BY PROFESSOR RAYMOND MOSHA
Throughout history we witness humans who have become much larger than their ordinary humanity, much bigger than they themselves imagined. These are people that we find in all centuries, people that have touched humanity in ways that defy our imagination.
I am thinking of people like Mahatma Gandhi of India, about whom Philosopher/Scientist Albert Eisnstein said: “Generation to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”
Gandhi is thus a human person larger than himself, larger than our imagination.
I am thinking of people like Nelson Mandela, the first African President of South Africa, who said in court that he was prepared to die so that his people would be free and regain their human dignity. He was ready to die for freedom and democracy.
I am also thinking of people like Chief Mkwawa who led his people to fight the Germans who had invaded their land. He was later murdered by the Germans because he would not succumb to fear and betrayal of his people.
You can also add the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior who fought relentlessly for democracy in the USA and was killed in that struggle. He said in August 1963: “I have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream.”
There is one characteristic that defines these people: They are selfless, courageous, generous and deeply interested in justice for all. It is this openness to fight for the rights of others, this readiness to give their life for others, that inspires them to go on fighting for justice, no matter what.
And this brings me to the main point of this article: That our human gifts of wisdom and intelligence operate fully and comprehensively when we are selfless, when we are not full of ourselves, when we understand through deeds what artist Taylor Swist says: No matter what happens to you in life, do good things to people. Doing so is the most important inheritance you will leave for the world.”
In other words, egoism and selfishness dull our human capacity to care and give ourselves for others, but generosity and selflessness opens our hearts and minds so that we can reach out to the needy.
Prof. Raymond S. Mosha, (+255) 769 417 886; rmosha@depaul.edu
