“One death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.”
This saying, attributed to Russian dictator Joseph Stalin, carries much truth. When a person dear to us dies, we feel sad, at times even profoundly sorrowful. But when we read about the millions of human beings massacred under Stalin or other millions gassed to death by the Nazis in Germany, we may not feel moved. Such numbers can remain mere statistics.
Why include this topic in this series on “Becoming Human”?
I am trying to present briefly the key aspects of becoming human. I am presenting them in alphabetical order, in case it helps readers to remember them. Why bring in this terribly negative trait among them?
The reason is very simple: Human beings, unlike animals, can be extremely compassionate and caring, or, sadly, incredibly more cruel than any animal.
Animals do not commit mass murder or invent poison or weapons to kill. We, humans, do. Intelligence, which makes us far more powerful than animals, can be used to invent medicines or poison, construct homes for the poor or build weapons of mass destruction. Our gift of speech can be—and has been—used to speak loving words of encouragement and comfort, or to utter words of deep hatred or ruin the reputation of many.
No animal can match humans in love and compassion.
Fr Joe Mannath SDB
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