HUMAN VALUE

15 Apr

Written By Inez Bodur

We live in a world where those in power show little regard for us—the people.

Bombs fall on the innocent.

The homeless are left to freeze and starve.

The rich grow richer while the rest of us grow poorer.

There’s more than enough evidence to show where the priorities of the powerful truly lie.

But here’s the real point I want to make.

As a species, we’ve progressed and evolved in remarkable ways.

When the first car was introduced, I’m sure the horse-and-cart loyalists were upset—but humanity moved forward, and now we all benefit from that innovation.

Today, with the rise of artificial intelligence, it’s clear these technologies surpass us in many areas. AI can outperform accountants and many other professionals in terms of output and efficiency. But we still have a choice to make.

If AI replaces our careers—the very roles governments and systems have long used to measure our worth—then perhaps we’re due for an awakening. An awakening to the true value of being human, something we’ve ignored for far too long.

When machines are better than us at the tasks we’ve always been needed for, will it be too late to realize our deeper worth?

AI is a tool—a powerful one. But like all tools, it depends on whose hands it’s in.

Leave it in the hands of those who’ve shown time and again that they disregard human lives, and the outcome won’t be good.

Place it in the hands of people with genuine hope for humanity’s future, and the world could become a better place.

We must demand to be seen as more than just our jobs.

We must rediscover the humanity within us.

When we do, the true intentions of the majority—the people—will become clear. And in that clarity, AI can become not a threat, but a tool that sharpens and enhances our newly reclaimed sense of purpose.

But if we leave the future in the hands of those already failing us, we risk falling victim to our own ignorance and selfishness.

As individuals, as humans, we are unique. Each of us carries skills, talents, and gifts that others can only dream of. Yet divided, we’re easy to ignore.

But united—like endless fingers on the same hand—we can shape a better future.

We can lead, not from the top down, but from the bottom up.

Our true human value will only be recognised when society admits that we were once measured solely by our ability to produce. That realisation will be frustrating at first, but it will spark a powerful awakening—an awakening that redefines what truly matters.

Machines can’t create life. But life created the machine. And that’s the answer:

The meaning of life is love—because love is what creates life.

We are letters in a vast book of existence. But that book is in danger of closing, at least from a human perspective, if we allow our worth to be reduced to mere productivity.

Better workers—that’s all “they” want. Not people to feed, to shelter, to listen to, but obedient cogs in a system designed to serve the few.

Before it’s too late, recognise the injustice around you.

Recognise it for what it is—before your silence becomes your downfall.

Poem:

HUMAN VALUE

We live in a world where those in power show little regard for us—the people.

Bombs fall on the innocent.

The homeless are left to freeze and starve.

The rich grow richer while the rest of us grow poorer.

There’s more than enough evidence to show where the priorities of the powerful truly lie.

But here’s the real point I want to make.

As a species, we’ve progressed and evolved in remarkable ways.

When the first car was introduced, I’m sure the horse-and-cart loyalists were upset—but humanity moved forward, and now we all benefit from that innovation.

Today, with the rise of artificial intelligence, it’s clear these technologies surpass us in many areas. AI can outperform accountants and many other professionals in terms of output and efficiency. But we still have a choice to make.

If AI replaces our careers—the very roles governments and systems have long used to measure our worth—then perhaps we’re due for an awakening. An awakening to the true value of being human, something we’ve ignored for far too long.

When machines are better than us at the tasks we’ve always been needed for, will it be too late to realize our deeper worth?

AI is a tool—a powerful one. But like all tools, it depends on whose hands it’s in.

Leave it in the hands of those who’ve shown time and again that they disregard human lives, and the outcome won’t be good.

Place it in the hands of people with genuine hope for humanity’s future, and the world could become a better place.

We must demand to be seen as more than just our jobs.

We must rediscover the humanity within us.

When we do, the true intentions of the majority—the people—will become clear. And in that clarity, AI can become not a threat, but a tool that sharpens and enhances our newly reclaimed sense of purpose.

But if we leave the future in the hands of those already failing us, we risk falling victim to our own ignorance and selfishness.

As individuals, as humans, we are unique. Each of us carries skills, talents, and gifts that others can only dream of. Yet divided, we’re easy to ignore.

But united—like endless fingers on the same hand—we can shape a better future.

We can lead, not from the top down, but from the bottom up.

Our true human value will only be recognised when society admits that we were once measured solely by our ability to produce. That realisation will be frustrating at first, but it will spark a powerful awakening—an awakening that redefines what truly matters.

Machines can’t create life. But life created the machine. And that’s the answer:

The meaning of life is love—because love is what creates life.

We are letters in a vast book of existence. But that book is in danger of closing, at least from a human perspective, if we allow our worth to be reduced to mere productivity.

Better workers—that’s all “they” want. Not people to feed, to shelter, to listen to, but obedient cogs in a system designed to serve the few.

Before it’s too late, recognise the injustice around you.

Recognise it for what it is—before your silence becomes your downfall.

Spoken Word:

You're very welcome! Here's a spoken word version of the poem—styled with performance in mind, giving emphasis and rhythm for a live or recorded reading:

---

Human Value (Spoken Word)

We live...

beneath a sky of steel—

Where power moves,

but never feels.

Bombs drop.

On the innocent.

The cold. The poor.

The forgotten.

While the rich...

get richer.

And the rest of us?

We sink deeper.

It’s clear.

The ones in charge?

They’ve made their priorities known.

But now—

let me get to the real point.

We…

as a species…

have progressed.

We’ve grown.

Turned horses into engines,

dreams into drones.

And while some held on to the past—

we moved forward.

Now AI’s here.

And it’s fast.

And it’s smart.

And it’s better than us…

at a lot.

Jobs are vanishing.

Not 'cause we’re lazy,

but because machines don’t sleep.

Don’t eat.

Don’t cry.

Don’t bleed.

And suddenly—

if what we do

is all we’re worth,

then what are we

when there’s nothing left to do?

Here’s the moment.

The awakening.

We are not

just tasks.

Just roles.

Just tools.

We are souls.

Each one of us—

a light.

A voice.

A force.

A choice.

But divided?

We’re dismissed.

United?

We resist.

Ten thousand fingers—

one strong fist.

So ask yourself:

Who’s holding the tool?

Who’s steering the future?

The same ones

who've let us fall?

Or those with hope…

For all?

Remember this:

Machines can’t make life.

They can’t feel love.

They don’t dream at night.

But we do.

We create.

We care.

We cry.

We are the reason the machine was made.

And love—

love is why we’re here.

The answer’s been simple

all along.

If we let them erase us,

if we stay silent…

this story ends.

Book closed.

Final page.

But we can write a new one.

One where we lead

from the bottom up.

Where people matter.

Where hearts count.

Where life…

isn’t just about output.

Because if all we are

is work and grind,

then they’ve won.

But if we rise—

as one kind—

Then maybe,

just maybe,

we’ll remind the world:

We are the value.

We are the light.

We are the spark

they could never program right.

Inez Bodur

HUMAN VALUE

We live in a world where those in power show little regard for us—the people.

Bombs fall on the innocent.

The homeless are left to freeze and starve.

The rich grow richer while the rest of us grow poorer.

There’s more than enough evidence to show where the priorities of the powerful truly lie.

But here’s the real point I want to make.

As a species, we’ve progressed and evolved in remarkable ways.

When the first car was introduced, I’m sure the horse-and-cart loyalists were upset—but humanity moved forward, and now we all benefit from that innovation.

Today, with the rise of artificial intelligence, it’s clear these technologies surpass us in many areas. AI can outperform accountants and many other professionals in terms of output and efficiency. But we still have a choice to make.

If AI replaces our careers—the very roles governments and systems have long used to measure our worth—then perhaps we’re due for an awakening. An awakening to the *true* value of being human, something we’ve ignored for far too long.

When machines are better than us at the tasks we’ve always been needed for, will it be too late to realize our deeper worth?

AI is a tool—a powerful one. But like all tools, it depends on whose hands it’s in.

Leave it in the hands of those who’ve shown time and again that they disregard human lives, and the outcome won’t be good.

Place it in the hands of people with genuine hope for humanity’s future, and the world could become a better place.

We must demand to be seen as more than just our jobs.

We must rediscover the humanity within us.

When we do, the true intentions of the majority—the people—will become clear. And in that clarity, AI can become not a threat, but a tool that sharpens and enhances our newly reclaimed sense of purpose.

But if we leave the future in the hands of those already failing us, we risk falling victim to our own ignorance and selfishness.

As individuals, as humans, we are unique. Each of us carries skills, talents, and gifts that others can only dream of. Yet divided, we’re easy to ignore.

But united—like endless fingers on the same hand—we can shape a better future.

We can lead, not from the top down, but from the bottom up.

Our true human value will only be recognised when society admits that we were once measured solely by our ability to produce. That realisation will be frustrating at first, but it will spark a powerful awakening—an awakening that redefines what truly matters.

Machines can’t create life. But life created the machine. And that’s the answer:

The meaning of life is love—because love is what creates life.

We are letters in a vast book of existence. But that book is in danger of closing, at least from a human perspective, if we allow our worth to be reduced to mere productivity.

Better workers—that’s all “they” want. Not people to feed, to shelter, to listen to, but obedient cogs in a system designed to serve the few.

Before it’s too late, recognise the injustice around you.

Recognise it for what it is—before your silence becomes your downfall.

Poem:

HUMAN VALUE

We live in a world where those in power show little regard for us—the people.

Bombs fall on the innocent.

The homeless are left to freeze and starve.

The rich grow richer while the rest of us grow poorer.

There’s more than enough evidence to show where the priorities of the powerful truly lie.

But here’s the real point I want to make.

As a species, we’ve progressed and evolved in remarkable ways.

When the first car was introduced, I’m sure the horse-and-cart loyalists were upset—but humanity moved forward, and now we all benefit from that innovation.

Today, with the rise of artificial intelligence, it’s clear these technologies surpass us in many areas. AI can outperform accountants and many other professionals in terms of output and efficiency. But we still have a choice to make.

If AI replaces our careers—the very roles governments and systems have long used to measure our worth—then perhaps we’re due for an awakening. An awakening to the *true* value of being human, something we’ve ignored for far too long.

When machines are better than us at the tasks we’ve always been needed for, will it be too late to realize our deeper worth?

AI is a tool—a powerful one. But like all tools, it depends on whose hands it’s in.

Leave it in the hands of those who’ve shown time and again that they disregard human lives, and the outcome won’t be good.

Place it in the hands of people with genuine hope for humanity’s future, and the world could become a better place.

We must demand to be seen as more than just our jobs.

We must rediscover the humanity within us.

When we do, the true intentions of the majority—the people—will become clear. And in that clarity, AI can become not a threat, but a tool that sharpens and enhances our newly reclaimed sense of purpose.

But if we leave the future in the hands of those already failing us, we risk falling victim to our own ignorance and selfishness.

As individuals, as humans, we are unique. Each of us carries skills, talents, and gifts that others can only dream of. Yet divided, we’re easy to ignore.

But united—like endless fingers on the same hand—we can shape a better future.

We can lead, not from the top down, but from the bottom up.

Our true human value will only be recognised when society admits that we were once measured solely by our ability to produce. That realisation will be frustrating at first, but it will spark a powerful awakening—an awakening that redefines what truly matters.

Machines can’t create life. But life created the machine. And that’s the answer:

The meaning of life is love—because love is what creates life.

We are letters in a vast book of existence. But that book is in danger of closing, at least from a human perspective, if we allow our worth to be reduced to mere productivity.

Better workers—that’s all “they” want. Not people to feed, to shelter, to listen to, but obedient cogs in a system designed to serve the few.

Before it’s too late, recognise the injustice around you.

Recognise it for what it is—before your silence becomes your downfall.

Spoken Word:

You're very welcome! Here's a **spoken word** version of the poem—styled with performance in mind, giving emphasis and rhythm for a live or recorded reading:

---

**Human Value** *(Spoken Word)*

We live...

beneath a sky of steel—

Where power moves,

but never feels.

Bombs drop.

On the innocent.

The cold. The poor.

The forgotten.

While the rich...

get richer.

And the rest of us?

We sink deeper.

It’s clear.

The ones in charge?

They’ve made their priorities known.

But now—

let me get to the *real* point.

If AI replaces our careers—the very roles governments and systems have long used to measure our worth—then perhaps we’re due for an awakening. An awakening to the true value of being human, something we’ve ignored for far too long.

If AI replaces our careers—the very roles governments and systems have long used to measure our worth—then perhaps we’re due for an awakening. An awakening to the true value of being human, something we’ve ignored for far too long.

You're very welcome! Here's a spoken word version of the poem—styled with performance in mind, giving emphasis and rhythm for a live or recorded reading:

Human Value (Spoken Word)

let me get to the real point.

have progressed.

we moved forward.