An organization called UNITE has developed what they call the Dignity Index. Their concept has a lot of promise.
Here's their explanation (https://www.dignityindex.us/about):
Ease Divisions.
Prevent Violence.
Solve Problems.
We formed UNITE in 2018 to find ways to help ease divisions in the country. In 2021, we began developing the Dignity Index, an eight-point scale for measuring how we talk to each other when we disagree. Our faith in the Index is grounded in a few core beliefs:
Contempt causes division; dignity eases division.
If we put a spotlight on dignity and contempt, we will use more dignity and less contempt.
If we show Americans how they can help ease our divisions, they will jump on it.
THE DIGNITY INDEX
The Dignity Index is an eight-point scale that scores speech along a continuum from contempt to dignity in as unbiased a manner as possible. By focusing on the sound bites, not the people behind them, the Index attempts to stay true to its own animating spirit: that everyone deserves dignity.
The have several graphical resources that convey the principles of the Dignity Index. The're available here:
https://www.dignityindex.us/resources
Here are some examples:
(click to enlarge) |
(click to enlarge) |
Dignity Principles:
1. Dignity is the inherent worth we all have from birth. We all deserve to be treated with dignity no matter what.
2. Along with our survival instincts, the longing to be treated with dignity is the single most powerful force motivating our behavior.
3. If we violate someone’s dignity repeatedly, we will get a divorce or a war or a revolution, because a desire for revenge is an instant response to a dignity violation.
4. Treating people with dignity means seeing ourselves in them; treating people with contempt means seeing ourselves above them.
5. When contempt tears us apart, dignity can bring us together, whether we’re talking about our friends, our family, our community or our country.
6. Treating people with dignity helps bring out their best and discourage their worst.
7. Treating people with contempt makes both sides angry, anxious and depressed.
8. When we use contempt, we create enemies for ourselves and the causes we care about.
9. Contempt gives us an addictive buzz, and people exploit our addictions to get rich, famous and powerful.
10. When people use contempt, they claim noble motives because contempt needs excuses and disguises. When we expose contempt, it loses its power.
11. When we put a spotlight on dignity and contempt, we use more dignity and less contempt.
12. When we create communities that reward dignity and challenge contempt, we can change the culture.
No comments:
Post a Comment