Human Dignity:
According to the South African Constitution, Bill of Rights, Clause 10, “Everyone has inherent dignity”.
Human dignity Bill of Rights Clause 10;
10. Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.
More confusingly, everyone has the right to have their dignity respected and protected.
Living in my white privileged life-style, I was never exposed to referring to a person as ‘dignified’.
In 1994 we meet an old black gentleman in Zimbabwe, tall, well dressed, three-piece suit, smart hat, and following ten minutes of interaction, we as a group of whites, unanimously refer to him as a dignified old man.
Since then, I have met a number of black men and woman, in Townships and Rural villages around the country, who I have describe as dignified.
I could probably count those who I classified as dignified, on the fingers and toes of my wife and I.
Why can’t I see, or feel, the inherent dignity that Clause 10 of the Bill of Rights defines?
We must respect and protect everyone’s inherent dignity, and I am failing to do so, why because I can’t feel or see it in the majority of the people who cross my path.
What is ‘inherent’?
Definition of inherent;
existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute.
So clause 10, suggests that dignity exists in every person, and therefore, even though it is not exposed, Dignity is in me, Dignity is in everyone, and therefore, I must respect the ‘unseen’ dignity, you must respect the unseen dignity in me?
If I have only recognised what I described as dignity, in some 40 black elders, what is ‘dignity’ and why did I recognise them as carrying ‘dignity’.
Definition of dignity,
bearing, conduct, or speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation of the formality or gravity of an occasion or situation.
The political debates throughout the world, the South African Parliament in particular, when is session, shows very few members, that show any form of dignity, this, in my opinion, is a reflection of the lack of dignity, in society at large.
The 40 black elders that I have respected for their ‘dignity’, are all Community / Tribal leaders, the way that they bear themselves, conduct themselves, their speech indicative of self-respect or appreciation, it is this dignity that I respect the person for, their dignity is not inherent, it was developed over years, thanks to their efforts and hard work, their achievements as community leaders, the community respect of these persons, resulting in their self-respect?
I have great love and respect for all the people that we interact with in the Townships and Villages around the country, they are human.
My question to you the reader, is as follows;
“Is it possible for a person, that does not have opportunity, opportunity that would exist if he or she had piece of land, to feed his/her family off, to have dignity?”
“Is it possible for a person, that does not have opportunity, opportunity that would exist if he or she a job in the manufacturing sector, to provide for his family to have dignity?”
“Is it possible for a person, that does not have opportunity, opportunity that would exist if he or she a had a small space to trade in our Countries economic sector, to contribute towards feeding the family, to have dignity?”
When we mention our high crime levels, we often add that the perpetrators are hungry, we avoid the real issues, a system that does not offer opportunity for a man to provide for his family, is a country where dignity does not exist, where drugs will flourish, where social violence is the norm, and where violent crime will flourish.
Cedric de la Harpe
Pamphlet 09, What is Human, and who is Human?
Pamphlet 11 Lack of Opportunity Stimulates Crime
Cedric is available to consult with all interested structures and communities, please email him of safari@tasteofafric.co.za
For the individual who would like to experience the basis of the knowledge that has become his Human Dictate philosophy, please join us for a visit to Soweto or Alexandra; where you will get greater understanding and get closer to the Human Dictate.
Cedric and Nettie de la Harpe