Welcome to Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies (HumanDHS)

This pictures was taken at one of our first conferences (in Paris in 2003)

•  It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honored by the humiliation of their fellow beings.
― Mahatma Gandhi.

•  Humility is Grace - Humiliation is Disgrace
― Victor Zurbel, 2004.

•  Wringing your hands just slows you down from pushing up your sleeves!
― Proverb.

•  The person who says "it cannot be done" should not interrupt the person doing it.
― Chinese Proverb.

•  Pessimism and optimism are luxuries affordable only in good times. In difficult times, when pessimism is warranted, optimism is a duty, because pessimism easily turns into a self-inflicted, self-fulfilling death sentence.
― Evelin Lindner and Jo Linser, Auschwitz survivor, 2004.

•  Optimism is never as needed as much as in times of pessimism.
― Evelin Lindner, 2011.

•  Things are much too bad for pessimism.
― Dee Hock.

•  I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.
― Antonio Gramsci, Letters from Prison.

•  Human rights must serve human dignity!
― Evelin Lindner, 2011
.

We are a global and transdisciplinary network and fellowship of concerned researchers and practitioners, dedicated to to stimulating systemic change, globally and locally, thus ending cycles of humiliation throughout the world.

We believe that by eliminating cycles of humiliation, space is opened for dignity and mutual respect and esteem to take root and grow. We believe that social cohesion and ecological survival require a frame of cooperation and a spirit of shared humility — rather than a mindset of humiliation. In this new context, many malign and intractable processes and conflicts may be brought to a new and benign level.

We do our best to cultivate a relational climate characterized by walking the talk of mutual dignity and mutual growth. For more than a decade, our relational approach has not only been sustainable, it has offered a new model of collaborative action, a replenishing relational-organizational climate that is constantly evolving and growing with — rather than at the expense of — the people involved.

Michael Britton wrote on July 18, 2015: "I feel fortunate to have found a home in HumanDHS where the labors of inquiry, honesty, integrity, dignity, trust and trustworthiness, humility are at the heart of who we are and what we do."

Walid Sarhan said on 1st January 2023: "The Dignity and Humiliation Studies organization is aiming to reach its goals by spreading the principles of dignity to as many people as possible who could influence their organizations or the decision makers of their countries gradually. This will take time and possibly generations to achieve. Working together and spreading awareness will be our task."

Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) opens with the following sentence: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

At the core of this sentence stands equality in dignity or nondomination (Philip Pettit), or the delegitimization of the practice of ranking people into higher and lesser beings.

Caveat: When we use the phrase equal dignity on this web site, we do not refer to legal practice, where this phrase is another way of saying the power of attorney: "A written document in which one person (the principal) appoints another person to act as an agent on his or her behalf, thus conferring authority on the agent to perform certain acts or functions on behalf of the principal..." (legal-dictionary). We thank Ardian Adžanela for making us aware that we need to include this important caveat.

As researchers we study the dynamics of humiliation, the antecedents and consequences of humiliating behaviors, and interventions that can help break the cycle of humiliation and restore human dignity. As practitioners we attempt to bring incidents of humiliation in national and international affairs to the attention of people across the globe, to create public awareness of the destructive effects of such humiliation, and to promote alternative approaches that generate human dignity and respect.

Many reject research on "evil" — such as humiliation — as naïve appeasement. This is not our view. We believe that "understanding" and "condoning" ought not be conflated. Nelson Mandela showed the world that humiliation does not automatically lead to mayhem. His example attests to the constructive ways out of humiliation that merit to be studied and promoted. We wish to learn from those constructive elements in Mandela-like or Gandhi-like approaches (please note that we are aware of the various criticisms that may be aimed at Mandela or Gandhi) — for example, Mandela could have instigated a genocide of the white elite, yet he did not.

In our work, we wish to make research relevant to practice and vice versa (as in participatory action research). We invite you, researchers and practitioners from around the world who share our goals, to join us. Please read our call for creativity, a detailed description of our mission and a short description of what we mean when we speak about humiliation. See also our newsletters and our collection of quotes.

On this website, and in our work, we attempt to use a culture-neutral approach, as much as it is at all possible, since our scope is global. This entails that we pay the price of losing some credibility in all cultural realms, since we do not serve any dominant cultural propensity — see a discussion, for example, in What the World’s Cultures Can Contribute to Creating a Sustainable Future for Humankind, a paper prepared by Evelin Lindner for the 11th Annual Conference of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies (HumanDHS), 23th June-1st July 2008, in Norway.

A new educational initiative emerging from the network is World Dignity University (WDU) to which anyone interested in educating on dignity can contribute ideas for curriculum development.

See here our status overviews.

See here a short welcome video:

This welcome video was created by Lasse Moer on 18th October 2007, on the Blindern campus of the University of Oslo in sunny but very cold autumn weather. The blue jacket is part of the World Clothes for Equal Dignity project.
The text for this video has been written by Brian Ward.
Here is the full text:
"Hello! My name is Evelin Lindner and I have committed my life to engaging with people and communities around the world to end the cycles of violence resulting from people humiliating or putting other people down. To protect our planet for future generations we all need to hold hands in equal dignity and lead each other towards a peaceful, sustainable and a richly diverse global community. Your knowledge, experiences, creativity and inspiration is needed wherever it might be as without your help the journey to peace and sustainability will take so much longer. If you are able to join our network of friends on this wonderful journey please have a look at the opportunities in this website and let us know! Thank you very much!"



We are profoundly thankful to Michael Boyer for creating the following new ways to connect to HumanDHS friends, collaborators, projects, topics of interest, and community gatherings via several popular cyber platforms in April 2020! We warmly invite you to visit the links below:
Digniworld Wordpress | Digniworld Facebook | Digniworld Twitter | Digniworld Instagram



 

What is our aim?

We wish to help discontinue humiliating practices wherever they occur, globally and locally. In order to do this, we aim at building bridges between research and practice. We wish to raise awareness of the workings of humiliation through research and education, and "change the world" more directly through interventions. In other words, we wish to focus on the interplay of both, subjective and institutional aspects of humiliation (Nancy Fraser discusses this in Rethinking Recognition, 2000). On 24th June 2011, we began the process of lifting our research and education activities on a more concrete level and launched the World Dignity University Initiative.

Human rights ideals, emphasizing that each human being is born with equal dignity that ought not be humiliated are central to our work. We are aware of the debate questioning whether human rights are universal, or not, and whether their advocates are arrogant Western imperialists, or not, and we are aware that feelings of humiliation accompany this debate on all sides. We wish to contribute to building a future world society that includes all humankind in constructive and dignified ways.

The vision of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies (HumanDHS) is to contribute to reducing — and ultimately eliminating — destructive disrespect and humiliation around the world. Our efforts focus on generating research, disseminating information, applying creative educational methods, and devising pilot projects and policy strategies. With these initiatives we wish to promote a new level of consciousness that is characterized by caring, mutual respect and sensitivity to dignity, thereby fertilizing new and constructive community action.

Research shows the important effect of "framing." In experiments, when players are asked to play the Prisoner’s Dilemma Game as a "community game," they tend to cooperate, while players who think they are playing a "Wallstreet game" tend to cheat. Although the structure of the game is identical, the mere difference in the label has a profound effect upon whether or not players cooperate (see for more information, for example, Lindner 2000).

For our work for more dignity (and less humiliation), we believe that the principle of Unity in Diversity represents a dignifying framing. We wish to promote more unity and at the same time more diversity. We think that this can be made operational by applying the Subsidiarity Principle (matters are handled by the smallest or lowest competent authority, a principle applied, for example, by the European Union). This, in turn, can be made operational, we believe, by Walking the Talk or the Appreciative Approach. We are convinced that this is valid for global and local institutions and organisations as much as for how we construct our identity (and even our brain works in this fashion, by using hierarchies of loops), and not least for our own HumanDHS work.



 

What we do

Our endeavor is innovative, at many levels, and thus, by definition, we do not yet have a long-standing organization that can look back on years of activities. The organizational structure or our group is that of a network and thus entails a wide range of activities by our members. In our research we study the workings of humiliation, in our educational activities we address them, and in our intervention projects we attempt to translate research into practice.

HumanDHS is a network of scholars, researchers and practitioners that is independent of any ideological, religious, political, or material agenda. At the core of our work is the use of transdisciplinary approaches for generating and disseminating knowledge about human dignity and humiliation. We are committed to a wide range of knowledge creation and dissemination, from shifts in awareness and practice at the local micro-level to larger changes at the level of the global community.

We believe that research in social science should not remain within the academic realm only. Like the natural sciences, social sciences should be taken into "real life." Professor Shibley Telhami explains this point as follows, "I have always believed that good scholarship can be relevant and consequential for public policy. It is possible to affect public policy without being an advocate; to be passionate about peace without losing analytical rigor; to be moved by what is just while conceding that no one has a monopoly on justice."

Also within our group, we want to live our values and create an innovative global network where we emphasize respect for equal dignity and refrain from old-style autocratic communication modes. We also wish to "walk the talk" and create a humiliation-free, collaborative learning environment characterized by appreciative enquiry, mutual respect, mutual empathy, and openness to difference in our research, our communication style with others, as well as in our meetings and dealings within the group.

HumanDHS is developing a global network that serves as a platform for everybody who wishes to contribute to this work. Committed to creating a better future for our world, for our children and grandchildren, our members are dedicated to providing effective and creative platforms for building bridges in situations of disagreement and conflict and for generating a program of future-oriented activities that result in a viable global community.

Sociologist Neil J. Smelser, with his value added theory (or strain theory), analyzes what is necessary for a new social movement to emerge:
1. Structural conduciveness – things that make or allow certain behaviors possible (e.g. spatial proximity).
2. Structural strain – something (inequality, injustice) must strain society.
3. Generalized belief and explanation – participants have to come to an understanding of what the problem is.
4. Precipitating factors – spark to ignite the flame.
5. Mobilization for action – people need to become organized.
6. Failure of social control –authorities not clamping down (see, e.g., Swedberg, Richard (1990). Economics and Sociology: Redefining Their Boundaries: Conversations With Economists and Sociologists. Princenton, NJ: Princeton University Press).

We, as HumanDHS, address all six points:
1. We use the structural conduciveness of the internet.
2. We react to structural strain (humiliation fueling terrorism, for example, or humiliation causing general well-being to diminish).
3. We contribute to efforts to develop a shared understanding of what the problem is (we begin with what Ray & Anderson call the Cultural Creatives).
4. We try to ignite the “flame” of dignity,
5. and mobilize action,
6. while using the inclusive approach that human rights call for.

Oregon poet and writer Kim Stafford challenged Linda Hartling in 2016 to compile a list of relational alternatives to the tyranny of “self” talk:
Self —> Relational Being
Self —> Beings-in-Relationship (Miller 1991)
Self-Actualization —> Mutual Actualization
Self-Development —> Mutual Development
Self-Esteem —> Social-Esteem (Jenkins 1993)
Self-Confidence —> Relational Confidence
Self-Defense —> Relational Safety —> Protective Connection
Self-Image —> Relational Images
Self-Made —> Co-Created
Self-Awareness —> Relational Awareness
Self-Care —> Mutual Care
Self-Responsibility —> Relational Responsibility —> Universal Responsibility
Self-Worth —> Mutual Worth —> Mutual Dignity
Self-Help —> Connected Caring
Self-Serving —> Community Serving
Self-Respect —> Relational Respect



 

Some reflections

"Pessimism is a luxury we can only afford in good times, in difficult times it easily represents a self-inflicted, self-fulfilling death sentence. This insight, to me, is real Realism or real Realpolitik, far from blue-eyed Idealism. We have to courageously resist the current tendency to suspect those who work for a better world to be hopeless idealists. This would mean Realpolitik letting disaster happen (by deepening fault lines instead of transcending them), and us not at least attempting to prevent this. Strange real Realpolitik!"
Evelin Lindner, 2004.

"To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places — and there are so many — where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."
Howard Zinn (You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train: A personal history of our times, 2004, p. 208)



 

What you can do

Please click on Who We Are, where you can read more about us, our Global Coordinating Team, Global Core Team, Global Advisory Board, Global Partners, Global Supporters, and Annual Meetings. You can also meet with our Board of Directors, including Evelin G. Lindner (Founder), Donald C. Klein, Linda M. Hartling, Richard Slaven (Business Manager), Bertram Wyatt-Brown, Ulrich Spalthoff, Eric Van Grasdorff, Victoria Fontan, Maggie O'Neill, Grace Feuerverger, Arie Nadler, Michael Britton.

You have furthermore access to an Introduction to our work, to our History, to our Mission Statement , to our Call for Creativity, our Welcome to Newcomers, and our Collection of Quotes.

See also a short definition of humiliation, read on eliminating humiliation, on the larger sociological context within which our work is positioned, on possible futures for our planet and which future our group wishes to promote, read also on the methods we wish to use, guided by appreciative enquiry. See our intervention rationale here.

We have four agendas, the first one is to build our group as a global network and alliance (see Who We Are). The other three are our Research Agenda, our Education Agenda, and our Intervention Agenda.

We also plan to create a Human Dignity Shop.

And you can contact us here. If you wish to make a donation, please click here.


This map shows the locations of the Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies Conferences until 2017.
Please click on the map to see it larger.

Morton Deutsch has formulated a pledge that you might wish to ponder:
Imagine a global human community in which you, your children, and grandchildren as well as all the others in our shared planet and their children and grandchildren:
•  … Are able to live in dignity and are treated fairly.
•  … Have freedom from the fear of violence and war and can live in peace.
• ... Have freedom from want so that you do not ever have to live in such impoverished circumstances you and your loved ones can not have adequate care, food, water, shelter, health services,education, and other necessities for physical and emotional well-being as well as a dignified life.
•  …Have freedom of information, publication, speech, beliefs, and assembly so that you can be free to be different and free to express open criticism of those in authority individually or collectively.
•  … Have the responsibility to promote, protect, and defend such freedoms as those described above for yourself as well as for others when they are denied or under threat.
• …Will work together cooperatively to make the world that their grandchildren will inherit free of such problems as war, injustice, climate change, and economic disruption.
Are you willing be a member of such a global human community? If “yes”, please make the following pledge: I pledge to promote these rights and responsibilities in my own life, in my community, and in the global community as best I can through nonviolent personal actions and working together with others.
(This pledge can be found on pp. 11-12 in the chapter "A Framework for Thinking about Developing a Global Community," by Morton Deutsch, Eric C. Marcus, and Sarah Brazaitis, in Peter T. Coleman and Morton Deutsch (eds.), The Psychological Components of Sustainable Peace, Springer Press, 2012)



 

Rhymed Reflections

Francisco Gomes De Matos has prepared a "Communicative Dignity: A Checklist" in Recife, Brazil, concluding that "dignity is more than a quality; It is the essence of our humanity." Uli Spalthoff printed this checklist 40 times in Germany, and brought to Oslo to distribute on the tables of the launch event. Francisco Gomes de Matos coined the term digniversity, and Bhante the term dignicommunity. See also Dignity in Care: Stand up for dignity - The Dignity Challenge by José Carlos Gonçalves.

• 16th February 2024
Love is humanizing
Love is harmonizing
Love is deeply dignifying
Love is lifeblessing
Love is divine generosity
Love is Earth caring
Love is sustaining Humanity

• 16th January 2023
A plea for digni words in mental dictionaries:
What happens if we juxtapose digni to a large repertoire of nouns for professions/professional activities?
We enhance/elevate their meanings. Compare these words:
Arts — Digniarts
Biology — Dignibiology
Economy — Digniecomony
Politics — Dignipolitics
Caregiving — Dignicaregiving
Psychology — Dignipsychology...
As creative language users enjoy this lexical-elevating process!
Dignirespectfully,
Francisco Gomes de Matos

• July 19, 2021
Dignity is the wisest way to Equality
Dignity is the best way to Solidarity

• On LIFE, DIGNITY, and LIVING IN DIGNITY: A rhymed reflection for the HumanDHS community
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder of The World Dignity University initiative (12th September 2013)

LIFE may be too difficult to define
but everyday living we can refine

How? By educating for living in/for Dignity
as an indispensable human-improving quality

LIFE: a quality? a condition? So difficult to define
but committing to living in/for dignity is a responsibility yours and mine

• A  Dignity Creed: A checklist for dignifiers
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (12th October 2012)
1. In the life-improving strength of Dignity, let's believe
2. To the character-elevating role of Dignity, let's be committed
3. In the everyday relational force of Dignity, let's believe
4. To the communication-enhancing function of Dignity, let's be committed
5. In the global citizenship-building value of Dignity, let's believe
6. To the human-conduct uplifting contibution of Dignity, let's be committed
7. In the life-supporting power of Dignity, let's believe
8. To the mutual-respect-enhancing force of Dignity, let's be committed
9. In the Human Rights-honoring function of Dignity, let's believe
10.To an all-forms-of-life-and-environment-supporting DIGNITY, let's be committed
11.In the life-preserving power of Peace, Nonviolence, and Nonkilling, let's believe
Readers are asked to continue the above Checklist.
For further reflection:
As global citizens, we are entrusted with responsibilities, rights, and privileges.
As global citizens, do we fulfil our co-responsibilities dignifyingly? How? Why?
As global citizens, do we exercise our rights dignifyingly? How? Why?
As global citizens, do we enjoy our privileges dignifyingly? How? Why?

• On Cosmodignifiers: A futurist reflection
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (13th February 2016)
Here is a dialogue between two futurists, A and B
A) Do you think the world will change thoroughly?
B) Yes, I do. There will be a colossal global transformation. Everywhere, there will be peace/nonviolence/nonkilling implementation
A) How will Humankind interact?
B) Through constructive, multilingual communication.
A) Everywhere will there be a human/nonhuman rights/responsibilities conscientization?
B) Sure. Among late 21st century Government Rights, there will emerge a Right to Interplanetarization.
A) Everywhere, what will local government policies prioritize?
B) Stonger, sustainable ways of intercultural, economic, and political cooperation.
A) Everywhere, how will theARTS be used?
B) For the development of creative representation/anticipation of new forms of civilization.
A) How else will the world undergo a major transformation?
B) Everywhere, Humankind will learn to exchange good actions/services that make Earth-sharing a Life/Health-caring mission.
A) What will happen globally to matters of belief and faith?
B) Respect for religious, spiritual  differences  will lead Humankind to deeper forms of spiritualization.
A) I see... all global citizens will become COSMODIGNIFIERS!
B) Right. Everyone will be able to contribute to the growth and develpment of COSMODIGNITY.
A) Will there be professionals in FUTURIZATION?
B) Yes, they will serve organizations everywhere as consultants on business/industrial HARMONIZATION
A) Sounds exciting, fascinating. Let's hope most of these predictions will come true.
B) Yes, Yes, let's think of COSMOptimization as a new frontier for Human beings.

• UNIVERSALS OF HUMAN DIGNITY
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (13th October 2014)

Being patient when your interlocutor is an older person, a person suffering from a neurolinguistic disorder or the like
Being humble when being praised or overpraised in public or by the media or by conference organizers, etc.
Being compassionate/cooperative to persons who are starving, sick, homeless, suffering over a loss of dear ones, etc.
Being commited to the application of Human rights in varied contexts (one's home, workplace, school, natural environment, health services, economic and political affairs, security, etc.
Being an advocate/a practitioner of DIGNI(T)ism in daily life
Please, dear reader, expand the list!

• Defining DIGNITY Didactically through Rhymed reflections
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (23th August 2012)
DIGNITY has to do with character elevation
It also refers to one's wisdom in conversation
DIGNITY has to do with conduct integrity
It also refers to everyday relational quality
DIGNITY has to do with personal worthiness
It also refers to one's moral thoroughness
DIGNITY has to do with the deepest foundation of Human Rights
It also refers to being able to live inspired by compassionate lights
Francisco Gomes de Matos added (24th August 2012):
Why define didactically and how ?
1. If we define didactically we provide more meaningful info on distinctive features of a concept
2. We use a rhymed reflection format to enhance the definition`s memorability
By defining didactically, we provide a deeper perception of the defined concept-term. Researchers have not been linguistically educated to create didactic definitions; they tend to rely on definitions as worded by lexicographers. Given the educational mission of The World Dignity University initiative, systematic education/training in defining didactically could become a permanent creative procedure in every discipline or interdiscipline.

• On the use(s) of DIGNIlanguage: A Checklist
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (7th September 2012)
Introductory remarks:
DIGNIlanguage reflects DIGNITY. As such, it is also MULTIdimensional. Here's an open-ended Checklist for you to use, reflect on, add to, probe ...:
Example statements end in a verb form in -ATED, so as to enhance the list's memorability.
Look for other relevant  verb endings.
When we use DIGNIlanguage,.....
1. is human character elevated?  How? Why ?
2. are participants in the human interaction educated? How? Why?
3. are different human perspectives integrated? How? Why?
4. is communicative peace also propagated? How? Why?
5. is relational dignity effectively demonstrated? How? Why?
6. are solutions to problems/conflicts constructively enunciated?
Let's do our very best so that
our uses of DIGNIlanguage
in our daily actions be wisely resonated!

• Vitamins for Biodignity
A reflection by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative, Recife, Brazil (6th December 2015):
Vitamins are sssential substances for living. How about for living dignifyingly? Here a list of vitamins for biodiversity. You are asked to expand and probe the list.
Vitamins: A Altruism B Benevolence C Compassion D Decorum E Empathy F Friendliness K Kindness
Ever thought about Vitamins for sustaining dignity at the personal, interpersonal, intragroup, international levels?

• Rhymed Reflections on DIGNITY: A peace linguist`s view
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (23rd March 2013)
DIGNITY is a power:
when used spiritually, it becomes a flower

DIGNITY is the source of Human Rights
It shines everywhere as humanizing lights

DIGNITY is a deep quality
It gives a soul to equality

DIGNITY is needed in Economy
to give wealth a worthy physiognomy

DIGNITY is embedded in Peace
Treating others well should never cease!

• The Right to Dignity: A Plea... O Direito à Dignidade
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (22nd November 2015)
Human Rights when you apply
with a deep principle please comply:
That of human life always dignifying
and friendly interpersonal relations always edifying
Every time Human Rights you apply
The Right to Dignity please also imply
...
Amigo(a),
Direitos Humanos queremos aplicar?
Um princípio profundo devemos considerar:
A Vida sabermos sempre dignificar
e para o Direito à Dignidade sabermos educar

•A DEEPER -ISM FOR THE WORLD: Rhymed Reflections
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (19th May 2013)
Hundreds of concepts in -ISM in many languages there are
Many of them have been helping Humankind constructively go far

What is needed now? A deeper -ISM with which the World could be improved
There should be proposed an -ISM by which all human hearts would be moved

Among new -ISMS of such in-depth power there is one that excels
It is more than a system or theory: of a needed universal quality it tells

What could we call it in English a how could it be expressed?
By a compact word resulting from DIGNITY+ISM being compressed

There are many constructive -ISMS Humankind can live by
but DIGNISM will remind us that human character should always aim high

Through rhymed reflections this lexical Plea has been composed
The presence of DIGNISM in all languages is hereby proposed

• On DIGNILIVING: Reflections
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (5th May 2013)

If in DIGNITY  life is embedded
human character may be elevated

If in DIGNITY  life is immersed
Human conduct may be perfected

If in DIGNITY life is nurtured
Human communication may be improved

• On being a DIGNITinstrument
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (11th June 2013)

Are you a DIGNITinstrument?
In your life, what is the most dignifying sentiment?

Are you a global instrument of PEACE?
As a DIGNITinstrument, how can you help violence and killing cease?

Are you a DIGNITinstrument for solidarity?
How do you give compassion top priority?

As a DIGNITinstrument, does your spirituality go far?
Ask yourself how very small and humble you are.

• On DIGNITeaching
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (12th June 2013)

DIGNITeaching calls for a strong character and a broad mind
and thrives on serving Education for the good of Humankind

DIGNITeaching calls for peaceful communication
and thrives on reaching goals that enhance cooperation

DIGNITeaching calls for a classroom environment enhanced by mutual respect
and thrives on nurturing patience to know who,why and how wisely to direct

DIGNITeaching calls for sustainable psychopedagogical humility
and thrives on assuring learners of their right to creative autonomy

• On DIGNIleading
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (10th June 2013)

DIGNILeading calls for a leader's character thoroughness
and it also presupposes a leader's conduct firmness

DIGNIleading should convey communicative fairness
and it should thrive on creative farsightedness

DIGNIleading is a transformative political/social quality
It should also be a commitment to economic equality

Acts of (g)local DIGNIleading should be an inspiration
showing how DIGNITISM can enhance a leader's humanization

With an ocean of DIGNexamples, lives will certainly be more delightful.
The world will be more peaceful.
And the environment will more beautiful.

• On DIGNITexting
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (13th June 2013)

We live in a fascinatingly creative Digital Media age
In what technologically-supported textual actions do we engage?
In texting, about our character and conduct what is communicated?
As textualizers, do we help other language users be dignifyingly educated?

In texting persons that we do not know
What communicative dignity can we sow?

In texting for professional purposes,how is our intention realized?
Is all or most of our intended meaning accurately (re)cognized?

DIGNITexting calls for intentions being dignifyingly expressed
By our semantic choices will our text recipients be impressed?

In a world in need of Global Citizen Education, it is not enough to be textualizers
We also have to fulfill our planetary duty as relational harmonizers

15th June 2013:
Ao DIGNITEXTUALIZAR, você vai muito além do convencional comunicar
A Dignidade Comunicativa você consegue priorizar e a interação humanizar

Ao DIGNITEXTUALIZAR, você não apenas se comunica BEM
você trata e retrata pessoas, animais, a Natureza, querendo-lhes BEM

O DIGNITEXTUALIZAR é muito mais que um criativo neologismo
Traduz um compromisso ecolinguístico de bem servir ao DIGNISMO

• On DIGNITourism
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (16th June 2013)

Among the global intercultural experiences lived by many people everywhere,
one stands out: TOURISM

The significance of that activity can be deeply enhanced if it both perceived
and promoted as DIGNITourism

DIGNITourism will help tourists become agents of dignifying cultural change
and to travelers Global Citizenship it can contribute by expanding its range

As a formative experience to be pursued to tourists, what innovations
by DIGNITourism will be proposed ?

Multimedia materials for elevating tourist character-conduct-and-communication
will be composed

On tourist face-to-face interaction, DIGNITourism will shed a new light:
making the Tourist Industry aware that DIGNITourism is both a responsibility and a human right

In a spirit of DIGNITourism, a new global role tourists will be able to play:
that of CULTURAL DIGNIFIERS who will honor Tourism History in every imaginative way.

• Rhymed Reflections for David Balosa: What would a Global Intercultural Citizenship for Dignity call for?
An open-ended Checklist through pairs of rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (29th September 2013)
a piece written for David Balosa, a new member of the HDHS community

A Global Intercultural Citizenship for Dignity would call for...

(I) human beings everywhere learning to interact in communicatively dignifying ways
human groups and communities everywhere learning to share the Earth in individually and colllectively edifying ways

(ii) Humankind committing to engaging in interculturally harmonizing actions
... improving their everyday cultural interactions

(iii) Humankind being educated in intercultural rights and responsibilities
...intercultural communicative dignity abilities

An interculturally peaceful/nonviolent/nonkilling world: when/how will it be possible?
Cultures of war, violence, and killing will cease everywhere
Global intercultural citizens in deep solidarity for one another will learn to care

How will deep transformations pave the way to a Global Intercultural Citizenship for Dignity?
Cultures of aggression and oppression will give way to cultures of compassion and affection
Improvement of character+conduct+communication will lead to intercultural humility and dignifying transformation.

• Protests for a Dignity Economy
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (18th June 2013)

Protesting for the public good
is a people's significant role in their nationhood

Protesting against an unfair, rising cost of living
can show what benefits a peple is not receiving

In voicing collective discontent, there shouldn't be a fight
Protesting is both a responsibility and a human political right

Protesting can be a legitimate form of public action
leading to a constructive transformative political interaction

When in public protests, violence and vandalism take place
Let's globally denounce and deplore it: Human Dignity is slapped on its face

Protests should help Democract thrive in Dignity
and show that a government should implement a Dignity Economy

• DIGNInternationalism
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (21th June 2013)

The world may have been made smaller
but globally, has human character grown taller?
The world may have become technologically more interconnected
but globally has Humankind integration been effectively perfected?

The world may have becom less violent at the level of national relations
but has Humankind been communicatively dignified at the level of interpersonal relations?

For so many things there will  be globalization
but when will DIGNITY become a Universal of Humanization?

When will people everywhere treat one another  with dignity?
When the application of LOVING ONE's NEIGHBOR will become a universally shared quality

In Global Political History, the concept of Internationalism readily comes to mind
What is also needed?
DIGNInternationalism, to help implement the cooperative responsibility-and-right of Humankind

• On DIGNIdentity
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (22nd June 2013)

Among the individually defining concpts,one stands out: IDENTITY
To that set of characteristics, can there be added a deep quality?

Yes, if DIGNITY is embedded therein
thus strengthening the character-conduct-communication within

By proposing the conceptual innovation of DIGNIdentity
We incorporate a dignifying dimension to a person's humanity

One's DIGNIdentity should be honored with integrity
May it be lived everywhere with sustainable serenity

• On DIGNIntelligence
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (23rd June 2013)

Human Multiple Intelligences by the psychological literature are described
To each of those mental powers, specific distintictive features are ascribed

A new type of Multiple Intelligence can be advocated
which will help improve the way persons are educated

A DIGNIntelligence is hereby proposed
to characterize how human thinking can be dignifyingly composed

Creating and applying knowledge human intelligence can do
How about DIGNIntelligence? Let's do our best and peacefully make it come true

• On the interconceptual power of DIGNITY
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (24th June 2013)

DIGNITY can lead us to humility, and humility to serenity
DIGNITY can lead us to honesty, and honesty to integrity

DIGNITY can lead us to hospitality, and hospitality to solidarity

DIGNITY can lead us to humanity, and humanity to affinity

DIGNITY can lead us to peace-sustainability, and peace-sustainability to spirituality

DIGNITY can lead us to law-applicability, and law-applicability to justiciability

DIGNITY can leads us to life-preservability, and life-preservability to life-nonkillability

DIGNITY can lead us to Plea overcoming poverty, and overcoming poverty to charity
Please add other items...

• On DIGNITreating the POOR
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (24th June 2013)

If on the poor we look down
On our dignity the world will frown
If food to the poor we deny
It is our dignity we crucify

If the poor we vilify
It is our dignity we nullify

If poverty and misery we do not overcome
Undignifying our social responsibility will become

Everywhere let's treat the poor with dignity
and we will improve their and our humanity
Please add other pairs of rhymed reflections...

• Dignity in Health Care: Who cares?
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (13th August 2013)

In improving human-and-animal health services let's dare
Dignity is globally needed in all types of health care
When due to a scarcity or lack of health professionals, patients die
that shameful situation through street protests and the media, let's decry

Commendably, the World Health Organization has been doing its share
but locally, how do government-sponsored health services fare?

In communities everywhere to ensure the presence of doctors what is being done?
In the poorest communities how can people survive medically, without the presence of doctors, of at least one?

• On DIGNITechnologizing
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (25th June 2013)

Since Literacy has been called the Technology of the Intellect
Dignity could be referred to as the Technology of Deep Respect

Through innovative technological resources people around the world have been protesting
Complaints, pleas, calls for economic, social, political change protesters have been manifesting

Technologically, has human character been improved?
About human conduct what can Technology prove?

Technology may have challenged language users become more creative signifiers
but will such technological competence contribute to educating us as deep dignifiers?

For human character-conduct-and-communication to be dignifyingly achieved
Technology will have to be deeply humanized in ways not yet imaginatively conceived

Applications of science in education, health, industry and commerce
may have become technologically advanced but has the dignifying power of technology in those areas been significantly enhanced?

Technology should be created and used for the good of Humanking
How will DIGNItechnology contribute to people East and West being kind?

Let's beware of Technology supposedly developed to impress
It may be an insidious form of manipulation devised to oppress

• On DIGNITenvironmentalizing
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (28th June 2013)

Eco-agents in the local environment all of us human beings are
but in our actions for Nature protection and preservation have we gone far?

How do we treat animals and natural resources where we live?
As environmentally-committed beings what good examples do we give?

How can we responsibly carry out a DIGNITYenvironmentalism?
By contributing to Environmental Sustainability through DIGNITYism

• On the DIGNITY of salaries
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (23th July 2013)

For your services, is your salary a fair compensation
or is what is being paid you a professional humiliation?

When professionally you are underpaid and your salary violates dignity
What changes should be made for you to be treated with due integrity?

About the salary you receive ,to your employer do you complain?
What if your expressing disatisfaction turns out to be in vain?

If you invoke your economic right to a worthy professional pay
What will labor legislation in your country/community say?

Will you join workers who decide to engage in a public protest
and experience such action as a rights-and-responsibilities test?

May this be a plea for you to engage in applying Dignity Studies so as to
improve wages policies-and-practices where you live
and to a new era in Dignity in Economy a humanizing contribution you will give!

• On organizational DIGNITY
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (25th July 2013)

Does organizational sense lead to organizational conscience?
Does organizational conscience inspire organizational consciousness?
Does organizational consciousness nurture organizational dignity?
Does organizational dignity pave the way to global organizational humanity?

• DIGNITY in International Relations
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (8th July 2013)

How are international relations between countries conducted?
How are diplomats from East and West being instructed?

What kinds of agreements and treaties are being signed?
When will all countries be diplomatically alligned?

For persons working in diplomacy, what is the most importantant communicative responsibility?
Do persons engaged in international relations treat one another with dignity?

How can diplomats become dignifiers of the dialogue between nations?
By communicating constructively, dignifyingly in all international relations

Francisco Gomes de Matos wrote (24th August 2012):
Dear reader, ever thought of defining HUMILIATION didactically through rhymed reflections?
Here's an attempt, but DO create your own didactic definition:
Humiliation has to do with a person degrading
It also refers to character downgrading
Humiliation has to do withs violation of dignity
It also refers to debasing a person's human quality
Humiliation has to do with s self-respect reducing
It also refers to a person`s loss of pride inducing

• The World as a DIGNItheater
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (30th June 2013)

If, all of a sudden, the world became a dignifying stage
Humankind would be able to start living in a deeply transformative age

If, all of a sudden, world citizens became dignifying global actors
Their performance would be challenged by new human-improving factors
If, all of a sudden, all of us the role of DIGNIFIERS started to play
What would agents of PEACE, NONVIOLENCE, NONKILLING be happy to say?

Here's what possibly would be said:
The world as a DIGNITheater will provide experiences that not even Shakespearean characters have had!

• On DIGNITY in Questioning
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (3th July 2013)

Questioning is a very important legal action
How can it help dignify human interaction?

Questioning that goes beyond interrogation
How can it contribute to communicative humanization?

Questioning is not only a legal  right
It is also a responsibility-bearing might

When, as a prosecutor, a witness questions you ask
You are facing a most challenging trust-building task

Next time you legally engage in interrogation
Ask yourself: Does my rhetoric help character-elevation?

• DIGNITY in Public Health
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (7th July 2013)

Health Care is public service which should be globally appraised
About such collective benefit the following questions could be raised

Where are there health services of humanizing quality?
Where are  patients therein always treated with dignity?

Where, sometimes for hours, a patient has to stand in line for a medical appointment to make?
What Human Rights action about that humiliation can a patient take?

In your country/city/community do public health services leave to be desired?
What should be changed in the government-sponsored system so as to be admired?

For public health effectively to be improved and protected
To what feasible goals should current health policies and practices be redirected?
Since violence is also a public health problem to be overcome globally
What can be done by health care institutions to help persons/groups who have been harmed locally?

How can Dignity in Public Health become a top-priority issue in every government agenda of responsibilities?
How can the World Dignity University initiative help coeducate persons and groups of health care professionals in applying such vitally needed abilities?

• DIGNITY in CO-EXISTENCE
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative, written for the book in preparation The Muldimensional Power of Dignity, 25th July 2013)

In Dignity, all peoples should be educated to co-exist
and all threats to their interdependence they should resist

Sharing the Earth does not suffice in our global quest for humanizing unity
A more dignifying global coexistence should become a sustainable quality

Co-existence can help pave the way for Humankind to  go beyond
by inspiring all peoples to cobuild  a global citizenship as a unifying bond

• DIGNITY in ART, DIGNITY as ART
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative, written for the book in preparation The Muldimensional Power of Dignity, 9th July 2013)

As an ART, can we think of DIGNITY?
Yes, if it is created as a dignifying ARTivity

Paintings and poems from ART resulting
should never be used for hating or insulting

When ART is created for character-elevating
it is DIGNITY that artists are cultivating

Through ART EDUCATION when will human conduct globally improve?

When more good things done in East and West artistic works can prove
Can Humankind benefit from both Dignity in ART and Dignity as ART?
Yes, when artistic creativity everywhere shapes and is shaped by the human HEART.

• DIGNITY in SILENCE — SILENCE of DIGNITY / The DIGNITY of SILENCE
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative, written for the book in preparation The Muldimensional Power of Dignity, 12th July 2013)

How can we deepen humanization?
By daily engaging in meditation

How can we enhance our spiritualization?
By cultivating a humbling Silence Education

When does our Silence constructively communicate?
When, in a heated argument, conciliation we silently advocate

When does our Silence dignify?
When silently our compassion we fortify

How can SiLENCE help Humankind live soulfully?
By meditating and learning how to treat one another peacefully

Can SILENCE be considered an additional means of expressing POWER?

• A DIGNITY acrostic
Rhymed Reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (2nd July 2013)

Dignifying
Interaction
Globally
Nurtures
Interdependence
Togetherness
YESfully

Here is the intended message, in ordinary prose: By dignifying interaction globally, we nurture interdependence and togetherness positively.
Readers are challenged to create other DIGNITY-inspired acrostics!

• On INDIGNITY as a lesson in HUMILITY
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist from Recife, Brazil, Cofounder of The World Dignity University Initiative (6th June 2013):
Among the lists of painful experiences human beings may have had, one stands out: indignities suffered on various occasions. What would your list of indignities suffered look like? How would you describe or characterize your suffering? As an instance of humiliation? How about changing that perception/attitude and considering each indignity suffered as a lesson in humility? How hard or challenging would that be for you? Why? Here is the beginning of an open-ended list on Indignities human beings may suffer. Please add to it, reflect on it, and connect Indignity to Humility.
Would you be able to say something like this:
In my life I have suffered ______communicative / economic / educational / physical / political / psychological / social indignity, and every type of indignity I suffered I considered a lesson in humility. If you share such consideration, how would you justify it?
What if were asked to compile a list of indignities to which you have subjected a person or person? What specific types of indignity would be included? Would such type of list exemplify or illustrate a list of things I am ashamed of having done in my interaction with other persons?
What HUMILITY-building benefits could be achieved from keeping a daily / weekly / monthly journal of INDIGNITIES suffered (in various contexts, such as at home, at work, at school, etc.)?
If you were asked to connect an INDIGNITY to HUMILIATION how would propose instead that a link be established between INDIGNITY and HUMILITY?

• Humiliation: A Psychological Killing
Rhymed reflections by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (11th May 2012)
- Humiliation is a way of psychological killing
causing harm to another person one is willing
- When a person/a group/a community we humiliate
the right to dignity we psychologically violate
- When a person/a group/a community we humiliatingly disrespect
We shame our own intellect
- When a person/a group/a community we treat with humiliating indignity
We debase, dehumanize, depreciate a fundamental psychological quality
- When, in a group, a person you ridicule
It's YOUR dignity that becomes minuscule!
- When, in a group, a person you scorn
Your act shows that your dignity is worn
- When, in a group, a person you discriminate
From the Road to DIGNITY you will deviate
- When, in a group discussion, a person you infuriate
By losing your temper, it's your INdignity that you elevate

• What is humiliation?
A mnemonically-made Checklist (nouns in -ATION) by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (30th May 2012)
Humiliation is a vast conceptual territory. As a condition or a state, humiliation is realized in a myriad ways. How can the identification of types of humiliation be systematized ?Here is one simple possibility, created on the basis of mnemonics: Humiliation is associated with concepts ending in -ATION. Readers are challenged to add to the list and to create other mnemonically-based lists. In this age of imaginative education, you are asked to visualize the contexts where each type of humiliation could be brought about or experienced. Feedback on this activity will be appreciated.
What is humiliation? How can it be realized?
By causing or experiencing
1 - discrimination
2 - tribulation
3 - degradation
4 - dehumanization
5 - devaluation
6 - incrimination
7 - demoralization
8 - subjugation
9 - intimidation
10 - dignity-violation
11 - objectification
12 - dislocation
13 . deprivation
14 - mortification

• When We Humiliate
Rhymed reflections for psychological repair
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (27th June 2012)

When we humiliate, psychological harm we may inflict
When we humiliate, with moral principles we may conflict

When we humiliate, our human weakness we demonstrate
Our social indignity, injustice and irresponsibility we obviate

When we humiliate a person/a group,our sense of humanization we deactivate
When we humiliate a human being/group, our own voice of dignity we suffocate

When we humiliate, as human beings we deteriorate
When we humiliate, our spirit of solidarity we obliterate

To humiliation, the more we can resist
The more our Human Dignity will persist

Humiliation: will we ever be able to eliminate?
Yes, if for Dignity all Humankind we REeducate

• On Types of Humiliation: A Checklist
Rhymed reflections for psychological repair
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (29th June 2012)
Who has been subjected to what type of humiliation? A Checklist (nouns ending in -ATION):
Forced/imposed/mistaken/unlawful
1. territorial dislocation
2. (lost) national identification
3. land deprivation
4. (compulsory) academic life termination
5. economic depreciation 6. privacy violation
7.political indoctrination 8. social discrimination
9. marketing globalization
10. psycholotical intimidation
11. temporary incarceration
12. deportation
13. religious discrimination
14. physical condition minimization (being ridiculed for one's physical condition)
15. educational situation (being made fun of because of educational affiliation or the like )
16. linguistic minimization (one's language or language variety being ridiculed or devalued)
Please add to this list . Reflect on the types of humiliation. You may not have experienced them but you may have friends who may have been humiliated in such ways ....

Brian Ward contributed on 1st July 2012 with:
17 Anything that contributes to the denial of empowerment for a person to reach self actualisation or post-individual consciousness.
18 Anything that causes or contributes to a loss of empathy within a person.
19 Invasion of the physical or mental person

• Beware of Humiliating
Rhymed reflections for psychological repair
by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (7th August 2012)

When a person we hatefully humiliate
dehumanizingly, shamefully we act

When a human being oppressively humiliate
the worst type of indignity becomes a fact

We a group of persons violently we humiliate
the humiliation may backfire and our character we devastate

If one day we seem to be inordinately angry with someone ,let's beware of humiliating
Why ? One day we may be subject to humiliation by a person's heartless infuriating

• The History of Humankind is a History of Humiliation but also of Dignification
A rhymed reflection by by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (7th August 2012)

If, on the one hand, the history of Humankind is a history of edification
On the other hand, the history of Humankind is also a history of humiliation

The history of Humankind is also a history of humiliation
Sad examples: age/class/ethnic/gender/race discrimination

The history of Humankind is also a history of humiliation
A sad example:economic deprivation

The history of Humankind is also a history of humiliation
A sad example: population dislocation

The history of Humankind is also a history of humiliation
A sad example: political domination

The history of Humankind is also a history of humiliation
A sad example: environmental devastation

The history of Humankind is also a history of humiliation
A sad example: communicative intimidation

The history of Humankind is also a history of humiliation
A sad example: consumer exploitation

Please add to the above. It is an open-ended listing.
The history of Humankind is also a history of humiliation
A sad example: forced emigration
The history of Humankind is also a history of humiliation
A sad example: territorial occupation

• Being Rather than Doing or Having
by Linda Hartling, August 8, 2012
BEING!
BEING IN RELATIONSHIP!
BEING RELATIONAL BEINGS!
BEING RELATIONAL BEINGS IN DIGNITY!
BEING RELATIONAL BEINGS IN MUTUAL DIGNITY!
BEING MUTUALLY DIGNIFYING RELATIONAL BEINGS!

• On Humiliation: imagining ways to overcome it
A rhymed reflection by by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (15th June 2013)

Human beings think they may never be free from Humiliation
but ways to overcome it there will always be

Human beings think they may never be free from Humiliation
but ways to prevent it there will always be

Human beings think they may never be free from Humiliation
but ways to reduce it there will always be

Human beings think they may never be free from Humiliation
but ways to denounce it there will always be

Human beings think they may never be free from Humiliation
but replacing it with DIGNITY such possibility there will always be!

• Taking a new look at Dignity
A rhymed reflection by by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (31st May 2014)

Dignity is a very deep human quality
Of Human Rights, Dignity is the foundation

Dignity is a formative human quality
Of human character, Dignity is the elevation

Dignity is a liberating human quality
Of  human condition,Dignity is the emancipation

Dignity is a peacesustaining human quality
Of human Life, Dignity is the consolidation

Dignity is a citizenship-building quality
Of human interconnectedness it is the inspiration

Dignity is a constructive quality
Of human positiveness, Dignity is the manifestation

Dignity is a communicative quality
Of human interaction, Dignity is the celebration

Dignity is a very powerful educational quality
Why ? It is the local/global answer to humiliation!

• On indignity and indignation
A rhymed reflection by by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (14th October 2013)

To overcome indignity
we activate  dignity

To dignify our indignation
with humility let's reassess the situation

If our indignation to anger or wrath we do not escalate
Our reaction to injustice  we dignifyingly self-educate

If dignifiers we are committed to be
Let's start by dignifying relations between you and me

• On DIGNITransformation: Applying Imaginative Education to Life Improvement
A rhymed reflection by by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (15th June 2013)

Improving LIFE on EARTH calls for a DIGNITransformation
A profound change in character-conduct-and-communication

DIGNITransforming Humankind
would call for every human being learning to be kind

DIGNITransforming Humankind
would call for a sustainable peace of mind

DIGNITransforming Humankind
would call for always acting fairly, leaving our biases and prejudices behind

DIGNITransforming Humankind would call for our always being humble, and when needed chaging our mind

DIGNITransforming Humankind
would call for an awareness of spirituality, as a force for global unity-solidarity

DIGNITransfoming Humankind
would call for a sustainable dignifying commitment: to indignities,inequities, and injustice never being blind

Readers are asked to contribute other pairs of imaginatively-created
pairs of Rhymed Reflections which will help strengthen the author's conviction that
Bringing about a DIGNITransformation in Humankind
would call for a commitment to serving people who are suffering wherever we may find

• For a more dignified-dignifying future
A plea by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (29th November 2013) in reaction to "Fostering Global Citizenship," chapter 15 in Peter T. Coleman and Morton Deutsch (Eds.), Psychological Components of Sustainable Peace: An Introduction
Dear Evelin, in rereading your page 291 statement "I suggest focusing on the individual, ...and I propose to extend the field of intercultural communication into the field of global interhuman communication" my mind (and heart) created this rhymed reflection:

In co-building a future that for humankind will be more dignified
A new global citizenship goal will have to  be creatively signified
 
In which an intercultural approach to dignifying communication will be proposed
and to exemplary individual uses of communicative dignity people will be exposed
 
If for human beings and communities a more dignified future is to be anticipated
In Gobal Ctizenship, people as dignifiers everywhere will have to be educated

• Toward a Pedagogy of the Humiliated
A rhymed reflection by Francisco Gomes de Matos, a peace linguist, Cofounder, The World Dignity University initiative (8th November 2013)

Introductory note: Paulo Freire's legacy to World Education started with his ever-inspiring Pedagogy of the Oppressed. In his deeply humanizing perspective, in titling his book he opted for making the type of human being explicit rather than opting for thet concept oppression: In such spirit, I have opted for the humiliated in the title of of this brief piece, dedicated to the Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies community. Readers are asked to continue the set of rhymed reflections and to concentrate on what could be included in a globally, crossculturally created Pedagogy of the Humiliated.

If or when we are humiliated
How can our forgiveness, be demonstrated
When being humiliated causes us deep pain
How can our humbleness remain the same
When with victims of humiliation we sympathize
Their right to restorative justice how do we recognize
When to public humiliation we are exposed
In our mercy how can our indignation be composed
When we are humiliated how can be do our dignifying best
How can we put our emotions and reactions to a humility test
When discussing humiliation who is inspired by the Beatitudes?

Por uma Pedagogia dos Humilhados
Reflexões rimadas por Francisco Gomes de Matos, linguista da paz co-fundador, Comissão de Direitos Humanos Dom Helder Camara, UFPE

Quando você for humilhado
Como seu perdão pode ser demonstrado?
Quando uma humilhação sofrimento nos faz padecer
Como pode nossa humildade resiliente permanecer?
Com vítimas de humilhação, quando nos solidarizamos
Seu direito à justiça restaurativa,como asseguramos?
Quando à humilhação pública o ser humano é exposto
A(o) humilhador(a), que tipo de perdão é proposto?
Quando somos humilhados, como à nossa reação humanidade manifestar?
Fazendo com que o sentimento de indignar-se transforme-se em dignificar
Sobre os humilhados deste mundo ao refletirmos,como pelas Bem-Aventuranças
como podemos ser inspirados?
Aplicando esses ensinamentos espirituais e reeducando-nos para que todos
na Terra possam ser bem tratados?