Skinning Humanity
In class we discussed somethings Ellsworth Toohey wrote in "One Small Voice" in The Fountainhead. One quote is "We are all brothers under the skin-- and I, for one, would be willing to skin humanity to prove it." I think this so effortlessly portrays one of the biggest problems that we have in society; that most people aren't willing to skin humanity.
In all aspects of America, I think there comes a position a person can hold where they are no longer treated as a "brother under the skin." The first example that comes to mind is the current Presidental campaign. Naturally, humans are critical and judgemental people. But the Majority has become a population that doesn't want to get deep into a person's life, but just wants to do what they have to for themselves. When looking for a President it seems a lot of people don't want to see the person they just want to see the facts, but humanity has never just been facts.
It is a small example but I think it transcends into many areas. Our society becomes uncomfortable with beyond skin-deep. If you truely get to know someone then you care, and you could hurt with them, and you could care too much to any longer be willing to step all over them for selfish motives. What if humanity was skinned? We were all vulnerable together and played off eachother's natural strengths. We were all simply human, so my ideas could be just as powerful as the President of the United States. So that arises my complete agreement in being willing to skin humanity. I would be amazed at a movement that reminded everybody that we are all only human after all.
I marvel at the thought of what society might look like if everyone just looked at one person throughout their day and thought "They are only human" before judging them. I imagine we'd all experience a new kind of kindness and sensitivity with the say honest realness. And would we not still get to the same place? Would we not still have a leader? A strong economy and society? It just might be a better kind.
