But this extraordinary group persevered, determined to carve a path for learning as they created their new effort. Last week the pipe dream became a reality as we touched down in Greece from our respective countries to meet with this group of visionaries and talk about how they might apply the dignity work to their efforts.
With deep backgrounds across government, education, and the military, they shared their experiences and their views on the language of contempt and dignity, and its impacts. They challenged us and each other. They told us there is no direct translation of the word dignity in the Hebrew language. But the concept of acknowledging the inherent worth we all have as human beings—even when we disagree deeply—resonates universally.
The leaders grappled with both their current realities and the possibilities for a better future—a future they are actively working with the next generation to shape. They explored what putting the Dignity Index into practice could look like in their families, at work, in politics, and in their communities. For me, being alongside them during these intense discussions only reinforced the difficulty, and necessity, of our collective dignity work. Work that this group is willing to take and make their own.
