Humanity for the inhumane

Humanity:
1. All human beings collectively; the human race; humankind.
2. The quality or condition of being human; human nature.
3. The quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence.

Humane:
1. Characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals,
esp. for the suffering or distressed

A friend commented recently that the word “Humane” was possibly the most absurdly ironic word in the English language and is in desperate need of review. Who defined the quality of being humane as pertaining to kindness and benevolence or compassion for the suffering and distressed? Was it a particularly good year? I had a quick scan through the Times concise history of the world and have failed completely to find the year that we (humanity) collectively spent some time being kind and benevolent to each other. However I did find countless years of senseless brutality, intolerance, xenophobia and general all round unpleasantness.
It comes to me suddenly that we humans are living in a chronic state of denial, whereby we actually believe that being human is a to belong to the pinnacle of natures possibilities as opposed to the reality that we are the most brutally destructive mammal ever shat from mother natures womb. Presumably she is pulling out her hair in eternity wishing that, just that one time she had considered an abortion.
Given that the average human beings motivations for almost every decision are innately self centered, our inability to mix with humans from other “tribes” or social backgrounds and our total lack of interest on the impact our lifestyle or beliefs have on others. Given all that, I have revised the definition of humane accordingly.

Humane:
1: Characterized by, selfishness, brutality, ignorance, and fear of other humans.

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