The word, vulnerable, from the Latin, vulnerabilis, is formed by the word vulnus (hurt) and the suffix abilis (-able...indicating possibility). Brought together, the word therefore comes to mean “can be hurt.” I’d like to reflect on this here.
The right to be vulnerable
How beautiful it is to accept the reality of our own vulnerability! So many people put on a tough exterior to hide their pain, their doubt, their sadness, their limitations, their incapacity, their fear. So many people go through life trying to project an image of strength, of being Superman or Superwoman. Especially in recent years, social media shamelessly reinforces (or should I say, we reinforce) having to put on our best face, smiling and triumphant, without showing the true face of the vulnerable people that we are. How great it is to be vulnerable! To know that we are vulnerable is to know that we are human and humble. To recognize that we are vulnerable in front of others gives us the ability to connect with others who are vulnerable (it turns out that we all are!) and gives us the ability to develop synergies and sympathies. In common vernacular, it gives us good vibes. Hopefully, we all know how to be vulnerable with the people who are important to us and in turn need us.
A right that is vulnerable
Having recognized vulnerability as a right, this should not be abused or taken advantage of. In some some circumstances can be a virtue and in others can be a challenge to overcome. But it is a very different situation when vulnerability is something that is imposed from an external circumstance or institution. One thing is to choose to expose our vulnerable nature in a given moment and a very different one is that the government, institutions, groups or people infringe upon our rights (at times systematically) and thus make people be vulnerable. Here I refer to the rights of all, but especially the rights of groups who have historically been the most downtrodden: women, people with disabilities, children, elderly and the millions of people who are living in slums in developing countries (or many times the reverse: in countries that are rapidly “underdeveloping”). The rights to adequate food, health, education, and housing, among others, are being threatened. Those rights continue to be tremendously abused in the 21st century, while the wealth of the few and the indifference of the many continue to steamroll a path, taking with them all that they find in their way. I pray that we dare to expose our vulnerabilities to our family and friends, as people with merciful hearts that are sensitive, beating and suffering. At the same time, I pray that we are strong people for the many whose human rights are violated in such a humiliating way. Thus, we may display our sensitive, beating, suffering and merciful hearts.
