Inclusion-Make others feel that they belong.
Safety-Put people at ease physically and psychologically, and make them comfortable speaking without fear of retribution.
Acknowledgement-Give people your undivided attention by both listening to their words and responding when they are done speaking.
Recognition-Validate other people's talents, work, thoughtfulness, and aid. Show your appreciation for others' assistance.
Fairness-Treat people with justice and equality.
Benefit of the Doubt-Treat people as trustworthy, as having integrity and the best of motives.
Understanding-Always act in a manner that shows you believe that what others think matters, by permitting them to explain or express their views. This is especially important if you believe that they are wrong.
Independence-Encourage others to act on their own behalf so that they feel in control of their own lives, thusly engendering feelings of hope and possibility.
Accountability-Take responsibility for your actions--including modifying your own dignity damaging behavior, and make amends when you have violated someone else's dignity.
Dr. Hicks's book is probably one of the most important of this decade, but it is almost unknown by most people at this time, in part because its release date was September. I predict that Dignity will soon occupy the same category as Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, or Confessions of an Economic Hitman in terms of the importance of its effect on the social landscape here in the United States. It is well-written, 200 pages long, and a very pleasant and easy read.
If I might digress here for a moment, I acquired a copy of Dr. Hicks's book to read through an interlibrary loan from outside of the Colorado State Libraries Prospector system; the University of Illinois (Springfield) to be exact. In these tough financial times I always borrow a copy of a book from the library before purchasing it myself. I have a marvelouss rapport with my librarians at the Jefferson County Public Library in Arvada, and they represent the very best of public service in this country. In my experience, such service is the rule, not the exception, among the teachers, librarians, firefighters, law enforcement officers and other civil servants in this country, and we owe them our thanks, and our support.
Let us return to the "Occupy Wall Street" Movement, and my proposal for a stated primary goal for that movement.
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