distance

In a previous post, I wrote a little bit about Mary Pipher's book, Writing to Change the World, and her thoughts on wisdom.  Another issue that she writes about that really got me thinking is the de-humanization of others and the separation of ourselves from others.  We see other people as simply a means to an end.  She gives the example of seeing a bank teller as a way to get money, not a human being.  Or we call people "illegal aliens" when no one can really be illegal and no one can really be an alien.  It's easier to treat someone poorly if you think of them as an "illegal alien" rather than another human being.

"Distance negates responsibility." -Guy Davenport

Without thinking we turn other people into objects daily.  We forget to put ourselves in their shoes and take note of the humanity we share.  The world becomes full of objects that affect us in some way as we are the center of the universe.  We have trouble looking beyond ourselves.

How can we keep from doing that all the time?  I think when we take the time to truly sit with ourselves, we discover our own humanity.  By discovering our humanity, we find what links us to everyone else.  But at the same time our culture so systematically de-humanizes people that it can be overwhelming to try to cope.  The least we can do is start with ourselves.