We Are A Human Being First

We are human beings first,

and then we are a sex, a gender, an age, a race,
an ethnicity, a religious conviction, a nationality,
a political persuasion, a sexual orientation,
an economic class, an educational level.

No, actually we aren't a human being first.

First we are part of this mysterious Cosmos,

then we are part of the Milky Way,
then the solar system,
then the living Earth,
then we are an animal,
a mammal,
then we are hominids,
and THEN we are human beings.

We do have a lot in common with all of our

sisters and brothers, yes?

And what is this family resemblance?

Each of us emerged from what had come before

We each change continually
We are interdependent in co-origination
We are empty of a separate self
We each grow old and pass away
 
And thus we shout out:

Solidarity!

Love!
Mystery!

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Photo: Lucy, our ancestor of 3.2 million years ago