Help is in our nature
WE are often told, implicitly or explicitly, through our media, institutions and workplaces that there is a ubiquitous, innate and unchanging “human nature”.
That humans are naturally greedy, selfish, violent and competitive, and that our economic, social and political institutions and ideologies are rooted in this immutable truth.
That war, economic inequality, violence and racism are the natural result of our most basic primal instincts.
Indeed, it is often the first rebuttal of the amateur political pundit that “you can’t change human nature” when those who try to right an injustice or fight for any form of equality either try to reform or outright struggle against their oppressive situation.
We are also told that in order for society to work, there must be a form of compulsion for people to work, a financial incentive to every interaction, and that “people don’t want to work anymore” because they are entitled and self-centred.
But this recently, given the state of natural disaster we find ourselves in as a community, a peculiar thing happened.
People came together to fill and lay sandbags, offered donations, checked on their neighbours, rang relatives to chat, and went out of their way to help their fellow human beings.
All without the promise of financial reward or gain, or being compelled to by any institution or workplace.
Those of all ages, race and class could be found at the local Mawson’s depot desperately filling sandbags, offering food and encouraging each other.
In many instances, it was young people leading the way, those who are often stigmatised with being lazy and feckless, showing that all people, when faced with meaningful work that serves a purpose, are willing to do what it takes to serve the needs of others.
They did this, not under the directive of a CEO or bureaucrat, but often with decisions made on the ground by those who were able to take leadership, agreed to by the majority carrying out the fundamental principles of “mutual aid”. This smashes the idea in real time that human beings are individualistic and competitive, and shows that the innate qualities of a human being are solidarity, compassion, and altruism.
It is times like these that give us a preview of what could be achieved should we choose to construct our political and economic institutions along these humanistic principles.
Well done to all those involved in the efforts of going above and beyond for their fellow citizens.
Luke Holdstock
Kerang
