[September 7, 2024] Beauty is more valuable than anything humans can possess. And while that is true – I believe inherently true – disfigurement of the human form can give rise to other valuable traits: decency and grace. Dostoevsky wrote in his book The Idiot that “Beauty will save the world.” I will add that disfigurement can sustain the world.
Many years ago, while traveling north of the city of Baghdad to meet some of my remote Army Engineers, I hopped on a small bus to take me from one part of Taji Base to another. I don’t remember much about the trip, but I do remember the driver. We were alone on the bus. When I entered the door, I was momentarily shocked by the horrific scaring of the man’s face and hands. He’d lost much of his face, and what was gone, like having no ears or nose, the rest was horribly disfigured.
Maybe it’s my Southern upbringing – God bless that culture – or my military training to give a proper salute or a “good morning” greeting to anyone I pass. There is no way I’m going to miss out on a greeting someone I meet and so, it is me who is usually the first to act. But not in this case, this man gave me a loud “welcome aboard” and a smile before I could get a word out.
He was a contract driver on this remote military base; his driving area of responsibility was the outlying part of the base. I had to ask him what had happened that caused such severe disfigurement of his face and hands. I do not remember his name, unfortunately, but I do recall that he told me that he had been a truck driver, and during a bad wreck, he nearly died from the subsequent fire. Before I stepped off his bus, he thanked me for being kind to him.
While I do not think it is controversial to say that beauty is immensely attractive and satisfying or represents the best humans are, a theme found throughout human history, I also believe that disfigurement can be measured by how we confront it. Decency and grace work well.
A review of ancient art shows us that beauty symbolizes good, while ugliness symbolizes evil. Nevertheless, a disfigured human is not evil. We believe the good character of us humans is what separates us from animals in the wild.
We can control our emotions and reactions and give others the decency and respect they deserve. My wife Nancy says this is the very definition of grace. In the face of horror, Grace is the crown jewel of good character. Grace is a virtue that rivals all other traits, involving character, personal courage, honesty and integrity, kindness and compassion, loyalty to friends and family, a sense of consideration for others, responsibility and the light that brightens a room. Grace stands out in the world.
Decency and grace are two traits that are not easy to adopt. Yet, without those important human characteristics, the world would be a darker place.
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This may come as a surprise to many, but I’m not good lookin’ as a man. And it matters less for a man, as compared to a woman. But in my line of work – building contracting – your looks are irrelevant (except maybe the boss’s secretary – ha ha). All kidding aside, looks do matter, that’s a fact of nature. But we live in America where merit is more important.
Disfigurement/Ugliness does not mean evil or bad. We should handle those with such an issue with decency and grace. While that should be obvious, apparently there are many immature folks out there who need reminding.
Exactly! Thanks Newbie. We all need to take an inward look at ourselves and maybe there is some “disfigurement” of our souls that can be worked on to improve. Christianity can help you be a better person by believing in God. That is the only real path to a life of goodness. Faith matters. 🙏
Gen. Satterfield …. a very interesting idea(s) you have here. And thanks for that. I think we have all seen, at one point or another, someone ugly, dirty, or whatever that we may have turned up our noses at. And that is perhaps a natural reaction but a reaction we can, with a good intellect, look beyond it and see the person. I believe that is what you are getting at. And there is no need to judge improperly those who are disfigured or ugly or dress poorly or walk with a limp or have no arms or legs. These are the physical attributes of being a human and perhaps unlucky. Do not judge by one’s appearance.
Growing up, I knew a kid’s mom who had been disfigured in a terrible accident and the shame that he had. I never understood why he was ashamed of his mom because his mom was his mom, no matter what. And this was many decades ago when the obsession with looks was less important than the character of that person who you might chose as your future spouse. Today we are OBSESSED with the idea we can look great well into our 80s and that is not a good thing. But, the kid never ‘forgave’ his mom for being ‘ugly’ and yet we all felt ‘sorry’ for the family. Too bad, we were not better kids.
Stories like this abound, Hiratio. Why we are so focused on beauty standards today is anyone’s guess. Maybe because we – not me but the West – reject religion and a belief in God and Heaven, and now have to look for a substitute and beauty of the skin is it. We have, indeed, fallen.
Mother P, yes! Thanks. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Too much of a value given to good looking people and not enough to their good traits.
Sad story. Thanks Gen. Satterfield for sharing.
Hi Qassim, I haven’t heard from you in a long time. Hope you have been well and please pass along my best to your family. 😎