"Oh the Humanity!"... What does that mean in the Social Imagination?

When radio reporter Herb Morrison saw the airship Hindenburg burst into flames in 1937, he blurted “Oh, the humanity!” meaning something like “what terrible human suffering!” Writers who use this phrase today—usually jokingly—are referring back to this famous incident.

What does that mean for us in the social imagination? Does it mean the same then as it does now? Obviously not if this phrase today is used jokingly. And, if it is used 'usually' in that way today, why is that? 

Firstly, what does 'humanity' mean and or stand for in the social imagination? For the sociologist, it is used to represent humankind at its best and even worst depending on the intonation. 

We can read the general definition as being the quality of the state of being human.  Now, even that needs defining... the state of being human. To be in a state of something is nearly the same as saying being in a certain condition or situation. This house is in a state of ruin. The current economy and government is in a state of chaos i.e. 

Interestingly, humanity is thought of as being sympathetic and generous. I agree with that because as a Christian... I believe that all people have a conscience and can understand what it means to have and exhibit sympathy and to have/exhibit acts of generosity and mercy. 

Some have more of those attributes accessible within them than others. Nonetheless, I agree that all mankind is human and the amount of humanity in them is usually and or typically associated with being humane... being sympathetic i.e. Given that, I must consider that such a state of being was once more vivid, more the overall norm and eternal ideal.

Today's 'humanity' is escaping us. Its not completely lost but heading in that direction. It is being usurped by artificial events with their kings and or would be saviors. All of which appears to be put forward by a nearly alien intelligence that has little humanity in it. 

Implying the worst using a certain intonation that stresses a lack of sympathy let alone mercy. We seem to be spiraling in a downward motion running here and there trying to prop it up with this or that. And actually, that has been ongoing since the fall of mankind ... 

Will our humanity save us? No. Why? Because mixed up with the good is the bad and the ugly but moreover because its been handed over. Will it come to an end? Will we find ourselves inhumane more and more becoming in fact inhuman? Looking at the rate and level of technology, I would have to answer yes.  Man, now rather beast, has become obsessed with controlling humanity and there in lies the greatest danger. 

The battle for Ai is upon us... upon our humanity. It is coming to steal, kill and destroy our humanity. The irony is that we so doubted our humanity we created its own destruction.  

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. See, I have delivered into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.” So, Joshua and the whole army set out to attack Ai. Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out at night with these orders: “Pay attention. You are to lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it. All of you must be ready. ~ Joshua 8: 1-4. 

So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolation to this day. He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening, and at sunset Joshua commanded that they take down the body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And over it they raised a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. ~ Joshua 8:28-29. 

When we read of this treatment of the enemies of Joshua, we cannot but be reminded of the greater Joshua, who fulfilled the curse of God (curse of sin and death which entered into  humanity) in His own person, and made a show of the “principalities and powers” by triumphing over them in His cross.  

Allegory is a human tool in the social imagination. We see it used over and over in the exchange of information in the social reality, both true and untrue. Given that, the Creator of all absolute truth must cry out as a trumpet blast ~ "Oh, the humanity!" And, that is not a joke.