9/25/2007

In June, 50x15 director Dan Shine sat in a classroom in Amman, Jordan, impressed by the answers to this question provided by students at Al-Jubeiha Secondary School. The students, who ranged from age five to 12, provided enlightening and often wise perspectives regarding what "Dignity" meant for them. Shine wrote about his experience in the July issue of 50x15 Connections. "They each wrote a few lines that morning on what dignity means to them," Dan journaled. "Their clarity regarding dignity as well as the instability of our world today was stunning." Dan shared a particularly eloquent essay from a student named Tamara, but there were many more. And, like Dan, we believe the significance of the students' essays are worth sharing. Here they are:

What does the word "Dignity" mean to you?

1. (Dignity is) a big word that means to refuse to be an inferior one
   
2. Free decision
3. Respect ourselves
4. Refuse depression
5. Open your mind
6. Follow our hearts
7. Feel good
8. Love giving

Students in Amman, Jordan working hard to answer in their own words, “What does ‘Dignity’ mean to you?"

When we hear it for the first time you think about freedom of speech, free decisions and even achievements.

The big persons must respect the small persons.

Dignity: a word that describes your real worth and your real value to know your responsibilities in life.

Dignity: to express your feelings and thoughts without being under pressure or oppression and to treat others as you like to be treated.

Dignity: It means that everyone should accept your rights even you must accept their rights, too.

Dignity: It's not just a word that we say. It's a feeling for respect other people's feelings.

Dignity: A state of understanding your value in the society and to express your thoughts freely, to respect the rights and feelings of others.

Dignity: is the value of yourself to know your position in the creation of God; is doing things without being afraid; just can't live without it.

Dignity: the moral standard displayed as an example to look up to in both times of hardship or well-being.

Dignity: to give freely.

Dan Shine, 50x15 program director, stands with students at a school in Amman, Jordan. The students, who ranged from five to 12 years old, provided enlightening perspectives regarding what “Dignity” meant for them.

Everyone has the right to agree and disagree on something and if you don't agree on something you should say it out loud.

Dignity: Everyone respects you; it's officially for the people.

Dignity is something that makes you feel that you are living and you can make a difference in the world, because everyone has a special thing in his sprit, and you must know that you are a human being.

If you are in this world that means that you can eat and drink and you are the same as everybody in this life.

When we hear it for the first time, you think about freedom of speech, free decisions, and even achievements.

Every spirit must be respected and dealt with humanly.

If you decide to arrive to it (achieve dignity) you have to follow or share the right role in the play. Like Shakespeare said, the world is a stage. I think he meant our souls, because it is a big stage supported by a lot of actors and some secrets.