Speak Up!
By: Tim Shriver
February 6, 2024
Photo Credit: David Banks/Bloomberg via Getty Images
How would you like to wake up in America and feel like it’s within your power to change the course of the country? Millions don’t—I know that. And I have to be honest that there are some days when I feel defeated by all the contempt. But not today!
Axios, one of our nation’s premiere news and insight platforms, just ran this wonderful story about our very own Dignity Index, and I’m celebrating! Many of you know all about the Dignity Index but today, you’re being joined by millions of Americans who are learning about it for the first time. As I’m writing this, I’m imagining them looking at the Index and seeing the scale that runs from outright contempt and violence all the way up to dignity and even love. And I’m guessing they’re going to be a lot like me when I look at the Index and they’re going to wonder about their own scores and how they can do better.
Am I being excessively hopeful? I hope so!! Hope isn’t just about the future; it’s about being able to see the good and the possible in the here and now. Why not shower hope on our fellow Americans and look for them to join us in advancing a dignity campaign? Why not assume that when they see the Index they’ll be like so many of us who almost immediately recognize our own role in allowing contempt to take over our lives and our own capacity to change? If that’s hope, I suggest you grab a bunch of it!
And join me in challenging yourself to “speak up”— to raise your scores on the Dignity Index from anything below a “4” to the higher reaches of 5 and above. If enough of us just do that, we’re becoming the change we want to see in the world, and the power of our example will be enormous. And guess what: when we use more dignity and less contempt we’re going to attract others from across the political spectrum who will see that it’s possible to advance the issues they care about using dignity. Dignity helps solve problems, ease divisions and prevent violence. That’s a formula for making a difference if there ever were one!
Last week, my colleagues Tom Rosshirt and Tami Pyfer and I were lucky enough to meet with Rep Emmanuel Cleaver who, together with Gov. Spencer Cox, is one of our role models. Cleaver is a congressman from Missouri, a Democrat, and perhaps above all, a minister and a man of deep faith. He welcomed us to his office and immediately shared that he loved the Index and wants to share it with others.
Then he told us why. “Years ago, I participated in a debate with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito. We’re from different parties and we agree on almost nothing. But we wanted to show people you could disagree and still treat others with dignity. Our debate aired on CSPAN and ran about an hour.” He paused and remembered embracing Sen. Capito afterwards even though their disagreements had been spirited. “Then I left the floor and I received a call from my dad who was 95 at the time. ‘Son,’ my dad said, ‘I’ve been proud of you many times in your life, but I’ve never been more proud of you than I am today.”
The elder Mr. Cleaver died at 101 but his son is still making him proud today. I hope today’s story on Axios will attract others to want to do the same, and I hope the Dignity Index will help. Soon, we’re going to be releasing weekly scores of speech from presidential candidates and others too, and we can’t wait for the conversation those scores will spark. And soon, we’re going to launch a “Dignity Daily” game you can play to test your ability to score and keep the conversation going. The goal is simple: by revealing contempt, we hope to catalyze conscience and inspire more dignity and less contempt. Today, we reward contempt with attention, fame, and money. Soon, we hope that contempt will start to backfire and instead, people will be rewarded for treating others with dignity. That’s our picture of success.
Last week, the singer Common—someone I admire greatly for his music and his vision—spoke about what he values most in this moment and about his new book, “Let Love Have the Last Word.” He said, “I believe love to be a purpose and an act that we give to each other, that we give ourselves, that we give to a higher power, that we give to the planet, with compassion and kindness.” I love that. I love the invitation to give love to each other right now. None of us can be perfect or constant in love, but we can all raise our scores and create a tipping point where contempt starts to backfire and dignity starts to become the expected language of a new American patriotism.
So I hope you’ll take another look at the Dignity Index today and join me in trying to “speak up.” It’s not always easy but when it works, it’s magical.
In unity,
Tim
The past three weeks have been busy for our UNITE team as we've presented training on the Dignity Index from Utah to DC to NYC; in boardrooms and council chambers; on campuses and on stage! Dignity is on the move!