The only difference between men and animals is rationality and looking at it from the psychological perspective, its also personality. According to biologists and historians, the modern man is a product of ape that went through series of evolution across time and periods. Various philosophers and scholars had in one way or the other described man as an animal; Aristotle described man as a social and political animal because man must come together with his fellow to form a state and man must interact with each other for his existence to be assured. The theme of Aristotle's definition of man is that of reason and "personhood".
As a human person, there are practices and actions expected of one. There are norms, ethical codes and naturally inherent behaviour that is peculiar to one. The very fact that humans are at the top of the biological food chain shows that our rationality, craftmanship, faculty and individual idiosyncracies differs from sub-species. But how far have these features played out in the real sense? How far have we differentiated ourselves (humans) from sub-species (animals)? How can we identify each other without the aid of physical features and anatomical labels?
According to the Legendary Innocent Idibia aka. 2Face, he sang...'I believe in the saying that when you dress well well, them go address you well well' (Away And Beyond, 2012). From the following, your appearance should not only tell of your nature and character but should also tell of your specie. The attire used by youths today leaves doubt in my mind if they are humans or other species. SAGGING!!! Oh Lord! What an eye-sore, that after a nice dressing, one will have to take the belt below waistline. Indeed, we are humans! The adverts used by girls of the 21st century beats my eloquent imaginations, by wearing tattered patches that leave little for onlookers to imagine. Imagine the shame! What specie are they? Definitely not the Homo.
Apart from appearance, personality depends on other important things. The very education you choose to acquire determines your personality also. Education is not a mere acquisition of skills and certificate for four, three, five or six years, as the case may be. Education is the learning and teaching of how to improve your self in every aspect, the general understanding of education as the formal acquisition of degree and professional skills from a institution zaps and deteriorate the way of life in this region of the world. Education is getting the right orientation of the world around you, getting to know that other ideas exist outside that of your own, getting to know that perfection is a farce, getting to believe in cosmopolitan citizenship, getting to know that we all need each other. Without these orientations, you are an "illiterate".
We live in a world today where almost everything is taken for granted. Where corruption is an emblem of democracy and where violence is used to retain peace. The very shape of society is a major influence on human persons, but what is the human person doing to ameliorate the society? According to the British Sociologist and Philosopher, man is a product of the society but the man moulds and give essence to society. This means that whatever we give to society, we get. The fact that societies goes to war is as a result of man's inability to execute rationality by using dialogue. Are we still a person? Most people now have the habit of using the streets and tarred roads as a refuse dump, even when proper alternatives are available, what does that say of a human person?
Integrity is the hub of a great life, nothing and no one can cover or douse it. The ancient Greek states used integrity to build a lasting legacy that have lasted for aeons, they were persons! Why can't we do same? Is integrity so expensive that even the richest of us all cannot hire it? Or is integrity so scarce that even those beyond cannot find it?. The solution is the problem.
We are the problem, we are also the solution. We must go back to the beginning of the rot, the garden where Adam ate the apple, the beginning of the calm before the storm.
As a person, what distinguishes me and animals? What do I possess outside my anatomical and physical properties that animals do not possess? ..... "PERSONALITY". As human, you must decipher the etiquette of existence, the purpose of life and learn the manoeuvrings to a fulfilled and accepted life. Possess an attitude that welcomes all irrespective of background, gender, religion, race, etc. Give an outlook that tells who you really are - A PERSON.


Freeman David II.
A PERSON