Dignity and Degradation - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

**Ann** · 03-10-2006, 05:18 AM

You are reading from the book Touchstones.

There is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his.
--Helen Keller

The human race is a huge mixture of dignity and degradation and every man inherits the blend. We can respect the slave in us for his endurance and suffering. And the king in us earns our respect for his leadership and justice. Are we ashamed of who we are or where we have come from? Then we may have to look deeper and ask if we are really different from any other man.

Do we believe we must conform to some mold of acceptability, some proper appearance? Are we so focused on the surface that we miss the deeper values of our humanness? Sometimes we take on a reverse smugness and become judgmental of the person who looks successful or speaks well. We think, "I can't like him, he's in a different class." We all need acceptance and respect, and in this program we are equals from the first day.

God, grant me the self esteem to accept the whole mixture that comes together in me and in the people around me.

equus · 03-10-2006, 05:40 AM

My humanity is a measure of my humanity - if I behave inhumanely towards another it's my own humanity I lose, if I de-grade (lower the status of) another human, it shows I have lost my humanity. I cannot reduce the humanity of another.

My dignity is my humanity, my humaness.

03-10-2006, 05:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ann Sharing Our Light Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: By The Lake Posts: 15,155	Dignity and Degradation You are reading from the book Touchstones. There is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his. --Helen Keller The human race is a huge mixture of dignity and degradation and every man inherits the blend. We can respect the slave in us for his endurance and suffering. And the king in us earns our respect for his leadership and justice. Are we ashamed of who we are or where we have come from? Then we may have to look deeper and ask if we are really different from any other man. Do we believe we must conform to some mold of acceptability, some proper appearance? Are we so focused on the surface that we miss the deeper values of our humanness? Sometimes we take on a reverse smugness and become judgmental of the person who looks successful or speaks well. We think, "I can't like him, he's in a different class." We all need acceptance and respect, and in this program we are equals from the first day. God, grant me the self esteem to accept the whole mixture that comes together in me and in the people around me. __________________ Somewhere between the gator swamp and the Taj Mahal there is a path, it may be hidden, overgrown or may blend in with the other surroundings, but it is there, it's your path and it is calling you.~Frankly~

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Shame and loss of dignity	Laszlo	Alcoholism	15	06-22-2007 08:45 AM

03-10-2006, 05:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
equus Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: uk Posts: 3,056	My humanity is a measure of my humanity - if I behave inhumanely towards another it's my own humanity I lose, if I de-grade (lower the status of) another human, it shows I have lost my humanity. I cannot reduce the humanity of another. My dignity is my humanity, my humaness.

Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)