Ubuntu

Ubuntu is the African Philosophy that describes humanity towards others. It basically means, "I am because you are". I see it as we are who we are because of the people, things and creatures surrounding us. The Zulus would say, "Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu" which means that a person is a person through other persons. We are defined by what other's see us as. We often don't spend enough time acknowledging the things around us and how amazing they are. Most of the time we look at how different we are but in the end we are all related.

This concept can be related to Jeremy Rifkin's video "The Empathic Civilization". Click Here to Watch. This video amazed me in ways that I can't even describe. It talked about how we are all different but related becase of one man and one woman. It linked it to other ideas and concepts that helped me understand what he was truly talking about. He was basically saying the same thing as the Ubuntu concept. To make it even better, I could actually visualize and keep up with everything Rifkin was saying because it was drawn on a white board. This video will make everything make sense. You have got to watch it!

The video and Ubuntu philosophy took me a step closer to what I want to learn in this unit. We are all different because of the things around us. Genetically, all humans are related because of two people. But we have more things in common with the things surrounding us than we can imagine. Humans need to work with the rest of the world and be positive to resolve problems. We also need to pass on lessons and values so we can be the best we can be. In the end we are all human. If we look past the differences, the things we could accomplish will amaze everyone.

Loneliness

Loneliness is something that most of us can chose to be but for different reasons. These reasons can be explained from Roger Ebert's perspective in his article, "All of the Lonely People." (Click Here to read and click here for the follow up article). Some of us choose to be alone with a good book or the internet even when we have the oppurtinity to go out and interact with the world. Why? Because it makes us happy and there isn't anything wrong with it. Ebert stated, "Just because you're afraid to go outside doesnt mean you're happy inside." Sometimes you have to take the risk of leaving your good comfort zone to reach a better place for you. I really liked that because it made me think of everything I could be if I just took the risk.

However, some people don't have it as easy. Their physical disabilities may cause them to constantly lay in bed all day alone. But they still find other ways to interact and not be lonely. They not only have the choice to be with friends and family but with strangers on the internet. In Ezra Klein's article, "Being 'fully human' online," he talks about Robbie Cooper using the internet as his way of being normal (click here to read). He can use his hands, fight monsters, and ride motorcycles. All of those are far from possible in his real life. Cooper describes the computer screen as being his window to the world.

When I first think about the internet, I think of people pretending to be someone else to fit in. But I never really thought about the millions of people on the internet being lonely. Personally, I treasure the alone time I have like Ebert. It gives me a chance to think, be myself, wander around and appreciate everything that I have. It really made me think when Ebert talked about comfort groups for lonely people. The quote, "When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely, it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone," by Williams Tennessee, came into my mind. Now there is one question I have to ask you, are you lonely?

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert is an inspiration to me. Before reading this article about him here, I had no idea of who he was. The struggles he goes through everyday are unimaginable. Ebert lost his lower jaw after he had surgery done for jaw cancer. But he didn't know that it would change him forever. He can no longer speak, eat or swallow but he still sees the bright side in everything and is still doing the thing he loves. Being a movie critic.

After I read the article, I started to really appreciate everything that I have. Ebert didn't know that he would never be able to talk again but that didn't stop him. We tend to take too many things for granted and at times feel as if we are in the worst position. But we don't realize that there are so many other people struggling not by choice. Most people express there emotions by talking, yelling at people or eating food for comfort. But all Ebert has is a blue post it note. Yet after everything he has been through, he still continues his job and hasn't given up. That to me is truly inspiring.

Humans Finding Hope

Human. That to me is the one word that makes all of us the same and different at the same time. Now that I have started thinking about what it means to be human, it amazes me how far we have come in our existence. But defining humanity can be a very challenging thing for me because there are so many answers from different perspectives. I am hoping that by the end of this unit I will have a more clear understanding of it and learn a lot about what it really means to be human.

I think of hope as finding a light in the dark and holding onto it. Sometimes it's the only thing that keeps us going and when we don't have it we break. I know many other people will have different opinions about it but I really want to find out where and how others can truly find hope. In this unit, I want to hear others beliefs on hope and what situations gave them hope so I can understand the different ways we perceive it and how it makes us unique. How do you define humanity and hope?

Hey!

Hi guys! Well where do I begin? My name is Simran and I am a sophomore at Northern Burlington High School. I am a very caring, responsible and cool person. I love to play volleyball,hang out with my family and friends and learn new things. I'm involved in many clubs and activities and I also love to see other people happy because it makes me happy.

Currently I am in the Gifted and Talented 2 class at my school. The class is not like any other class because we get to take it into any direction we like. We really get to use our brains and think outside of the box. Even better we get take our ideas into the real world and experience some really amazing things. We just started our humanity and hope unit so stick around because there are a lot of more great things to come! Enjoy!