Why I choose humanism over faith | Leo Igwe

Prevoditelj: Ivana Varga Recezent: Sanda L

Something happened

Nešto se dogodilo

while I was studying in the seminary

dok sam učio u sjemeništu

and training to be a priest.

i obrazovao se za svećenika.

I came in contact with a different idea of life.

Došao sam u dodir s drukčijom idejom života.

An idea of life that contradicted the main teachings of religion --

Idejom života koja se suprotstavlja glavnim učenjima religije:

humanism.

humanizmom.

Some of you may be wondering, what on earth is humanism?

Neki od vas možda se pitaju: "Što li je humanizam?"

Humanism is a way of thinking and living

Humanizam je način razmišljanja i življenja

that emphasizes the agency of human beings.

koji ističe djelatnost ljudskih bića.

Humanism stresses the fact that we, human beings,

Humanizam naglašava činjenicu da smo mi, ljudska bića,

are capable of changing the world.

sposobni promijeniti svijet.

That we have the power to make a difference in our lives,

Da imamo moć učiniti promjenu u našim životima,

both individually and collectively,

i pojedinačno i skupno,

without recourse to some outside force.

bez pribjegavanja nekoj vanjskoj sili.

It may interest you to know that the best humanist lessons I learned

Možda će vas zanimati da nisam najbolje humanističke pouke naučio

were not from reading philosophy books

iz čitanja filozofskih knjiga

or from poring over humanist manifestos and declarations.

ili iz proučavanja humanističkih manifesta i deklaracija.

No, not at all.

Ne, nipošto.

The best humanist lesson I learned was from the life of my own parents.

Najbolju humanističku pouku naučio sam iz života svojih roditelja.

My parents come from a poor family background

Moji roditelji potiču iz siromašne obitelji

in Mbaise, in southeastern Nigeria.

u Mbaiseji, u jugoistočnoj Nigeriji.

They had limited opportunities.

Imali su ograničene mogućnosti.

But my parents did not allow the circumstances of their bad upbringing

No, moji roditelji nisu dopustili da okolnosti njihovog manjkavog odrastanja

to determine the ambition and dreams for themselves and for their children.

odrede težnje i snove koje su imali za sebe i svoju djecu.

My father worked part-time, trained as a teacher,

Otac je radio povremeno, obrazovan je kao učitelj

and rose to become a headmaster at a local primary school.

i došao na poziciju ravnatelja u mjesnoj osnovnoj školi.

My mother dropped out of school quite early,

Majka mi je odustala od škole dosta rano,

because her mother, my grandmother, could not afford her education.

jer joj njezina majka, moja baka, nije mogla priuštiti obrazovanje.

As a parent, my mother worked very hard,

Kao roditelj, moja je majka radila vrlo naporno,

combining farming, petty trading and taking care of my siblings and me.

usklađivala poljodjelstvo, sitno trgovanje i brigu o meni i mojoj braći.

By the time I was born --

Kad sam se rodio,

that was shortly after the Nigerian civil war --

ubrzo nakon nigerijskog građanskog rata,

life was very difficult, a struggle day by day.

život je bio vrlo težak; borba iz dana u dan.

My family was living in a hut.

Obitelj mi je živjela u kolibi.

With the eye of a child, I can still see water

Okom djeteta, još uvijek mogu vidjeti vodu

dripping from the thatched roof of our house when it rained.

kako kapa sa slamnatog krova naše kuće kad je kišilo.

My father reared goats to supplement the family income.

Moj je otac držao koze kako bi poboljšao kućni budžet.

And part of my duty after school hours or during vacation

Dijelom mi je bila dužnost poslije škole ili tijekom praznika

was to feed these goats.

hraniti te koze.

There was no electricity, no pipe with water.

Nije bilo struje, ni slavina s vodom.

We trekked to fetch water from the nearby streams.

Pješačili smo do obližnjih izvora kako bismo ugrabili vodu.

That was an easy work in the wet season,

To je bio lak posao u kišnom razdoblju,

but kilometers when it was hot and dry.

a kilometrima dug kada je bilo vruće i suho.

Through hard work and perseverance,

Kroz naporan rad i upornost,

my parents were able to erect a block apartment

moji roditelji uspjeli su sagraditi kuću

and send my siblings and me to school.

i poslati moju braću i mene u školu.

They made it possible for us to enjoy a standard of living

Omogućili su nam uživanje u kvaliteti života

which they never did

kakvu oni nisu nikad imali

and to attain educational levels

i postizanje razina obrazovanja

which they only imagined when they were growing up.

o kojima su oni samo sanjali kad su odrastali.

My parents' life, their story, is my best lesson in humanism.

Život mojih roditelja, njihova priča, moja je najveća pouka u humanizmu.

So as a humanist, I believe that human beings

Pa tako, kao humanist, vjerujem da su ljudska bića

are challengers, not prisoners of faith.

izazivači, a ne zatvorenici vjere.

Our destinies are in our hands, not predetermined.

Naše su sudbine u našim rukama, a ne prethodno određene.

And it's left for us to shape our lives and destinies

Na nama je da oblikujemo svoje živote i sudbine

to reflect our best hopes and aspirations.

kako bi odrazile naše najbolje nade i težnje.

I believe that human beings have the power

Vjerujem da ljudska bića imaju tu moć

to turn situations of poverty into those of wealth and prosperity.

preokrenuti situacije siromaštva u one blagostanja i napretka.

We have the capacity to alleviate suffering,

Mi imamo sposobnost odagnati patnju,

extend life, prevent diseases,

produljiti život, spriječiti bolesti,

cure debilitating ailments, reduce infant mortality

izliječiti iscrpljujuće boljke, smanjiti smrtnost novorođenčadi

and preserve our planet.

i očuvati naš planet.

But we cannot accomplish all these goals by wishful thinking with our eyes closed

No, ne možemo postići sve te ciljeve maštanjem zatvorenih očiju,

or by armchair speculation or by expecting salvation from empty sky.

mozganjem u fotelji ili očekujući spas iz praznog neba.

In contrast, millions of Africans imagine that their religious faith

Međutim, milijuni Afrikanaca zamišljaju da im je vjera

will help their dream come true,

put u ostvarenje snova

and they spend so much time praying for miracles

i oni provode toliko vremena moleći se za čuda

and for divine intervention in their lives.

te za božansku providnost u njihovim životima.

In 2009, a Gallup survey in 114 countries

Gallupova anketa, provedena 2009. u 114 zemalja,

revealed that religiosity was highest in the world's poorest nations.

otkrila je da je religioznost najviša u najsiromašnijim nacijama na svijetu.

In fact, six of the 10 countries where 95 percent of the population

Točnije, šest od deset zemalja na svijetu gdje je 95% stanovništva

said that religion was an important part of their daily lives, were African.

reklo da im je religija važan dio svakodnevnog života, bile su afričke.

In some cases, religion drives many Africans to extraordinary length:

U nekim slučajevima, religija tjera Afrikance do nevjerojatne krajnosti:

to attack other human beings, to commit ritual killing,

napad na druga ljudska bića, ritualno ubijanje,

targeting those living with albinism,

napadanje albina,

those with a humpback,

grbavaca

and as I recently learned, those with a bald head.

i, kako sam nedavno saznao, ćelavaca.

In Africa, superstition is widespread,

U Africi, praznovjerje je rasprostranjeno,

with so many people believing in witchcraft,

mnogo ljudi vjeruje u vračanje,

something that has no basis in reason or in science.

nešto što nema temelja ni u razumu ni u znanosti.

Yet alleged witches, usually women, children and elderly persons

Ipak, navodne vještice, uglavnom žene, djeca i starije osobe,

are still routinely attacked, banished and killed.

još uvijek se rutinski napadaju, protjeruju i ubijaju.

And I've made it part of my life's mission

Stoga je dio moje životne misije

to end witchcraft accusation and witch persecution in Africa.

stati na kraj optužbama o vračanju i progonima vještica u Africi.

So as a humanist, I believe in a proactive approach to life.

Tako kao humanist, vjerujem u proaktivni pristup životu.

The changes that we want cannot be achieved only by dreaming

Promjene koje želimo ne mogu se postići pukim sanjarenjem,

but require doing as well.

nego i djelovanjem.

The challenges that we face cannot go away

Izazovi s kojima smo suočeni neće nestati

if we recoil and retreat into our shells, wishing and imagining

ako ustuknemo i povučemo se u svoje čahure, priželjkujući i zamišljajući

that those problems will somehow magically disappear.

da će ti problemi nekako magično nestati.

The good life that we desire will not fall like manna from heaven.

Dobar život za kojim žudimo neće nam pasti s neba.

My parents did not erect a block apartment by wishing and dreaming.

Moji roditelji nisu sagradili kuću samo željom i sanjarenjem.

They worked hard, they failed, they tried again.

Oni su naporno radili, nisu uspjeli, ponovo su pokušavali.

They toiled with rolled-up sleeves,

Crnčili su zavrnutih rukava,

with their hands deep in debt, they plowed ahead,

rukama duboko u dugu, orali su i dalje,

growing their dreams into reality.

a snovi su im izrastali u stvarnost.

So as a humanist, I believe we must be adventurous and even daring.

Kao humanist, vjerujem da moramo biti pustolovni, čak i smioni.

The path of success is paved with risk and uncertainties.

Put do uspjeha popločen je rizikom i nesigurnostima.

We have to muster the will and courage to do what people have never done.

Moramo smoći volje i hrabrosti i učiniti ono što još nitko prije nije.

To think what people have never thought.

Smisliti ono što još nitko prije nije smislio.

Envisage what people have never imagined.

Predočiti ono što si još nitko prije nije predočio.

Go to places human beings have not been to.

Ići na mjesta na koja ljudi još nikad nisu išli.

And succeed where people have tried but failed.

I uspjeti gdje još nitko nije uspio.

We must be ready to explore new frontiers of knowledge and understanding

Moramo biti spremni istražiti nove granice znanja i razumijevanja

and attempt doing not just what is possible

i pokušati učiniti ne samo ono što je moguće,

but also what is seemingly impossible.

nego i ono što se čini nemogućim.

But I realize that at the end of the day,

No, shvaćam

our efforts do not always yield our desires.

da naši napori ne dovedu uvijek do ostvarenja želja.

We fail, we suffer disappointments and setbacks.

Podbacimo, razočarani smo i nazadujemo.

Some problems, such as wars and conflict, poverty and diseases

Neki problemi, poput rata i sukoba, siromaštva i bolesti,

and other natural and human-made disasters

te neke prirodne i ljudski uzrokovane nepogode,

seem as if they may never go away.

čine se kao da nikad neće proći.

Solutions to old problems have led to new dangers,

Rješenja starih problema vode do novih opasnosti,

new cures to diseases have resulted in new health risks.

novi lijekovi za bolesti rezultiraju novim rizicima za zdravlje.

But the fact that these problems persist

Međutim, činjenica da ovi problemi ustraju

and that solutions sometimes create their own problems

i da rješenja ponekad stvaraju nove probleme,

is not a reason for us to give up or to resign.

nije razlog da bismo odustali.

It's not a reason for us to think that our efforts are of no consequence.

Nije razlog da mislimo kako naš trud ništa ne znači.

In fact, there is fulfillment in striving,

Zapravo, ima ispunjenja u težnji

and trying to provide answers and solutions

i pokušaju odgovaranja i rješavanja

to the problem humanity faces

problema s kojima je čovječanstvo suočeno,

even when the likely outcome is failure.

čak i kad je pretpostavljeni rezultat neuspjeh.

So as a humanist, I believe we must not despair for humanity.

Kao humanist, vjerujem da ne smijemo očajavati za čovječanstvo.

Even in the face of overwhelming difficulties

Unatoč silnim poteškoćama

and in the bleakest of circumstances.

i u najsumornijim okolnostima.

Human beings are creative beings.

Ljudska su bića kreativna bića.

We have the power to generate new ideas, new solutions and new cures.

Imamo moć stvoriti nove ideje, nova rješenja i nove lijekove.

So why despair when the unexpected knocks on the horizon?

Stoga zašto očajavati kad je neočekivano na vratima?

It is in our nature to create anew, to be inventive and innovative,

U našoj je prirodi iznova stvarati i biti inovativan,

so why languish in idle expectation of a savior from above?

stoga, zašto venuti u besposličarskom iščekivanju spasitelja odozgo?

So it is time for us Africans to take our destiny in our hands

Vrijeme je za nas Afrikance da uzmemo sudbinu u svoje ruke

and realize we have agency in the scheme of life.

i shvatimo da sudjelujemo u iscrtavanju života.

We need to put an end to this game of blame

Moramo stati na kraj ovoj igri okrivljavanja,

that has prevented us from taking full responsibility for our own lives.

koja nas je spriječila od preuzimanja pune odgovornosti nad vlastitim životima.

For too long, we have been prisoners of our past.

Predugo je prošlost imala moć nad nama.

We have allowed despair and pessimism to drain us,

Dopustili smo očaju i pesimizmu da iscrpe nas,

drain our energies, limit our imaginations

našu energiju, ograniče našu maštu

and dim our vision for a better and brighter future.

i zamagle nam viziju bolje i svjetlije budućnosti.

We have let this continent flounder.

Dopustili smo ovom kontinentu da posrne.

Why passing the buck like a Frisbee?

Zašto prebacivati krivnju poput teniske loptice?

We've blamed slavery, colonialism and the new colonialism

Krivili smo ropstvo, kolonijalizam i novi kolonijalizam

for the woes we experience, including our own self-inflicted wounds.

za nedaće koje proživljavamo, uključujući i svoje samonanešene rane.

We have conducted ourselves

Ponijeli smo se

in ways that seem as if Africa is damned and doomed.

na načine zbog kojih se čini da je Afrika prokleta i osuđena na propast.

And that all these experiences in history

Da su sva ova iskustva u prošlosti

have irreversibly, irreparably foreclosed the chances and possibility

nepovratno i nepopravno onemogućila šanse i mogućnost

for Africa to emerge, thrive and flourish.

Afrike da se izdigne, cvate i buja.

We must realize that there is no part of the world

Moramo shvatiti da nema dijela svijeta

that has not been colonized or enslaved in the past.

koji nije bio koloniziran i porobljen u prošlosti.

And if other parts of the world have moved on,

A ako su ostali dijelovi svijeta nastavili sa životom,

why can't we, now?

zašto ne možemo i mi, sada?

So as a humanist, I believe that the past is gone;

Kao humanist, vjerujem da je prošlost prošla,

we cannot change it, we cannot alter it.

ne možemo je promijeniti ni preinačiti.

But the future beckons us on with limitless possibilities

No, budućnost nas poziva s neograničenim mogućnostima

to recreate, reshape and remake our destinies.

da ponovno stvorimo, preoblikujemo i prepravimo svoje sudbine.

So let's all of us seize this opportunity.

Stoga, zgrabimo tu mogućnost.

And as my parents did, begin the urgent task

Kao što su moji roditelji učinili, počnimo s nužnim zadatkom

of rebuilding Africa, brick by brick.

ponovne izgradnje Afrike, ciglu po ciglu.

Let's give free reign to our ideas and imaginations,

Zavladajmo pomoću svojih ideja i mašte,

as demonstrated at this TEDGlobal 2017.

kao što ovaj TEDGlobal 2017. pokazuje.

Let's open our hearts and minds.

Otvorimo svoja srca i umove.

And exert our energy, intelligence and ingenuity

Upregnimo svoju energiju, inteligenciju i inovativnost,

and begin the urgent task of rebuilding Africa

i počnimo s hitnim zadatkom ponovne izgradnje Afrike

and of transforming this continent

i preoblikovanja ovog kontinenta

into a citadel of unrivaled prosperity and civilization.

u citadelu nenadmašnog blagostanja i civilizacije.

This is what I believe as a humanist, as an African humanist.

To je ono u što vjerujem kao humanist. Kao afrički humanist.

Thank you.

Hvala vam.

(Applause)

(Pljesak)