Humanity In Mark Twain's Essay 'The Lowest Animal'
Mrs. Erickson
English III
March 18, 2014
Humanity: Kind or Cruel?
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it—always.” Gandhi’s words are true. There will always be murders and war, but in the end kindness will always win. In Mark Twain’s essay “The Lowest Animal,” he explains why he thinks humans are the lowest animals. He believes that “man is incurably foolish.” (650.) Humans are capable of being foolish and evil, but they are also capable of being kind and unselfish. People such as Oskar Schindler and Harriett Tubman show human’s best …show more content…
Less often do we hear of stories of giving and kindness. Each day thousands of people carry out random acts of kindness. Late in 2013, Make-a-Wish granted the wish of a five year old cancer survivor named Miles Scott. He wished that for one day he could be Batman. Aided by social media, Make-a-Wish was able to gather 12,000 volunteers to make Miles’ dream come true (Miles’ Wish to Be Batkid). That’s 12,000 people that took time out of their lives to make a little boy’s wish very special. Another show of kindness was displayed on December 2, 2012, when Spanish athlete Ivan Fernandez Anaya gave up a victory in a race to do the right thing. Anaya was in second place behind Abel Mutai, a Kenyan athlete who won the bronze medal in the London Olympics. Mutai stopped about ten meters short of the finish line thinking he had won the race. Instead of surging past him for the victory, Anaya guided Mutai across the real finish line in front of him. Anaya was later quoted saying, “He was the rightful winner. He created a gap that I couldn’t have closed if he hadn’t made a mistake” (Hudson). Anaya’s actions show that humans are honest and are willing to give up their glory to do what it is
English III
March 18, 2014
Humanity: Kind or Cruel?
Mahatma Gandhi once said, “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it—always.” Gandhi’s words are true. There will always be murders and war, but in the end kindness will always win. In Mark Twain’s essay “The Lowest Animal,” he explains why he thinks humans are the lowest animals. He believes that “man is incurably foolish.” (650.) Humans are capable of being foolish and evil, but they are also capable of being kind and unselfish. People such as Oskar Schindler and Harriett Tubman show human’s best …show more content…
Less often do we hear of stories of giving and kindness. Each day thousands of people carry out random acts of kindness. Late in 2013, Make-a-Wish granted the wish of a five year old cancer survivor named Miles Scott. He wished that for one day he could be Batman. Aided by social media, Make-a-Wish was able to gather 12,000 volunteers to make Miles’ dream come true (Miles’ Wish to Be Batkid). That’s 12,000 people that took time out of their lives to make a little boy’s wish very special. Another show of kindness was displayed on December 2, 2012, when Spanish athlete Ivan Fernandez Anaya gave up a victory in a race to do the right thing. Anaya was in second place behind Abel Mutai, a Kenyan athlete who won the bronze medal in the London Olympics. Mutai stopped about ten meters short of the finish line thinking he had won the race. Instead of surging past him for the victory, Anaya guided Mutai across the real finish line in front of him. Anaya was later quoted saying, “He was the rightful winner. He created a gap that I couldn’t have closed if he hadn’t made a mistake” (Hudson). Anaya’s actions show that humans are honest and are willing to give up their glory to do what it is