The Great Mockery of Human Superiority

The Great Mockery of Human Superiority 

Recently, I commented on a Facebook post about the rise in petty crimes, particularly mobile phone snatching, in London. The original poster compared the situation to cities like Singapore, Shanghai, and another I wasn't familiar with. His point was that such crimes shouldn’t occur in a so-called "civilised" society, and he asked for opinions on Mayor Sadiq Khan's remark that such incidents are "part and parcel of living in a big city like London."

At the time, I tried to refrain from making any personal comment on Mr. Khan’s statement. But the question stayed with me and it got me thinking on a deeper level: what does it truly mean to be civilised?

If we consider ourselves a civilised species, why do we continue to fight over matters such as religion, race, nationality, native vs foreighners, different ethnicity or control over natural resources? Why, in a world of abundance and advanced technology, do poverty, hunger, and basic and other needs still persist? Why do nations continue to engage in wars, spy on their own citizens, suppress free expression, and punish individuals for sharing their thoughts on social media?

Are these truly the actions of a civilised world?

Whether we live in developed or less developed nations, we must ask ourselves: are we moving forward as a humane and just global society, or are we merely advancing in technology while regressing in values?

Being civilised should mean more than just living in modern cities, it should reflect how we treat each other, how we handle disagreements, and how we strive to make the world a better, safer, and more compassionate place for all.

Since childhood, we’ve been told that the human species is the most intelligent, advanced, and civilized life form on Earth perhaps even in the universe. Yet, our history and present actions starkly contradict this belief.

Century after century, decade after decade, we kill each other in the name of religion, race, nationalism & ideology. We’ve dropped nuclear bombs on cities like Hiroshima and Nagasaki, created weapons capable of wiping out entire populations & continue to threaten each other with annihilation all because some groups are stronger or more powerful than others.

We use algorithms to control people’s lives, restrict their economic opportunities based on ethnicity or belief & manipulate narratives for profit. We spread misinformation during global crises like the COVID pandemic, not to protect life but to inflate prices, exploit fear & make essential goods unaffordable for many.

We pass anti-discrimination laws, talk about equality, promise positive change but rarely do we follow through. Our leaders spy on us, hack our devices, monitor conversations, and steal ideas for their own benefit while leaving the originators in misery.

Yet we still have the audacity to call ourselves the most developed, civilised and evolved beings.

What a cruel irony it is.

No other species on Earth behaves in this way while claiming moral or intellectual superiority. Some argue that it's only a few bad leaders giving humanity a bad name. I respectfully disagree.

We elect those leaders. We cheer them on when they display aggression, show no remorse, make empty promises, and lead us into wars without provocation. We view compassion as weakness & cruelty as strength. Time & time again, we choose leaders who reflect our own worst instincts. 

We talk endlessly about "change" but have we truly changed? We glorify war and destruction, proudly announcing body counts and bomb impacts on international media, as if killing is a badge of honor. We still operate with the same war-hungry mindset our ancestors had in ancient times.

We let greed dictate the cost of food, shelter, medicine, and basic services. We could keep things affordable. But we don’t. Because we enjoy power over the vulnerable.

So, I ask: are we truly the best and most civilised and intelligent species?

If we were, we would not wage endless wars. We would not drop bombs and celebrate the destruction. We would not lie during pandemics or inflate prices to make others suffer. We wouldn’t build systems that protect the wealthy and crush the poor.

A truly intelligent, civilized species lifts others up, especially those in pain, in poverty or in need. It supports those with fewer opportunities, and builds a world where every individual has a chance to live in dignity.

True greatness comes not from domination, but from compassion.

Until we learn that lesson, we are far from the best species on this planet, let alone the universe.

Roni