As the debate on the decoding of the human genome ensues, without wanting to take anything away from this achievement or the hope that it brings for medical cures, I would like to add that the essence of a human being does not lie in genetic code, biology or anything physical. To demonstrate this, just ask yourself a few simple questions. If you were to loose your arm, are you still you? If you lose your legs, a lung, or develop brain cancer, are you still you? If your answer is, like mine, "Yes, I'm still me," then you must recognize that what defines you is neither your body, nor anything physical, just as you are not defined by your possessions.
In actuality, if you agree that your body does not define you, then you must recognize that the real you is neither black nor white, Asian or Western, old or young, handicapped or healthy or even male or female. Just as identical twins are biologically identical, their true natures are unique and individual. Of course, whatever body type you have, be you male or female from any race or color, you will have all the innate drives for survival and reproduction, but these do not define who you really are.
The irony of this reality, that we are not defined by our physical forms, is in the unjust way we treat each other in displays of prejudice and all the forms of discrimination that exist in societies throughout the world, from racism, to sexism.
We are all unique, highly complex beings, often with seemingly conflicting traits shaped by our environment and experiences. However, the essence of who we really are still lies in that intangible "spirit" -- describe it however you will, which is revealed through our words and actions.
As humankind advances medically in the new millennium and we discover how genetically related we are to all forms of life on this planet, let's hope that we learn to treat our environment and each other with greater respect and understanding.
Richard Magides
Petaling Jaya, West Malaysia
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