Compassion with a Purpose

 I've participated in a variety of essay competitions, but most of my essays have never been read by anyone who wasn't my mom or the judging committee. So, since it's been a while, and since I still like it a lot, I decided to post it here :). I wrote this in 2021 for my first time participating, and it won a Gold Award. 

Title: Compassion with a Purpose

When looking back upon the works of Charles Darwin, many people may only remember his famous theory of evolution. Survival of the fittest, smartest, and, in certain cases, the most handsome, was how species across the face of the earth had adapted to survive harsh environments and sudden changes. Perhaps, some people may look down on his theory, thinking that Charles was a heartless man who only saw nature as a prolonged and more gruesome version of the Hunger games. 

However, this is quite the opposite. 

In his least-read book, The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex, Charles recalls a tale from a zookeeper he knew, who once was attacked by a large baboon. He was rescued by a tiny American monkey, who, although much smaller and frankly terrified of his baboon roommate, was very fond of the zookeeper. The tiny monkey rushed at the large baboon and began to attack him relentlessly, allowing the zookeeper to escape. Charles found this very interesting, and he began to wonder how things like sympathy and compassion played into his theory of evolution. He noted that even the most savage of organisms would rush to put their lives in danger in order to save close friends, relatives, and even sometimes complete strangers who were in distress. Eventually, he came to this conclusion:

In however complex a manner this feeling may have originated, as it is one of high importance to all those animals which aid and defend one another, it will have been increased through natural selection; for those communities, which included the greatest number of the most sympathetic members, would flourish best, and rear the greatest number of offspring.^[1] 

If Charles was alive today, he would probably agree with Coretta Scott King’s famous quote, although from the perspective of an evolutionary biologist rather than a common man. In his mind, a “community” would be the species in question, and their “greatness” would be the population, health, and overall survival rates of the species. This applies not only to animals in the wild, but to mankind as well. Perhaps, if we take a closer look at both Charles’s and Coretta’s quotes, we could argue that the reason humanity has become the dominant species on this planet is because of our heightened sense of compassion as a whole, not only towards our close family members, friends, and living creatures, but to people we’ve never met living halfway across the world starving for food; for countrymen we’ve never seen fighting a war; for an old man by the side of the road begging for a coin. 

Humans are generally described as social animals, and while many people are introverted and dislike social engagement, they may agree that strong relationships, whether with our entire extended family or just with our beloved cat, are essential to our physical and mental well-being. Communities are developed as a result of this. A community is commonly defined as a group of people who share a common interest or experience. In the past, communities were formed as families, which grew into villages, which grew into towns and then grew into cities. In our current society, many communities can be formed and joined online. The support of a community is often beneficial to our self-esteem, and can raise our confidence in our own abilities. This draws back to the “pack” mentality in many mammal species - together, we are stronger, and have a higher chance of survival. This is why helping members of our community is not only expected, but sometimes done without prompting; we care for the sick, we spend time with our elderly, and we try to make life easier for those with disabilities. Our abundant sense of compassion for each other only strengthens our sense of community. 

Now, with COVID-19 bringing a global pandemic upon humanity, our sense of community has never been more important to our survival. Many of us may feel as if we will not be able to live because of the economic hardship and uncertainty we are experiencing, but humans are an optimistic species who never learned to quit in the face of adversity. Thousands of organizations have stood up to help donate masks to medical personnel, who themselves have been working tirelessly to save lives of the patients pouring into hospitals. In many countries, the unemployed and homeless have been receiving hot meals and free lodging. People are using video-sharing platforms like YouTube and Instagram to teach others useful skills such as cooking meals at home, how to sew your own mask, and simple exercises to help us keep fit without going to the gym. Even in our own homes, we feel the need to give our surplus food to our neighbours instead of throwing it away, ask around if anyone needs help getting groceries, or help the elderly lady across the street learn how to call her kids on zoom. The pandemic, despite keeping us physically apart, has only deepened our sense of unity as a species.

In conclusion, humans are a quite odd addition in the list of dominant species that have ruled the Earth. We have far exceeded the achievements of species before us - we have touched the moon, split the atom, and created civilizations so complex that we cannot understand them ourselves. Yet, many times, we feel inadequate. Many days, we feel lost. For a fraction of a second, we may wonder, am I really enough? In times like these, we must remember that a person’s greatness is not merely their list of accomplishments, but the kindness of their actions, the fullness of their hearts, and the compassion they showed to others. We must also remember that compassion comes from everywhere, not just from friends and family, but from peoples and nations who are willing to band together and face the greatest threat our species has ever known. The Commonwealth nations are more than simply nations; they are a community of people deeply connected to each other, and very much willing to help. When the dust settles, and COVID-19 is finally gone, we will look back on it, not just as a time of fear, but as a time of great strength. For the greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. 

[1] Darwin C. The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. In: Moore J, Desmond A, eds. New York, NY: Penguin; 2004