Activist or Humanitarian....Difference?

There are many scholars, laymen, politicians and preachers who lament daily on the virtues of our existence as a human race.  Many of them opine from sources that best support their position as what we as a people should or should not be doing as human beings.  Defining our purpose of existence based on standards they have developed that personally benefit an outcome they desire.  In the process of their pontifications they are keen to draw a distinction between the definition of a humanitarian and an activist, as if this distinction will somehow ordain one’s purpose.  As if there is a defining difference in the outcome.  In short the definition of a humanitarian is “one who is seeking to promote human welfare” and an activist is “one who promotes change”.   Frankly I don’t see the difference.  Change is a process that takes place every second of every day as we progress through this life.  We change our appearances, we change our thoughts, we change our careers…..we change virtually every thing about our existence, as nothing regardless of our efforts remains the same. 

The activist and the humanitarian may approach a subject matter differently but the ultimate outcome is change.  Social disparity and the marginalization of human beings are a concern for both the activist and the humanitarian.  Both have concerns for the “welfare” of their fellow human being, both will “promote” the inclusion and equality of their fellow man.  It would be prudent for all of us to remember as we witness the polarization of society whether it is through inequality, discrimination, socio-economic position that this is a detriment to all our existence and directly weakens the opportunity for a sustainable democracy.  When we witness the weak, the impoverished, the homeless and the struggle of our fellow man it would be wise to remember that these human beings are someone’s brother or sister, mother or father, aunt or uncle, cousin or friend.  They were born into this world as a human being, they will leave this world as a human being and for those of us that remain I ask, what did we do the improve the life of our fellow man.  Are you an activist or a humanitarian…and is there really a difference?