It was only after the advent of the white man that we met people who did not understand the uniqueness of human beings. —Good Day—
Human beings have been known to act toward other people as though they were things, objects, instead of subjects like ourselves. Men sometimes act this way toward women; parents towards children; the young toward the old. This behavior has been most obvious and brutal toward the original inhabitants of some territory that others wish to colonize. As the world runs out of secrets, and no place is left open to colonial assaults, we must guard against this tendency among ourselves. We can see it in military organizations and in industrial production, in bureaucracy and in mass movements. It’s called disrespect for individual, and it’s always dangerous. Each human being is precious and unique. It injures our spirit to forget that, even for a moment. And when we remember it, we’re better able to act in concert with our self-respecting fellows. In respecting ourselves fully, we show others how to treat us, and as we treat them respectfully we acknowledge and enhance their humanity. The quality of human interaction can be so wonderful; why should we deface it by forgetting others’ uniqueness? I’ll look for the same respect from others, today, that I show them.