Equal Recognition of Dignity

EQUAL RECOGNITION OF DIGNITY

"Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you." What hurts you, it hurts your neighbor too. What is good for you, it is good for him too. Why friend? Because he is your neighbor. You have the same personality as a person. This is the true message of the golden lesson. It recognizes the right of every individual to respect his or her fellow man. Isn't this also God's command to man? He said, "Love your neighbor as yourself." It means recognizing the dignity that everyone has. God created all men in His image. That is, according to His form, character and ability. Therefore, human dignity comes from God; so it is human nature. It was not created by society and it is universal, that is, possessed by all people.

But, you may be asking yourself, “Why is there a difference? Why is someone rich? Why is something difficult? Why do they differ in age, physical ability, intellectual and moral ability, the benefit they receive from commerce, and the sharing of wealth? Even human talent is not evenly distributed. At his birth, man was not given all his needs for the development of his material or physical and spiritual life. It implies that we need our neighbor. It is part of God's plan, which truly wants each individual to receive his needs from his fellow man. He expects those who are blessed with unique talents and abilities to share these blessings with those who need them. Such differences encourage the person to practice generosity and kindness. What God wants is for man to embrace the sharing of the blessings and gifts that each person has received from Him.

Where is human equality now? Man’s equality focuses on his dignity as a human being and the right that flows from it.

What is dignity? Dignity comes from the Latin word dignitas, from dignus, meaning “worthy”. Dignity means a person's worthiness to be valued and respected by his fellow man. Everyone, regardless of his or her age, appearance, level of culture or ability, has dignity.

Man has qualities that set him apart from all other creatures. Because he has a mind that gives him the ability to understand the concept, reason, reflect and choose freely. He has the natural ability to shape and develop himself with it. Although some do not immediately use this ability as children do, being a unique person is a serious reason for his dignity. So it has no choice, it is not just for the few. Pope John Paul II said to Filipino farmers and workers, “You have the right to live and be treated in accordance with your dignity as human beings; and at the same time, you also have the duty to deal with others in the same way ... ”

Because of dignity, everyone has the right to progress in a way that does not hurt or harm other people. Respect and brotherhood prevail, because in the eyes of God, all are equal. Therefore, you must fulfill your duty to treat your neighbor as a unique child of God with dignity. Preserve the true dignity of man by looking at each person associated with God. Our true dignity depends on the fact that we are called to be with God.

According to Professor Patrick Lee, dignity is the basis of why each person's obligations are as follows:

Respect one's own life and the lives of others. For example, despite the hardships of life, a person will not sell his own flesh or steal that lowers his own character. On the other hand, you need to remember that your neighbor should not be used for personal gain.

Consider the welfare of others before acting. It is common to hear from adults that before you say or do something you can think it over. How will what you do affect others? Should it still be done or not?

Treat others as you would like them to treat you. This principle proves that whatever you do to your neighbor you also do to yourself. Encouraging your neighbor's rights, love, appreciation of life, peace, truth are some of the values ​​towards good communication. They should also be shown to your neighbor.

How can you show recognition and appreciation for one's dignity?

First, you value the person as a person. That is, he is not an object or vehicle to carry out something that wants to happen. Especially not because he possesses beneficial qualities. There are some people who become so selfish that they think of the true meaning or value of their neighbor based on the benefit they can get from it. Many companies simply ignore the many years of service of their employees because they were no longer as productive and effective as when they were young and strong. His humanity and dignity are not lost on old age. And even more so, they are not like something that is simply thrown away and set aside when it is old and useless. Even if he has not completed a course, whether he is young or old or has a special condition, he deserves respect.

Second, respect and appreciation for human dignity is given as long as one lives. You must continue to consider and seek all that is good for your neighbor. For example, the child's love for the parent must be unconditional or unconditional. A child's respect for his parents should not diminish as they grow older and become weaker.

It is important to keep in mind and heart: Man is the most unique of all of God's creations because of his mind and instincts. We receive so much grace, love and appreciation from Him. Sometimes we are blind to this fact so we feel inadequate. We find in ourselves everything we see in our neighbor. In this way, we assume that we are deprived. All material things are on earth only, we should not waste our time and fatigue on these things. The immovable dignity of man is the most important property of a person. This importance comes not from what a person "has" if he or she is not human. If everyone were clarified on this matter, it would not be difficult to maintain a high level of dignity of every person in any kind of society. You need help from yourself, your neighbor and God to accomplish this. In this way, we will again remember that we are the SON of God.