What it Means to be Human

We belong in a bundle of life. We say, 'a person is a person through other people.' It is not 'I think therefore I am' [but rather] 'I am human because I belong." I participate, I share.––Archbishop Desmond Tutu (WOWO, 74)

 

1. In my own opinion, I think that this quote means that everyone is significant in the world that we live in. 'I am human because I belong'. This interprets as we are all human and we all belong because we all have a role in the society we live in. The narrative that I chose and saw most relative to this quote would be the narrative about Joubert Park. When Tutu says, "I participate, I share" I find this most connected to the idea of taking a stand and helping out a community. Throughout the first narrative, it talks about a place where people would like to make a difference in an area that is poor, where people like to loiter, homelessness, etc. "Critics have suggested that the effort is wasted on a community such as Joubert Park, whose population is more concerned with surviving than saving the environment" (90). It's a place where the people are doing their best to help themselves out. By making a difference and participating in this society, it truly exentuates the idea of what it means to be human and sharing key values. Another narrative that I saw most relative was the story about the community of Zimbabwe. When the Kufundees gave their support and "turned deprivation into discovery" I saw this as an act of participation and willingness to help. As the systems collapsed, they lost food, money, etc. and were just going through a difficult time. "Collapses always causes terrible suffering. Yet we humans have an enduring capacity not only to survive, but to learn and grow" (127). We as humans have it in us to keep ourselves up and do our best to give our support. By doing so, we are truly enduring what it means to be a human being.

 

2. Through working at MCCS, I could see this quote as the basis of what my goal is to do. I have a job to help these students out and give them the right kind of education. By doing this, I am fulfilling my duty of supporting these kids and helping them get the social skills they need. Most of them are seen as just juvenile kids that don't care about anything but in reality, these are all good students who just need the right kind of person to help them out. This is where we come in as tutors to help them, hopefully build a friendship, and understand their "story". 

3. WOWO reveals many of the challenges and gifts within each community, especially for South Africa. From dealing with issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, homelessness, etc many struggle and do what they can to survive. To relate to my community partner of MCCS, I wouldn't say its exactly similar but its definitely relative in the sense where people are taking a stand and choosing to help these communities out.