Mission
The ultimate purpose of this web site is to help spread the dignity meme.
Meme (pronounced meem)
n. a cultural unit (an idea or value or pattern of behavior) that is passed from one person to another by non-genetic means (as by imitation); “memes are the cultural counterpart of genes”*
It is already happening.
From the United States to India to China, to Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand—on every continent—people are embracing the idea of dignity.
- In the United States, a government worker in a major city has begun programs to provide support, education, and tools for employees affected by rankism.
- In Canada, a labor union is proposing to make a rankism-free workplace a goal of contract negotiations.
- In India, dignitarian values are emerging as a clear alternative to the residual influence of the traditional caste system.
- In the United Kingdom, the BBC World Service has broadcast programming about dignity and rankism.
- In schools throughout the USA, programs to end bullying are being implemented.
- In healthcare, the concept of rankism is being applied to the reform of nursing education.
- In politics, dignity for all is one of those rare ideas on which both liberals and conservatives can agree, and some leaders are using it to find common ground.
- In major corporations, equal dignity regardless of rank is beginning to be seen as promoting creativity, productivity, company loyalty, and personal well-being.
- In homes and families, the idea that “kids are people too” is becoming self-evident.
Dignity is an idea whose time has come.
Please send us your experiences of rankism and dignity, especially (a) stories of dignity regained and (b) stories of action taken (or being taken) to stop or prevent rankism. We want to hear your experiences and insights. E-mail info@dignityforall.org.
*www.dictionary.com, Wordnet® 3.0. Princeton University. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/meme (accessed: April 30, 2008)
