Just a thought I had

borvocjunk@hotmail.com — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:54:05 GMT

Many people are gifted in many ways, and every one is different. On the physical level, the genetics relating to meiosis and reproduction see that this is always so, but there's something far more spiritual to individuality as well. You can argue nature versus nurture all you want, but in the end, you have to admit that one way or another, individuality is never merely skin-deep, never completely physical.

Being a Pixar fanboy, I have, of course, the memory of multiple viewings of The Incredibles implanted in my memory. I have argued the basic moral of this movie with friends and family (just a kids' movie, I know...), as I think it touches importantly on one's worldview concerning himself (gender non-specific) and his relationships with others. The very idea that widespread uniqueness in any way degrades the intrinsic quality of being unique (a mouth-full, indeed) hits me wrong in one way and yet cannnot be denied in another.

Over the course of my life so far (I'm very old, I know) I have had the chance to perverbially rub shoulders with many, many people and have found each to be unique, each with a slightly different package to present to the world, each with his (women included, of course) own potential.
Every one, in this sense, is special.

Humans, however, have a somewhat limited relational potential. No one person can know every other person (even limited to those who are currently alive), and even if one could know every one who ever had or would live, not every one would be of equal importance to him. This is how human relationships work. I imagine that trying to be at the top of every one's list would quite easily put me near the bottom of every list instead. Imagine what marriages would be like if each spouse treated the other like he treated every one else!

It is thus that I must find myself stating my final counter-argument with the standard yes-and-no approach. From a general perspective, all humans are in fact of unique and of specific value, and yet from a personal perspective, it is quite the opposite that gives us our depth in value as we relate to one another. How wonderful we humans are to be blessed with such a twofold value!