Strength in What Remains: Making A Strong Case for Our Humanity

Deo’s Resilience and the Hope for Humanity

Deo survived the genocide in both Rwanda and Burundi, despite overwhelming odds. He spontaneously obtained a business visa to actually visit the United States, thanks to the assistance of a classmate. When all hope is lost, Deo still finds people eager to assist him. While the world depicted in the book depicts people’s cruel and bad sides, it also depicts the idea that there is hope for mankind. This is the essence of the universe in which we exist. Humanity is described as the proclivity for people to be humane and kind to other people for no apparent cause. Such concept is missing inside a lot of people. However, one would usually find hope whenever their own humanity is challenged and unexpected help can be received. Such is the case of Deo, who found strength in what remains of his life through the strangers who willingly assisted him. It showed that there is still hope for people who still have their humanity intact. There are those who willingly help people despite the cruelty of it all. While the presence of evil and chaos makes the majority believe in a selfish world, there is still hope for a better tomorrow and faith in humanity can still be restored as evident in the random acts of kindness and personal qualities portrayed in Deo’s story.

Finding Kindness and Humane Acts

Even though Deo witnessed the genocide, he was also able to discover kindness in humanity. One proof of this is when Deo got a visa in Burundi when a wealthy friend helped him. Another one is when a Russian reporter helped him make his way through different stops during his travel to New York. The help Deo received from Sharon and Nancy also shows that kindness still exists in people. This can be seen in the medical assistance he received. This is evident when “Sharon appeared at the store. Her doctor, she said, had agreed to see Deo for free” (Kidder 40). Such kind of empathy given towards a needy person shows that kindness can still be found in humanity and that it has not been completely wiped out by the cruelty of the world. Such kind of trait gives rise to trust, in which loyalty can be born.

Humanity Found in Loyalty

Humanity can also be found in the loyalty of people. Despite manipulations and betrayals happening all over the world, it is still possible to find such traits from human beings. From the book, humanity regains its face through the loyalty that Muhammad and others showed Deo. They stuck with him and helped him in making his way around. He did not have much to offer but he was there like a true friend, loyal to the very end. Even when he went back to his country, he tried to leave Deo in safe hands. Claude also showed immense loyalty. He answered all of Deo’s phone calls and remained his friend through the entire war. This kind of loyalty brings trust among people, which can see humanity thrive in a foundation built on trust. Such act makes people entrust their resources to others even with the selfishness of the majority.

Sharing Possessions and Acts of Kindness

Despite people who hoard material things and selfishly make themselves wealthy, there are still those who share their possessions without asking anything in return. Such act can restore one’s faith in humanity. Charlie and Nancy made the life, the man, and the inspiration that Deo came to be. They gave him the ability to fulfill his dreams. Mohammed also shares a lot of his knowledge and resources with Deo when he first arrived (Kidder 18). He did not own much but he put out all his wealth for Deo to use. Sometimes, the people who have less in life are usually the ones who would go out of their way to help people by freely offering their limited resources. Through such trait, other good characteristics arise, such as companionship.

Building Bonds through Companionship

When trust was developed and resources are shared despite all the hate people face everyday, strong bonds are developed and companionship can be born from it. After talking to the Russian journalist, Deo gets a chance to feel human interaction again (Kidder 15). He states that after such a long solitude it had been nice to talk. Whenever Deo needs to talk to someone, he can just turn to Sharon. “She was to him like a brother who you were mad at but always happy that he is around” (Kidder 42). Humanity is pillared under human interactions. It is through companionship that bonds are created and traits like honesty and integrity are developed.

The Importance of Integrity and Honesty

Humanity can also be defined through a person’s integrity and honesty. Deo chose not to lie in favor of his racially similar acquaintance (Kidder 54). He instead opted to leave his job and stand by his integrity and virtues. He found humanity in human integrity and “he worked hard in every task that he had even if it was the lowest job he did it well” (Kidder 53). From Deo’s stay at the central park, he identified a group of homeless people whom he could trust to keep his belongings with. The honesty displayed by those individuals is very important in today’s society. Through such trait, a lot of problems can be solved. It includes corruption form people in power. If a homeless person who has nothing can be trusted with someone’s possessions then one with more than enough should be more trustworthy. It takes both integrity and honesty to develop other characteristics that strengthen one’s humanity.

The Power of Forgiveness

Aside from integrity and honesty, people should also be willing to forgive despite all the cruel things that human beings do. Such trait is one of the most sincere forms of humanity. Deo chose to go back home. He forgave all the animosity and suffering he had been put into and made his way back. He went to Burundi to help his people and to aid in the repair of his broken nation. This was not because of the hardships he experienced and cruelty he faced in America, but rather due to love, patriotism and the desire to help his own and forgive all the past misfortunes so as to create a better future for his country. Nothing in the world shouts more of the character of humanity than that. Such intangible can be considered as the ultimate form of compassion and kindness. The ability to forgive despite the cruelty of people can restore one’s faith in humanity. While compassion and kindness exists, there are a lot of cruel acts that can undermine one’s belief in the good.

The Challenges to Faith in Humanity

Deo’s tale fosters very little confidence in what humanity has to offer, thus in some aspects, undermining one’s faith in humanity. He goes through endless counts of humiliation under his boss Goss. Right from the start, Deo knew that Goss hated him. He sent him to destinations where people did not give tips and “he poked him with a pole while addressing him” (Kidder 21). He was laughed and at one instance, he was made to work on a very hot afternoon where he was ridiculed. Goss told him, “Hey, looks like it’s hot for you. Isn’t it hotter than this in Africa?” (Kidder 47). Such kind of humiliation leaves too little to desire in humanity. The prejudicial nature of some people is actually undermining everyone’s perception in the major good.

Prejudice and Discrimination

Despite people who fought in the past for equality, a lot of human beings are still prejudicial. The whole reason that Deo ran away from his home was due to the horrendous killings back home. At one instance, he stumbled upon a family massacre. They had all been mutilated. All these had to happen because of hate rooted from racial differences. While working in the nursing home he is expected to take sides with the blacks just because he too is one. Such bias based on tribe and race can undermine one’s faith in humanity and what it stands for. It shows that people are capable of hurting others of their own kinds.

The Vulnerability of Humanity

Despite compassion showed by Deo and the others, the book also showed instances of crime and violence. It shows that people are capable of hurting others of their own kind because of their twisted beliefs on things. Deo was attacked by a gang he lived with and was robbed of all his money. While making a phone call, a woman in a drunken frenzy throws a bottle at him. The police who are meant to protect and serve the people were violent. They harassed Deo as they searched him for drugs. Such cruel approach of hurting others for their own selfish reasons showed that humanity is vulnerable and this could undermine one’s faith in it.

Restoring Faith in Humanity through Acts of Kindness

Even though the book showed that people are vulnerable to violence, discrimination, and prejudice, the many random acts of kindness presented in the story can restore one’s hope in humanity. This is evident on how kindness, loyalty, generosity, companionship, honesty, and integrity are still crucial. Deo, Sharon, Nancy, Charlie, Muhammad, Claude, and countless other people showed benevolence towards another person whom they knew very little about. Thus, the core attributes of humanity are revealed despite the cruelty of the world.

Works Cited

Kidder, Tracy. Strength in What Remains. Random House, 2009.