Dignity.....

Funny too, I've never met a happy rich guy! I have some very rich relatives and I've watched M.O.N.E.Y. destroy their lives, and they were the example growing up to never get above my raisins! I've given more money to charities than many of my friends make, and actually been haunted by having too much money to know what to do with. I've always felt that some people need to come down for others to come up, and think that the wide separation of the classes is extremely bad for a well rounded and 'content' society. If people get too rich while others get too poor, then there is no alternative but to rob the rich to give to the poor. Robin Hood gave us that folklore lesson. Also, every single time throughout human history that there was a wide separation in classes, the slaves brought down the Castle, and tall walls, armies, motes....nothing could stop them. Thats the problem with being rich, soon your scared to go out among-st the poor in fear of being robbed, and your locked away inside your Castle walls. Pretty silly if you think about it. Less than 2% have all the money in the world, but I must say, they are very lonely people!



"Pride when your rich is a bore when your lonely"...Ricky Skaggs

Woohoo someone values dignity and integrity instead of money. I'm here with you.

Keep thinking positive Ascher and you'll get there one day. Nothing good happens quickly and we're all working on improving ourselves. How fast that happens isn't as important as continuing to move forward and not backward. Your doing something that most of us can't do, and thats typing on a cell phone to be involved in EP. Thats amazing!! ;~(o)

Yes, good conscience is contagious as is good roll modeling and mentoring. I'm a lifetime volunteer too, and try to get people involved in their community. Whats that old saying...''it takes a whole community to raise a child''. Really true!! Thank you for sharing a bit of your life, and weren't we lucky to have had such great parents! Luck is better than skill!! ha ha!





Thanks for your kind comment penguinswon. I never thought of my self as keeping tall standards, but I suppose everyones surroundings are slightly different if not grossly so, and we all adhere to our surroundings. Thats a habit that we all need to explore and possibly look outside our tribal mentality in pursuit of a better way.

LOL. I'm not a couselor, or 'official' mentor. I was raised by a psychologist/english teacher/ pastor. (Can you say over achiever). Yes my parents were good. And I had strong family ties. When was busy I had several step in.

My 4 sons..the oldest is thrity, the youngest 20. Those same ties were there for them. And somehow, it was my house everyone congregated in. And even now they are grown, they are still coming in. It seemed there were days that I was short order cook, or cafeteria lady. Nothing like saying dinner is reading an turning to see 11 teenagers lined up with plates and forks. The hubs strolled through, (cut in line..the nerve) and politely asked if they had homes? But he too was always willing to talk with them, and do whatever was needed for them or any others. I see them doing this in their own lives.

It must be something...because now they are bringing their children to "grams".

But these kids, now adults, also sawme out volunteering, where ever there was need.

Now...they are the ones giving back.

Like I said, I can only see to my little corner. But conscience seems to be contagious.

it's hard to live up to your standards. but I look up to you. really. You are a pure person. Nice to know I have you as a friend. really.

Very well said Toby! It sounds like and I would hope, that you were raised by good parents that taught you good principals and social life skills. I was raised by good thinking parents that taught us the difference between right and wrong. I only wish that there were better parental mentors out there, but being a family counselor for the past 25 years, I see the real side of poverty, lack of education and good roll models which is part of our enormous problem. What's happening to 'us' today will reflect on our children and future. We need to work overtime to bring a message!

I go back to what I was taught as a child; honor, courage, and commitment. For me those aren't just about "charging into battle". Perhaps because of the way I was taught, or the times in which I learned, they were about self respect; integrity that exended beyond what I thought of me, or how I felt, but included the people I chose to associate myself with. (That whole lie down with dogs and get up with fleas) Being honest with myself first, and those I interact with. The courage, or will, to do what is right, simply because it is the right thing to do, hhether that is personal or out in the community, or farther abroad. And once my word is given, once I've made that step, staying committed to it, because any that is worth doing, is worth completing.

It's what I grew up believing. It's what I have tried (hopefully with some success) to pass along to my sons, and vicariously to their friends.

All of the issues we deal with can be simplfied into a lack of these, either as values, or guides.

Too many of us, (and I'm not perfect, so I include myself) let things slip...for whatever reason. I don't know where, when or why it happened. And I certainly don't have answers as to how to fix it all.

I can only 'commit" to seeing to my little corner, and myself. But it is one I wake with every day.

Yes, EP and several other large social sites are a great place to get progressive notions out to the public. Thanks fish!



Yeah Sappy, we don't the planet..is right! Try telling that to some of our narcissistic government officials and the corporate industry...profiteers! Money seems all they care about!

Well said. I sometimes think as a society we're moving backwards rather than progressing forward.

I'm for anything that encourages placing value on the things in life that are truly important. It isn't our possessions.

Thanks Mello, yes...hard to find these days. I've been watching our moral integrity decay for the past few decades and its a slow process, but materialism is part of the problem. Its all about ''money''. I call it..."I Love Me Syndrome". We need to start a dialog about these important matters and try to get people back on track.

*guilty of only reading the story and none of the comments*



Honesty and integrity are difficult to find anymore. It's not that these qualities are absent; they are crowded out by greed, selfishness, deceit, and corruption. In these times Honesty and Integrity are extremely refreshing.



Kudos to anyone and everyone who holds high value for goodness, unselfishness, Honesty, and Integrity.

Yes fish, I've read and listed to Emory's posts much like Icke, the late and great Zinn, Prison Planet...etc. etc....forever. There are literally hundreds of organizations giving us warning signs including mine...Eyes Wide Open International. Its my job as the founder and administrator to stay up on world issues, and believe we are in a serious crisis concerning the global cabal and what they are capable of doing...and the many ways they could do it! This is the major reason for my writings and posts, because to not inform the public/people, we will powerless to do anything about it.



There's been many attempts to brake up the American dream in our 200+ year history, but all have failed. The American spirit is the strongest in the world because we are made up of the world. We only need to teach them...the American Public to be 'individual' thinkers and open their eyes to the real truth. If we loose the battle of ''truth'', then there will be a huge price to pay, and many lives will be lost in the process.



Yes Gryf, there is too much word and label play in the mainstream media and official ranting. That is a huge part of the propaganda machine pelting us with more and more ''separation'' moves. They are making their best attempt do ''divide'' us all up in tiny little chunks and pieces to ''govern'' us...[sick] and remove descent. Still, people don't realize that the Bush 'administration' took us into collapse and was one-in-same as the manipulation artists of the German Regime, and was in fact the same model. It is much different time now...v/s...then, but the machine hasn't changed other than getting more proficient in its workings. It is a very well oiled machine now, and uses the best psychological manipulation tactic's in the world of psychology. And thats only one of the many factors of control they use. There are ''many''!

People who continue to grouse about the horrors of Hitler's Germany, need to be very careful and examine their own hearts....sadly---because of the human flaw of getting caught up in the emotional manipulation of propagandists and other HATE mongers---what happened in Germany could happen anywhere.....

Gryf, speak of the devil, I just posted a comment and an interesting article in my other story. because your kind comment opened a door for me to do so. About > humanity will have to change, adapt and evolve---our survival depends on it. So true, and I strongly feel that we are late for the game. We stuck to age old traditions dating back to the Dark Ages and we were leaving that behind us for nearly 200 years when suddenly, now were heading back...into the damn Dark Ages. We need to gather our thoughts about the world, stand up for what is principled and moral, and start moving forward again, or...we're going to go back to thinking the world is flat again! The world is Flat is a great example of how behind things can get when people don't use their own brains to think with. 2000 years before that silly notion..''the world is flat'' science had already proven it wasn't, we could look up and see that all bodies in the sky were 'round', and we could even look across the horizon and see the shape of planet earth. What went wrong? People started listening to wives tails...and not only started believing everything they heard, but would kill to protect that delusion. Thats where we're headed if we don't step back and take a second look. As for Germany, it would turn right back into the top country it once was, if it weren't for ''outside'' influences...the US and other European countries. ha ha!

I like to see those words, "self respect".... for a long time now, I've heard "self esteem" bandied about....words like "dignity" and "modesty" need to be used and understood----valued. One of the problems with words like "modesty"--they've been twisted to have negative meanings---"modesty" has nothing to do with prudishness. "Dignity" and pomposity are complete opposites. The United States is still a great and beautiful country----Greedy, power hungry, war mongers have always created chaos and destruction throughout history---NO MATTER---with courage and hope, mankind can evolve to a respectable and compassionate civilization. One of my grandsons toured Europe a couple of years ago. Some of his ancestors were from Africa. He says that of all the countries in Europe, the one he would choose to live in would be Germany. The people were open minded,dignified and good humored.. He speaks German and is engaged to a girl whose father is from Germany. The planet itself is going through extreme changes---humanity will have to change, adapt and evolve---our survival depends on it. I'm so glad that you are in this world MusicMouse---hugs, gryf

Thanks for your comments Leisa and Toby. I think that if there is any 'changes' to be made in the world, we could start with re-installing the Dignity that the world used to have, but has lost over the past few decades. I remember a world moving 'forward, and now its one thats backing up. Dignity starts with self respect and giving it to others through that roll model.

I have always placed a high value on honor. As you say, at times the words seem interchagable. But for me, honor has always been one of the standards by which I measure myself, as well as something I prize in my companions.

I totally respect your new story, this is important to humanity itself. Where is the dignity? There are so many people suffering indignities, throughout the world, that there has to be a change. Will it be for the better? Your story makes me think hard about this.

True! Germany was one of the most socially advanced countries in the world in the 30s, with freedoms, social programs that helped everyone, and one of the best countries in the world to live. They are the perfect example how quickly society can decay, and the US is another example of that right now. I'm still in shock over what has happened to one of the greatest countries in human history and how fast it has decayed in its example to the world. We used to stand strong with principals and dignity! Now look what they've done!

We must be vigilant with the advances we do make because it can take decades to achieve something and just a few short years to lose. One of the reasons that Hitler was able to do what he did was because many Germans and the rest of the world could not believe that such a cultured and civilized country would be capable of such barbarity.

Thanks Laurie. I hope my friends come here to exchange views on this important subject. I think its time for the world to come together with some compromise so we can get on with the business of growing ''together'' instead of apart. I really don't see as many differences as I do commonalities, and the petty differences that I see can be worked out to everyones mutual agreement. Just think of the world as one people. We would set the rules instead of someone setting the rules for us. Thats what its going to take, or we will be stuck ''under rule'' forever!