Certa vez, one student asked anthropologist Margaret Mead what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected the anthropologist to talk about hooks, panelas de barro ou pedras de amolar. But no. Mead said the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was evidence of someone with a femur (osso da coxa) quebrado e cicatrizado. Mead explicou que no reino animal, if you break your leg, morre. You can't run from danger, go to the river to drink water or hunt for food. You are fresh meat for predators. Nenhum animal sobrevive a uma perna quebrada por tempo suficiente para o osso sarar. A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone took the time to be with the one who fell, tratou da ferida, He took the person to safety and cared for him until he recovered. "Helping someone through hardship is where civilization begins, " Mead said. Civilisation is community aid. Sejamos civilizados, even though they are not part of the risk groups. --auto