Dignity

A current buzz word by those aspiring to the Oval Office is the word, “Dignity”.  It is being used when talking about the poor arguing that greater government handouts will bring them the dignity that can’t be had living in poverty.  That is, the poor will have dignity if given free health care, free college tuition, free food, free or cheaper housing, etc.  It is a dignity they “deserve” – another catch word.  They deserve such dignity for it is a basic “human right” – another key phrase.

This is a new take on what comes with living in these United States.  For decades what came with citizenship or legal status in this country was the guarantee of Life, Liberty and the privilege to pursue Happiness.  In other words, those legally in this country were promised Life – an existence free of the threat of attack or abuse.  They also expected Liberty which is the idea that they could, within the lines of the law, be free to pursue ideas and changes (move to another state).  And again within the paramenters laid down by their fellow citizens, they could pursue things or places that might bring them joy – Happiness.  That is, a boat, a beer, a big TV, another pair of shoes, a yellow car, or…   Those who lived in these United States were given the promise of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

But a change is being proposed.  Added to the list of basic rights that citizens get (Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness) is now that of Dignity.  Proposed is that many citizens are lacking this basic human right so politicians want the government to fix this wrong.  And here we go again – changing the definition of words in order to invoke sentiment or outrage.

Dignity from the Cambridge Dictionary means “calm, serious, and controlled behavior that makes people respect you:  the importance and value that a person has, that makes other people respect them or makes them respect themselves.”  That is, Dignity comes to a person as the result of thoughtful, respectful, and pleasing ways of engaging life.  A dignified person invokes positive thoughts or words from others.

From Dictionary.com – Dignity:  bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation.  Historically, dignity is something that comes to a person caused by their behavior that sets them apart and invokes a good thought and/or response from those exposed to the person.

Dignity was not bestowed on a person merely for being alive or for living with less.   Now, somewhere over the rainbow, there is a place where all is dazzling colors, sweet, joyful, and perfect.  In that make-believe place there is free college, free cars, free housing, free health care, and free entertainment.  Yes, somewhere over the rainbow which is only found in books, plays, and musicals but not in these United States!

A person, even one living in great poverty, can be a person of dignity.  That is, they cope with life in a pleasing way which is most often achieved from seeing the world from God’s perspective and responding accordingly.  True dignity has nothing to do with poverty for both rich and poor can be people without dignity.  Dignity is NOT based on one’s social strata and can’t be awarded by Uncle Sam!

I would suggest that Dignity is rooted in an understanding of God (an Authority outside of us), a clear grasp of self, and that no man is an island (Romans 15).  A person of Dignity sees the world and their place from a large perspective and with a desire to be seen as pleasing to all.

Any person can be a person of dignity despite color, race, gender, social status, education, or politics.  May we all desire to be people of dignity – and Uncle Sam has nothing to do with it!