The Dignity Revolution
Last week I invited you to take the Dignity Pledge. I feel honored to offer this to you for our world desperately needs people who are in relationship with others in a way that heals our planet rather than fostering more chaos. The people who created the pledge also created a brilliant, eight-point scale showing how human communication can move from contempt to dignity. They also trained a group of coders who are scoring selections from candidate speeches, debates, fundraising outreach, social media posts, and campaign ads in federal congressional races in Utah, their home base. By focusing on the speech and not the speaker, the Dignity Index is designed to draw our attention away from the biases of partisan politics and toward the power we each have to heal our country and each other.
As you read the index, find places in your communications where you get caught up in an old way of relating to your friends and loved ones. Allow this awareness to inspire you, on a daily basis, to interact with all beings with dignity.
Level One
Escalates from violent words to violent actions. It’s a combination of feeling the other side is less than human and calling for or approving violence.
THE SUBTEXT
It’s our moral duty to destroy them. They’re not even human. They’re the source of all evil. They’re destroying everything we value. They don’t deserve to live. We have to kill them now before they kill us.
Level Two
Accuses the other side not just of doing bad or being bad but promoting evil.
THE SUBTEXT
Those people are evil and a danger to everything we value. They’re going to ruin us if we let them. It’s us or them.
Level Three
Attacks the other side’s moral character, not just their capabilities or competence.
THE SUBTEXT
We’re the good people and they’re the bad people. We’re responsible for all the good things and they’re responsible for all the bad things. It’s us vs. them. We win only if they lose.
Level Four
Mocks and attacks the other side’s background, their beliefs, their commitment, their competence, their performance.
THE SUBTEXT
We’re better than those people. They’re different. They don’t really belong. They’re not one of us. We shouldn’t trust them.
Level Five
Listens to the other side’s point of view and respectfully explains their own goals, views, and plans.
THE SUBTEXT
I believe everyone has a right to be here and a right to be heard. Even if they don’t share our point of view, it’s their country too.
Level Six
Sees it as a welcome duty to work with the other side to find common ground and act on it.
THE SUBTEXT
I have deep convictions and feel a strong sense of belonging to my group, but I’m curious about the other side, too. I want to meet and talk with people who don’t share all my views, find common values and interests, and solve problems together.
Level Seven
Wants to fully engage the other side – discussing the deepest disagreements they have to see what breakthroughs they can find.
THE SUBTEXT
I have strong convictions and I’m loyal to my group, but I want to meet with the other side and talk about the views we don’t share. I’m not afraid of losing an argument, admitting mistakes, or changing my mind. That’s how we solve the toughest problems.
Level Eight
I can see myself as part of every group, I refuse to hate anyone, and I offer dignity to everyone.
THE SUBTEXT
I love and cherish my own group, but I can connect with most any group. I will talk and work with anyone. I don’t need to be right. I don’t care who gets the credit. I refuse to hate or condemn anyone, and I believe everyone has inherent worth, so I treat everyone with dignity, no matter what.