There is much controversy about when a human becomes a sentient being. Some believe it is at conception. Others seem to think it is when there is a heartbeat in the fetus. The bible leans toward it occurring after the first breath (Genesis 2:7). When does the soul enter the body of the fledgling human? There really doesn’t seem to be any rock-solid evidence for any of these beliefs, but they are fought over fiercely by those who think they know best. My concern is at the other end of the controversy. When does a sentient being stop being a human? Most will say at death but I say it can happen way before then. For example, when did the American indigenous people become human? For a long time, they were considered savages. When did the colored people brought over as slaves become human? Even before that, the Aztec culture was destroyed by the Spaniards who took advantage of their ignorant hospitality believing they were less than human. The Irish, the Catholics, the Jews, and the Chinese all became less than human at certain times throughout history. Israelis believe they are the chosen ones choosing to live in a land that has been populated by Palestinians for over 5,000 years. India’s caste system is over 3000 years old. Christians murdered thousands worldwide for not taking up their religious beliefs. Islamic radicals behead people who aren’t willing to follow theirs. In our present-day America people migrating up from South America are considered less than human. Children are separated from their parents, some so young they are still breastfeeding. All because they have been labeled immigrants and don’t deserve to be treated humanely. These examples of dehumanization appear to be more easily accepted than when a fetus becomes a sentient being. What is undeniable is that if our skin was transparent and there were no labels that we attach ourselves and to others, we wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from one person to the next. We all have the same internal makeup in the vehicle our soul is experiencing this life in. Across the planet, the human experiment continues to test us. The human-animal isn’t confined to instinct only, as are most of the creatures in the animal kingdom. We have the ability for rational thought and on the flip side irrational thought. It is a choice to follow certain patterns of belief, no matter how unconscious that may be. In the human experience, naked without preconceived notions of what is and what isn’t, there can be but one conclusion. No matter when human existence begins, it should never be considered less than human before the body no longer sustains itself and dies.