Humility

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. Describe the claim of the Chinese nationalists about the human history.
Ans: Chinese nationalists claim that history began with the Yellow Emperor and the Xia and Shang dynasties and believe that anything that was achieved by other rulers is a bit of imitation of Chinese achievement.

b. What do pious Muslims believe about the human history?
Ans: Pious Muslims believe about the human history that all history before the Prophet Muhammad didn’t exist and that all history began with the Quran’s revelation.

c. What did the Aztecs firmly believe about the universe?
Ans: The Aztecs firmly believed about the universe that without their sacrifices every year, the sun would not rise and the whole universe would be collapsed.

d. What, according to the essay, are the universal human abilities?
Ans: According to the essay, universal human abilities are morality, creativity, religion, and inventiveness.

e. How are the basic yoga postures derived from the shape of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet?
Ans: The basic yoga postures are derived from the shape of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet as the yoga posture “Trikonasana” seems like the shape of the Hebrew letter “aleph”, the posture “Tuladandasana” seems like the letter “dalet” and many more.

Reference to the context

a. How do Hindu nationalists refute the Chinese claim that human history really began with the Yellow Emperor and the Xia and Shang dynasties? Who do you agree with, and why?
Ans: According to the Chinese nationalist, human history really began with the Yellow Emperor and the Xia and Shang dynasties. But Hindu nationalists refute the Chinese claim and debate that even nuclear bombs and airplanes were invented by ancient sages in the Indian subcontinent before Confucius, Plato, Einstein, or Wright brothers. The major inventions were invented a very long time ago. I agree with the claims of Hindu nationalists as Hinduism is one of the oldest religions according to scientists and archaeological research.

b. The author has dealt with a controversial debate on human history. Why do you think history has been a major contested issue in the present world?
Ans: I think history has been a major contested issue in the present world. In modern society, there is egoism among people as most people think that they are at the center of the universe and their culture is better the other cultures. They think that their history as the oldest originated from their culture. Most people believe that their culture and religion are superior to all other cultures. So. history has been a major contested issue in the present world due to egoism among the people. Here, the author wants to remove the feeling of superior and domination from humanity.

Reference beyond the text

a. Write a short essay on The Conflicting History of Human Civilization.
Ans: Over the years, human civilization has been combined with both progress and conflict. From the earlier time to now, there are much progress and has been shaped by the incredible achievements and difficulties side by side. The history of human civilization contains many conflicts and debates. Due to the egotism of people of different religions and cultures, these conflicts and debates have occurred.

Throughout human history, inequalities and injustice have had a profound impact. Slavery, racism, and colonization cast a dark shadow over the past, causing immense suffering to countless people. The pursuit of wealth, power, and dominance continues to perpetuate these practices even today. People always debate that the civilization to which they belong is the first and the most important and don’t want to be dominated in the name of civilization. People of different cultures and religions believe that their culture is the building block of human history and builds the ego of their culture.

There are many claims at the beginning of the history of human civilization according to the different nationalists. According to the Chinese nationalists, history was begun with the Yellow Emperor, the Xia, and the Shang Dynasties. They also believed that the innovation of Western, Muslim, and Indian were after that period. And according to the Hindu, history was begun a very long time ago. The innovations of atomic theory and airplanes were already invented by the ancient sages.

Similarly, Muslims believe that human civilization began after the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran. They were the first. The Aztecs are confident that their sacrifice is the reason for the sun’s rise and the existence of the universe. Abraham also invented the yoga postures which were developed from the Hebrew alphabet. Turkish, Iranian, and Egyptian nationalists contend that their countries were the keepers of the purity of Islam before the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran.

Hence, these all claims are not true. These are due to the egoism and racism among the people and their cultures. Morality, art, spirituality, and creativity are universal hum traits that are embedded in human DNA. We don’t like our culture and religions to be backward and criticize and want to explore them which results in a loss of humility.

b. The author claims, “Since it is more polite to criticize one’s own people than to criticize foreigners.” Do you agree to his claim? Give your reasons.
Ans: The author claims, “Since it is more polite to criticize one’s own people than to criticize foreigners.” Yes, I agree with his claim because people around the world can’t listen to other people from another religion or culture criticize their culture and tradition. If someone does then there will be arise of conflicts. People are very concerned with their culture, tradition, and religion. People from different cultures have different thoughts about the beginning of human civilization and egoism is built in the people which takes people away from mankind and humanity. If we criticize foreigners then there will be conflicts and lead to the loss of humility. All the claims related to human existence and civilization are not true. If it is all true then the progress of the world will have many developments compared to the recent ones. If we oppose and dispraise foreigners, it leads to a clash between two or a group of people. So, we must fix it. Therefore, we should find out the deficiency in our culture and traditions.