A long time ago, when my children engaged in taunts, they claimed others had no honor. It struck me as funny that a few youngsters, still finding their footing, would parody one of humanity’s most cherished qualities. Generation X was less dramatic in its slights, using cruder nicknames instead. It’s clear that the next generation stands taller, looks better, and grows more capable than before. They are shaping us as a society, for better or worse. So be it.
I recall a vision from an African village where children greet elders by bringing their heads closer as a sign of respect. They seek the elder’s touch, a hand resting in their hair. One child remarks that as adults age, they deserve deeper respect because experience and wisdom accumulate with time. Approaching elders in this way restores dignity and significance. Dignity is deeply tied to how people are seen, treated, and valued by others.
Many hours were spent in a nursing home, observing routines that felt discomforting. Doors left open during diaper changes or moments of care, and the infantilizing ritual of making residents appear smaller or festively dressed during holidays. Seeing someone wear a red, scaly hat with a faraway gaze felt almost humiliating. In a spin class, the instructor jokes with a participant who pedals as though there were no tomorrow, urging, “Tell your partner to buy you shoes that fit so you can run more.” Laughter fills the room, the moment hanging in the air. In a locker room conversation, two young women discuss their bodies and potential enhancements, laughing at the idea that a partner would fund them. The exchange signals something unsettled in society—perhaps a deficit of pride, or a lack of agency in making personal choices. Embracing personal decisions and responsibility earns respect.
In a hotel lounge, a cocktail hour unfolds with panels showing families and children in bright uniforms—salmon, green, burgundy. Photo booth expressions reveal wide-eyed, uneasy smiles. The scene shifts to a remote Central African village, where residents are unaware of the Western hotel’s bustle. An organization strives to fund schooling for minors, auctioning a still-life painting and holding a raffle. When a donation arrives, the presenter crosses himself and announces with hopeful solemnity, “Menganito can now study until the age of 13.” The intense exposure of vulnerability or the belief that giving alms will meaningfully alter futures can feel troubling—almost disrespectful in its simplicity. Yet such efforts continue, reflecting a tension between generosity and genuine empowerment.
There are gestures that honor and others that reveal shortcomings. Distinguishing between them may be easier than it seems, but it requires stepping into the shoes of someone experiencing hardship or illness. When that perspective sharpens, empathy emerges, and with it a renewed respect for dignity. The path to dignity is not about grand gestures alone; it is about everyday choices, the way one speaks, the way one listens, and the quiet courage to acknowledge another person’s humanity.