“Years ago, famed anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student fully expected Mead to speak about fish-hooks, clay pots, grinding stones. But that was not the answer. Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thigh bone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead went on to explain that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, crawl to the river for a drink, or hunt for food. You are a gourmet for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal. So, a broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said. We are at our best when we serve others.” (credit: Ira Byock). How do I take this statement? Being human in civilization means caring for others.
