Casey Wylie 9/7/2019
1ST PRINCIPLE: THE INHERENT WORTH AND DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON
It sounds nice, but what exactly does that mean? Rev. Dr. Rebecca Ann Parker sums it up this way on the UUA.org website:
“Reverence and respect for human nature is at the core of Unitarian Universalist faith. We believe that all the dimensions of our being carry the potential to do good. We celebrate the gifts of being human: our intelligence and capacity for observation and reason, our senses and ability to appreciate beauty, our creativity, our feelings and emotions. We cherish our bodies as well as our souls. We can use our gifts to offer love, to work for justice, to heal injury, to create pleasure for ourselves and others. Unitarian Universalists affirm the inherent worth and dignity of each person as a given of faith—an unshakeable conviction calling us to self-respect and respect for others.”
This is not a unique value to UUs. In the book of Genesis, the foundation story for Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, God created man and woman in his image, thus making them the holiest of Earthly creatures. The Catholic Church, the “Universal church” as it should be translated, proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. In the book of Luke 10:25-37, one of my favorite parables, the good Samaritan recognized the dignity in the other and cared for his life.
Nor is this a unique value to Western religion. The starting point for Buddhism is the value and sanctity of life. American Indian culture emphasizes respect and non- interference toward others and a strong belief that man is inherently good and should be respected for his decisions.
Unfortunately, humans have often shown a proclivity for just “talking the talk” instead of “walking the walk.” The greatest atrocities in our history have occurred as a direct result of forgetting this principle. Genocides, slavery, interment of suspected enemies, withholding basic human rights to minority groups, none of this is new. Even worse, none of this is old. This still happens every day to millions of souls around the world. Why? How can we keep doing something that every major religion says is wrong?
One word, fear. We have an innate instinct to fear the “other.” And “Other” can mean anyone not exactly like us. The world is full of “us” and “Them.” The blacks want to rape our women. The Jews secretly control all the money. The Muslims want to kill us. The women are forgetting their place in the home. The gays are ruining the sanctity of holy marriage. The Chinese/Irish/Mexicans/insert other major immigrant populations here want to take our jobs. The Democrats want us to waste all our tax money supporting lazy people who don’t deserve it. The Republicans are selling out America to the highest bidder. (Ok, that last one might be true). Does anyone feel left out yet? I even grew up in a time when a harmless school rivalry was so extreme that two innocent animals were slaughtered in the name of school pride. It’s easy to hate a faceless name. It’s even easier to blame that faceless name for all the wrongs you have endured. Or feel like by controlling them you can have some imitation of control over your own uncertainties. If we build that wall, the American economy will thrive again. If we put all the Japanese in a camp, then we can be sure they won’t give us a way to the enemy. If we racially profile every Arabic looking person then they can’t crash our plane again. If we automatically shoot every black man in a hoodie, no police lives will ever be lost again.
Okay, so maybe we as UU’s are better than that. We are above such bigoted, backward ignorance. We embrace everyone, see no color, love you for who you are! But do we? Liberals are often labeled by the other side as pretentious and condescending. Two words that definitely do not describe someone who respects the inherent worth and dignity of others. And intention matters much less than perception. Take a hard look at your daily interactions. I’ll start by listing my own shortcomings. I don’t make eye contact with people begging at intersections because I think they should step-up and get help for themselves. I immediately deduct IQ points from people who say anything about “The President Who Shall Not Be Named” in a positive light. I use the word republican as an insult. I used to be surprised when I met my African-American students’ fathers at conferences because I assumed they weren’t involved as parents. I flip people off who cut me off in traffic, although not always where they can see because I’m not stupid! I internally cursed the old woman whose shopping cart was angled across the who aisle in Kroger. Pick a side lady!
I’m proud of the fact that most of the time I’m able to be empathetic and see the other person’s side. I’m especially proud of the fact that when I do have unpleasant thoughts about others they stay in my head. Trust me, that’s not always how it worked. I’m pretty sure my small stature kept me out quite a few physical altercations! I’m by no means perfect. No one is or should ever expect to be. And these small transgressions against my fellow humans are not earth-shattering or really causing anyone harm except my own blood pressure. But it is important to keep our own weaknesses in mind, so we can be more patient with those who have greater weakness than ourselves. We are all beautiful works in progress. Patience does not mean compliance, nor does it mean excusing other’s behavior. It seems that the good guy rarely wins because he refuses to stoop to the level of his enemy. But that’s how the enemy keeps winning. What do we do? If we are as vehement and vicious as those spouting hatred, are we really any better? But how else do we get them to listen? How do we get their attention and demand change?
That’s the problem our society has been facing for too many years. And every year it just seems to get worse. The bigots never truly die out, they just go into hiding until the pendulum swings back in their favor. Just when one formerly ostracized group begins to gain respect, another group takes their former position on the bottom rung. What do we do? Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve stopped watching the news or listening to the radio because it makes me so despondent about the world. But I got the amazing honor of listening to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg to speak the other night and her words gave me hope. She spoke of the hardships of being a pioneering woman in her field and of her journey to champion rights for gender equality. If anyone knows the epic frustration of the political system it’s her! And she said that after seeing all that has been gained so far, she remains optimistic about the future. She certainly believes in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. And so do I. And maybe one day that will be enough.