In Common (My Plea To Mankind)

 

Every human being, regardless of race, sex, nationality, language, culture, or social status, shares a remarkably deep set of things IN COMMON. Some are biological, some psychological, some moral, and some spiritual or existential.

Biological Commonalities

All humans:

• Are members of the same species: Homo sapiens
• Share overwhelmingly similar DNA
• Are born, grow, get old, and eventually die
• Need food, water, sleep, shelter, and oxygen to live
• Feel pain and physical pleasure
• Experience sickness and vulnerability
• Possess brains, nervous systems, emotions, and senses
• Reproduce through the same biological processes
• Share the same basic bodily systems (heart, lungs, blood, etc.)
• Require care and protection during infancy
• Experiences certain physical limitations
• Has emotions tied to chemistry and cognition
• Is vulnerable to fear, stress, fatigue, and suffering
• Has a capacity for reproduction and family bonding
• Shares universal bodily experiences like hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and physical affection

Emotional Commonalities

All humans experience emotions such as:

• Love
• Fear
• Joy
• Sadness
• Anger
• Grief
• Hope
• Loneliness
• Shame
• Compassion
• Anxiety
• Desire for belonging
• Desire to be valued and understood

People may express emotions differently culturally, but the emotional framework itself is universal.

Psychological and Cognitive Commonalities

Humans universally:

• Think and reason
• Learn from experience
• Form memories
• Dream
• Use language or symbolic communication
• Imagine the future
• Ask questions
• Seek meaning and purpose
• Recognize patterns
• Make moral judgments
• Experience curiosity
• Learn through observation and experience
• Solve problems
• Form memories
• Imagine possibilities
• Create stories, myths, music, and art
• Seek meaning and explanation
• Develop moral systems and social structures

Social Commonalities

Humans naturally:

• Form families and communities
• Develop friendships and bonds
• Cooperate for survival
• Create and value family traditions 
• Develop and grow cultural traditions
• Teach younger generations
• Seek acceptance and identity
• Establish systems of rules and justice
• Mourn the dead
• Celebrate important events
• Feel the sting of injustice
• Feel the joy of achievement
• Feel a sense of justice or fairness
• Feel concern for family and community
• Desire the safety and success of their offspring
• Condemn betrayal and murder
• Like to laugh
• Enjoy being entertained
• Love a good meal
• Appreciate comfort
• Crave security
• Admire courage and sacrifice
• Respect loyalty and honesty
• Create rules governing behavior
• Feel the desire for order and cooperation
• Have the capacity for both kindness and cruelty

Moral Commonalities

Across cultures, humans generally recognize concepts such as:

• Fairness
• Justice
• Loyalty
• Responsibility
• Courage/Bravery
• Compassion
• Honesty
• Protection of the vulnerable
• Condemnation of needless cruelty
• Strength
• Joy
• Contentment
• Many many more...

Different societies apply these principles differently, but the underlying moral instincts are nearly universal.

Existential Commonalities

Every human being faces:

• Mortality
• Suffering
• Uncertainty
• Questions about meaning
• The awareness of good and evil
• The desire for significance
• The longing for love and acceptance
• The fear of death
• The search for identity
• Loss of loved ones
• The desire for meaning and purpose
• The desire for significance and personal identity
• The desire for relationships
• The fear of loss
• Questions about right and wrong
• Questions about what happens after death

Spiritual/Common Religious Themes

Throughout history, humans across nearly every civilization have:

• Worshiped or sought transcendence
• Believed in realities beyond themselves
• Practiced prayer, ritual, or meditation
• Asked where we came from and why we exist
• Wondered what happens after death
• Contemplated the majesty of nature
• Considered the supernatural or transcendent
• Engaged in religious practices
• Engaged in rituals
• Engaged in a form, or type, of prayer
• Worshipped a higher power
• An awareness of guilt and accountability
• A desire for reconciliation, forgiveness, or salvation

Shared Human Dignity

Many philosophical and religious traditions — including Christianity — hold that all humans possess equal intrinsic worth simply by being human. In Christian theology specifically, all of humanity:

• Shares a common origin.
• Shares a fallen condition.
• Shares moral accountability.
• Shares the capacity for redemption.
• Has the capacity for negative behaviors.
• Has the ability to help others.
• Has equal value before God.
• Realizes that everyone eventually experiences suffering.
• Realizes that everyone desires relationships.
• Realizes that everyone faces death.
• Realizes that everyone leaves some kind of legacy.
• Realizes that everyone depends on others at some point in life.
• Realizes that everyone is capable of good and evil.
• Realizes that everyone longs for hope.

While the differences between people are real and meaningful, compared to what humanity shares in common, they are relatively small. Human beings are far more alike than different.

Here is my plea to mankind. In light of all these similarities, I propose we as humans pull together and focus on our SIMILARITIES and not our DIFFERENCES. Constantly focusing on our differences will divide us. The truth is, our similarities unite us. By focusing on our similarities instead of our differences, we can get to a point where empathy flourishes and we care about each other more. We see ourselves as brothers and sisters, not enemies. We become more tolerant of each other, rather than intolerant. We will start to give each other the benefit of the doubt. We will see others as member of our family, not the enemy. This will encompass all people. ALL humans. Regardless of your skin color, preferences, or cultural proclivities. If we did this, racial tension and injustice would rapidly become obsolete.

I pray that we can make this a reality today!

Why I Am A Conservative!

 

At its core, political conservatism is not just a set of policy positions; it is a philosophy grounded in gratitude, preservation, and a deep respect for the foundations that built a stable, thriving American society. It begins with the understanding that the enduring institutions of faith, family, and country are not arbitrary structures, but the essential pillars that support human flourishing, and are the bedrock principles this country stands for.

Here is a look at why those traditional values form the foundation of my conservative worldview.

1. The Primacy of Family

For a conservative, the family is the foundational building block of society. It is the first school of virtue, responsibility, and citizenship.

• The Principle: Long before a person interacts with the government, they learn love, accountability, compassion, and work ethic within the home.
• The Reason: A strong, stable family unit provides a buffer against social isolation and economic hardship. Conservatism seeks to protect and honor the family because when the family structure is strong, communities thrive, and the need for massive, bureaucratic state intervention naturally decreases.

2. The Role of Faith and Moral Order

Faith provides a moral compass that exists independent of political power or shifting cultural trends.

• The Principle: Traditional religious faith instills the belief that human rights and human dignity are granted by a higher power, not by the government. This means no government has the right to take them away.
• The Reason: A society anchored in shared moral truths possesses an internal restraint. It fosters a culture of personal responsibility, charity, and duty toward one's neighbor. For the conservative, faith provides the ethical framework necessary to maintain a free and just society.

3. A Deep Allegiance to Country

Patriotism, from a conservative perspective, is an expression of gratitude for a specific heritage of liberty and law.

• The Principle: A nation is defined by its borders, its history, its culture, and its constitutional rule of law. Loving one’s country means honoring the unique sacrifices of previous generations who built and defended it.
• The Reason: True national unity comes from a shared identity and a commitment to the principles that made the country a beacon of freedom and opportunity. Conservatism prioritizes national sovereignty and the rule of law because without stable borders and a respected constitution, the very liberty we cherish becomes fragile.

The Wisdom of Preservation

Ultimately, being a conservative means believing in ordered liberty. It is the idea that freedom cannot exist without order, and order cannot be maintained without virtue.

Conservatism approaches change with caution, preferring the hard-won wisdom of human history over untested, radical theories. It acknowledges that while society must always strive to fix its flaws, it must do so by building upon its existing, time-tested foundations rather than tearing them down. It is a philosophy of stewardship—passing down a legacy.

Also conservatives, at their best, view people thru the lens of shared similarities, and a shared desire for the common good. We prefer to NOT focus on our differences, which only serves to divide us.