In our toxic political environment, with leaders feeling increasing pressure to demonstrate strength by “fighting fire with fire,” evidence continues to point to the contrary: that leading with dignity is the way forward.

Some of you are old enough to remember the extraordinary songwriting and singing gifts of Marvin Gaye. During his short life, he composed and performed classics like “Dancin' in the Street,” “My PYT,” and “What’s Going On.” Tragically, he was murdered in 1984 by his father at the age of just 44.  

Over the last week, it was the lyrics of his classic song, “Mercy, Mercy, Me” that came to my mind.

The Dignity Index is pro-free speech.  

Some people are surprised to hear us say this—because they think “if you’re discouraging contempt, you’re discouraging speech.” But the opposite is true. Contempt keeps people from speaking their minds. So if we discourage contempt, we encourage speech.

I spent last week in Washington, D.C., in planning sessions with our team and participating in other meetings and events related to our work of growing the dignity movement. Inspired by the week, and with an hour to spare, I walked to the Lincoln Memorial for an extra dose of hope before heading to the airport.

Last week, I got the flu. Influenza A, to be exact. I’m one of those people who has been extraordinarily lucky with my health over the years and have rarely been sick. Lucky me. But this time, I got the full flu. Bed for days. Sweats. Aches. Hacking cough. Throbbing head. The full works.

A week before Thanksgiving, I was speaking at an online event hosted by R Street Institute, a center-right think tank here in Washington, DC. We came to discuss the causes of political violence, and on the panel before mine, I was lucky to hear from author Noah Rothman, who is a senior writer for the National Review.

Which political party do you most affiliate with?

This question was asked recently in a national poll conducted by CNN and reported by the American Enterprise Institute—and the results were striking.

I’d just concluded a presentation about our dignity movement to a group of bridge builders and community leaders in Utah and was chatting with some of the attendees. I noticed a guest whom I’d seen earlier at a breakfast conversation, and I remembered seeing her at our dignity summit the day before.

To protect free speech, treat others with respect and dignity.

Free speech is a cause promoted and defended by many groups and from many perspectives. But there is one threat to free speech that is getting overlooked in our angry society — the contempt that surrounds us so much we can hardly see it anymore.

I am a political junkie. 

I’m writing this essay as I watch the election results roll in—here in my own community and from across the country. In Utah, local municipal elections fall on the odd-numbered years, and although these races may be perhaps the least noticed contests, they often have the greatest impact on our daily lives. 

What a week!  

The Dignity movement had its first-ever gathering, and it was a sell-out!  We called it a “leadership summit,” but it was more like a love fest—equal parts learning and inspiration; equal parts taking notes and taking names; equal parts listening to understand and sharing our truth as best we could.

Just over a decade ago, the University of Utah launched a new public policy institute that distinguished itself almost immediately as a vital hub for research to help political and business leaders make informed decisions.

For years, we’ve been worried that a culture of contempt would produce an increase in violence. Tragically, we’ve seen exactly that in recent weeks.

There are many ways to describe the Dignity Index. Easy-to-use. Impactful. Research-based. For Chi Kim, it’s all of that and so much more: “It has the beauty of a sophisticated tool,” she said. “It’s universal and appealing. You can put it in any context and it just makes sense.” 

Last week, Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus gathered on the House steps to condemn political violence and call for both parties to lower the temperature of their rhetoric.

Once you put a dehumanizing label on someone, it can become not only okay to kill him, but also virtuous. We must turn away from this attitude and instead treat others with dignity.

As we continue to process and respond to last week’s horrific acts of violence–the assassination of Charlie Kirk and a school shooting in Colorado–our team here at the Dignity Index is continuing to engage with community members in Utah and with members of our online community.

A number of years ago, Tim Shriver was talking about the Dignity Index to a big figure in the media industry. The man listened politely to our plans for reducing contempt and then said, “Good luck. You’re up against a two trillion-dollar industry.”

Yesterday, September 2nd, was the symbolic end of the summer and the return to work. Of course, for the vast majority of us, work didn’t stop in July or August. But nonetheless, the Tuesday after Labor Day feels different. The calendar turns, the days shorten, and we’re back to work.

If you’re a regular reader of our newsletter, you know that our team takes turns reporting on our experiences and work in building the dignity movement. And you’re likely accustomed to my messages, which are most often sparked by insight and inspiration I’ve received while traveling and meeting new people across the country who are engaged with the Dignity Index.