," "failures," "bum," "hippie," "addict," "retard," "weird"...These are all terms that refer to one thing - a human being - but they are used to separate us from each other. If we saw everyone as a human being, then we wouldn't be so quick to turn a blind eye to the suffering.

This was sent to me by a friend and I believe it to be true.

[bobbinwales]

Meaningless to me maggiebee, Yes child killers, mass murderers and rapists are human beings just as carers and social workers, doctors and teachers and loving parents, but I see no reason why we shouldnt refer to some as murderers/criminals and others caring responsible loving people

[pastafreak]

I also believe it to be true. Thank you.

[douglas9401]

As long as that human being isn't stealing my car or looming at the end of my bed at 4am I'll give it some thought.

[andy-hughes]

As I see it maggie, this is not an either / or situation.

Defining someone with a convenient shorthand label in terms of occupation, or status, or activity, does not negate their humanity, because that label does not define them absolutely.

Quite often, giving someone a simple generic label places that person in a group of people, or in a situation, saves time when referring to them.

The mistake would be seeing that person only in terms of the label, rather than as an individual.

Therefore I am able to see an immigrant, a felon, a hippie, a doctor, a vet, a solider, as people placed in a group for convenience.

But that does not mean that I do not also see them as a unique homan being, and to assume that I do so, is to assume that I lack the basic intellignce to see past a label.

The statement, as offered, seems to be making an incorrect assumption about the way people actually see other people, and then taking the moral high ground by criticising a perception that I bleieve is not really true in the first place.

[LadyCG]

Were the parents of Daniel Pelka, Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson human beings too?

Sorry but I'm happy to separate myself from INHUMAN waste like them.

[Mamyalynne]

Things that divide us can be as fine as a human hair or as wide as a canyon.

It's human nature to compartmentalise others.

[Mozz71]

//"Refugee," "homeless," "losers," "failures," "bum," "hippie," "addict," "retard," "weird"//

It's a good job there's nobody on AB going around calling people one of those things in a disguised form. Good job indeed.

[royfromaus]

but they are used to separate us from each other

____________________________
pmsl


no further comment required.

[choux]

What is wrong with the word "refugee"?

amnesty.org define the word:
"A refugee is a person who has fled their own country because they are at risk of serious human rights violations and persecution there."

Sorted.

[Mamyalynne]

I'm afraid that even those who do hateful deeds are indeed human beings.

[Peter Pedant]

where is mushie
turning people into things is a necessary step before eliminating them innit?

Hence our gallant troops referring to Iraqis as 'towelheads' because it made it OK to shoot them

BUT classification is natural innit - men women, girls and boys - so the process is natural but can be subverted

where IS mushie.....

[Mamyalynne]

Mozz, some do and they think they are clever.

[choux]

Fancy a pint, roy? I will get you one ;)

[gness]

Now that would never happen, Mozz……...never ;-)

[Peter Pedant]

// Sorted.//

not quite: ..... this discounts ( probably for political reasons) - internal refugees - and puts them back as "displaced persons, deffo NOT refugees"

and so in the southern part of Sudan where they were shooting up each other, they had displaced persons - refugees nil
and then when it becomes a country - South Sudan that is! - bang a million refugees !

not sorted at all ( but hey this is AB so the glib phrase displaces rational argument)

[tiggerblue10]

I see everyone apart from murderers, peodos, etc., as humans.

[andy-hughes]

roy - // but they are used to separate us from each other

____________________________
pmsl


no further comment required. //

I could use one if you are willing please - I don't understand what your post means.

[Peter Pedant]

Mozza - does "stupid man" count?
I get that quite often - not that I am classing myself in any way as a victim or a durrr

[bobbinwales]

//I'm afraid that even those who do hateful deeds are indeed human beings.//
Yes of course they are but that doesnt stop them being killers, abusers, criminals, bullie stec.

Just as men, women, children, pensioners, gays, whites, blacks, single people, employed, unemployed, Muslims, Christians etc etc are also human beings but also are also men, women, children, pensioners, gays, whites, blacks, single people, employed, unemployed, Muslims, Christians etc

[rowanwitch]

Remember the other side... Genius, humanitarian, philanthropist, lover, friend, artist, carer, etc we can all bear many names during our journey, we meet those who may or may not deserve the names they carry. All I know is some elevate to something above human, in the same way some sink below that reckoning.