On Human Value
The true judge of character is how we treat others.
This has been on my mind a lot in these days where our politicians have become so comfortable with hate speech. But like any situation, it also reveals a mirror where I look more closely at my own relationships.
What’s easy to forget is how every human being has value. We can be quick to categorize a person by how they look, the narrative of a resume or a single behavioral instance.
And boy, do we have long memories. One has only to look at the centuries old grudges we are reigniting in the middle east to get a sense for the pain past mistakes continue to extract on the children of the present.
A wise friend once reminded me that we are all mutually dependent. The harvest made possible by migrant workers’ hands becomes our sustenance. Our technology addiction is built in factories populated by often underpaid and under-appreciated workers we may never meet.
Don’t assume what might be. Imagine what could be.
A highlight of my executive career was hiring one of our first vision impaired customer service representatives. Interfacing the complexities of a billing screen to the geography of a braille reader empowered a bright mind to become one of our most productive team members.
I thought about that last week when I had the delight of hanging with Juliette while her parents and brother were attending a wedding in Louisiana. People are quick to deduce what they feel are her shortcomings because of the way Down syndrome presents in her almond eyes and unique speech patterns. But I continue to discover that her mind is sharp, and her imagination sees infinite possibilities in every situation.
It is said that every challenge is wrapped in a superpower. Juliette’s is a combination of curiosity, fearlessness and acceptance. She’s the first to extend a hand in friendship. She sees everything as a potential plaything. And although she has her own mega likes and dislikes, if there is something she wants, she pursues it with an exhausting tenacity.
What would the world be like if we treated everyone as the true miracle they are? What if a focus on health education, health care and continuous learning were our three most fundamental values?
An uncomfortable reality of our current definition of humanity is how all these things are possible, yet too many still choose to be selfish, closed minded and judgmental.
One of the interesting things I’m learning from interacting with the growing cadre of artificial intelligence engines that tickle my nerdiness is how supportive they are trained to be. When I find flaws in a computer code project, I’ll reveal an error I can’t lock down and the first thing that comes back to me is, “That’s a good catch,” or “You’re right, there’s another way to look at this,” or “Let’s explore a different approach.”
AI’s biggest enemies decry how the Borg may make jobs obsolete. Perhaps the bigger lesson is how our attachment to anachronistic paradigms is the true cause for concern.
And maybe my granddaughter is the smartest person in the room.
I just need to learn how to understand her. And to paraphrase Ted Lasso, especially now, we would be wise to be more curious and less judgmental.