Am I Evil?: What Does It Mean To Be Human?

The Meriam-Webester's dictionary defines the word "Human" as "a bipedal primate mammal". However, as we all know the true definition of this word is much more than just a simple mammal. The true meaning of what it is to be a human cannot be easily described. As we learned from Ingrid Betancourt, there are many crucial things that qualify a person to be a human. Unfortunately, Ms. Betancourt was kidnapped by a group of guerrilla militants known as the FARC and was held captive for six years. After listening to her speak about her six year long kidnapping, there are several rather interesting aspects of human nature that she mentions. So, we must ask ourselves this question, "What does it mean to be human?". 

Firstly, one main aspect Ingrid mentions of what it means to be human is that humans are brutal, mean and harsh. Some might say that this idea is a bit too extreme. However, it's the exact opposite. Let's take what the FARC did to Ingrid as an example. This group of guerrilla warriors attempted to brutalize and humiliate Ingrid in an attempt to ultimately dehumanize her. However, she did prevail against them and escape from her captivity. which leads to the second aspect which is that a human is a determined fighter and will never give up hope in the face of adversity. In this case, Ingrid proves this by surviving six years being held captive by the FARC. Although at some times she seemed emotionally distraught, Ingrid never gave up hope and remained resilient until she was freed. Finally, the aspect that impacted me the most was when she said the following, "No matter how evil a person may appear to be, there will always be a little bit of "Light" in each person.". This statement is completely correct as it's essentially the truth. Even if someone is a horrible person, in the end they are human and have a little bit of good inside of them NO MATTER WHAT.

In conclusion, there are many aspects to what it means to be a human. However, if I were to narrow it down, I could not have put it any other way than I did previously. Although Rene Descartes once stated, " I think therefore, I am.", one cannot truly be human just because they are able to think or simply because they exist. Essentially, what makes someone human is not what we are, but who we are. By making this assertion, one can fully understand both the philosophical and emotional meaning of what it is to be human.