Putting a Human Face on Everyone

When we look at a crowd of people, how many faces do we see? If we are watching a sporting event on television, looking at a group of people walking down a busy city street or amongst a crowd of people ourselves how many faces do we really see?

Often, we don’t see any. All we see is the crowd. The only way we know who is in one that we see on television is when a camera moves in on the individual. The only way we see someone on a crowded street is if we look at their face. The only way we can see them when we are in the crowd is if we look for them.

The point of this is to show how we have a tendency not to put human faces on people that we read or hear about. Often, we are quick to judge people that we do not know. We look at groups without thinking about any individual’s lot in life or their feelings. The individual has no face. No matter who they are. The group is the group.

When we do this, we are quick to make assumptions without getting to know the people involved. We also make judgements before learning anything about anyone or the truth of a situation. This stops us from humanizing the people and the event. There is not much worse than taking away someone’s humanity.

For every individual has a face. Everyone that we see in a group has a face. There are truly faces in the crowd.

Sports Illustrated has a section in their magazine called “Faces in the Crowd” in which athletes are nominated to be recognized for their ability. The magazine selects the best ones and publishes them. The face of the athlete is placed by the segment which highlights their accomplishments.

The point of “Faces in the Crowd” is to put a human face on the accomplishment. To bring the athlete out of the crowd and into our conscious.

It would make all of us better if we saw the faces in the crowd. Whether physically or mentally. Many of us would be more caring and understanding in coming to conclusions and judgements about others.

We might find out that they are human just like us.

Every person has a face. Every crowd is full of faces.

Let’s try to see those faces. Human faces.

Let’s try to always put a human face on everyone.