13/09/2023
What distinguishes a civilized person from a barbarian?
How did humans become humans? What do we understand by that?
They say that a true "human" was made when altruism appeared - when people started taking care of the weak, treat the sick and help the old ones survive.
Humanism and humanistic values mean perceiving another as a personality, too. Compassion, empathy.
Barbarianism is consumption. Using another as a resource.Taking away everything they can - things, territories, lives.
This is the right of the strong. Hierarchy, not unlike a prison one. Collective denial of responsibility: "what do we have to do with that", "it's all Putin", "they're just acting on orders", "these sanctions against regular people are such a shame", "it's not all so black-and-white"...
Civilization opposes barbarianism.
One of the main ways to counteract, I think, are with empathy and compassion. The ability to put oneself in another's shoes. Not being able to walk past, pretending not seeing violence and injustice. Seeing how the future is shaped by our actions today.
Ukraine is civilization's outpost today. We defend Western humanistic values.
This is not a war for territories. This is a war for what future will look like. Which values will prevail in the future. Will civilization survive or will humanity be immersed in barbarianism once more?
