Humanities vital to human existence

Since his first upright steps, mankind has stood a bit above the other inhabitants of this planet. While he may not be supreme in his physical stature, the power of the human mind has proven absolute. Unlike other creatures, we humans have developed a lifestyle that is more complicated than finding the next resource for metabolism and the next mate for reproduction. The distinction of larger brains within humans has enabled them to develop methods of agriculture and herding of livestock which simplified the act of obtaining food. Humans are able to meet their survival necessities, ample supplies of food, water, and shelter, with much less effort than other species within the community. Compare scouring the landscape for berries to eat versus choosing one of the many cows in your heard to slaughter. The ease at which we can achieve the basics for life allow humans to explore the world and do what they want, not what they must.

An increase of allotted time devoted towards pleasure has allowed for creative artwork, which sparked the development of the humanities. I like to think of the humanities as the study and reflection of all mediums of art, where art represents music, painting/drawing, architecture, poetry, or anything else that requires imagination and can has the ability to induce feelings. The integration of feeling and emotion into human life is the underlying difference between humans and animals. I do not advocate that other life forms do not experience emotion, but I agree with Susan K. Langer, the author of The Cultural Importance of the Arts when she says, “-there are deeper reaches that underlie the surface waves of our emotion, that make human life a life of feeling instead of an unconscious metabolic existence interrupted by feelings.” This is a powerful statement which sums up the components of human life in contrast to requirements for life in general. Art is vital for human life because our capacity for emotions goes above and beyond that of other organisms.

Clarence Darrow Speech

For those of you in the crowd today who do not recognize me, my name is Clarence Darrow. I am a practicing lawyer with a talent for defense cases. Now what I am about to say may come as a shock to some of you which is perfectly normal. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that many of you have previous personal experience with our judicial system and subconsciously know that it is not perfect. It is my hope that by the end of this speech I will have convinced you that our justice system is flawed.

There are so many problems within the system that I could begin speaking now and not finish until next week Tuesday. But I think the police would arrests me midway plus I do not wish to burden you with such a droning lecture. Instead, today I would like to focus on the issue of monetary bribes, one of the many loop holes in which guilty criminals are able to escape their charges. Money makes the world go round. Humans have an innate craving for wealth which changes the way they act in certain situations and definitely changes the rules of fair play. The government is no different. Real people with real human greed and desire are employed by the justice system. Justice officials love a fat stack of money just as much as the next person and they receive them through payoffs.

Now when I use the word payoff, your mind probably goes to two shady characters delivering a briefcase full of unmarked, non-sequential hundred dollar bills. Off in the distance is a man waiting to pick up the case while the other two make the drop and walk away. I got news for you, in real life the transfer of money doesn’t even need to be that disguised. The solution is simple; legally hire a lawyer that is determined to win. High priced attorneys can charge a lot of money if they are successful. Some lawyers win because they are good and others win because they make sure that they do not loose. Now I am ashamed to say that I have been one to bribe jurors to ensure a victory so I know how these things work. The answer to escaping punishment by our judicial system is how much a client can pay his or her lawyer.

In a hypothetical situation, two men are being charged with the same crime of theft. The first gentleman is a college student at a prestige university who comes from a wealthy family. He was caught stealing garments from the department store in which he worked as a part time employee. A camera caught him walk out of the store wearing three extra layers of stolen clothes underneath his work uniform totaling to 160 dollars. The second man was caught stealing auto parts from the shop in which he worked. This gentleman comes from a broken home in the projects. His single mother struggles with her two younger ones while her husband has been in and out of jail and does not pay child support. Once she heard that her eldest son was caught stealing she did not contribute any of her meager salary to pay for a lawyer or bail him out of prison.

As you can imagine the fate of these two men with similar crimes under their belts received very non-similar sentences. The college student spent upwards of eight thousand dollars on bail and attorneys which proved to be well worth it. He was forced to pay a minimum fine and was let off with a citation under the condition that he kept his grades up. The shop worker was not as fortunate. The state provided him with a much inferior state appointed lawyer for his representation who lost the case. This young man is facing criminal charges of grand theft and some serious jail time.

If you believe that these sentences are fair and just, than by all means go become a lawyer and work for our corrupt system. But if you believe that it is wrong than join me and spread the word of change. Money is power, so you better start fundraising.