"The corollary of that principle is that human dignity cannot be taken away by the government. Slaves did not lose their dignity (any more than they lost their humanity) because the government allowed them to be enslaved. Those held in internment camps did not lose their dignity because the government confined them. And those denied governmental benefits certainly do not lose their dignity because the government denies them those benefits. The government cannot bestow dignity, and it cannot take it away."
So them counting as 3/5ths of a person (and only to bolster the population of Southern states), and being whipped, chained, kept in stables like animals, etc. didn't hurt their pride or take away their dignity?
He's a damn mess. And considering he's married to a white woman, who he wouldn't be able to marry 50 years ago, he needs to shut up and have a seat.
So them counting as 3/5ths of a person (and only to bolster the population of Southern states), and being whipped, chained, kept in stables like animals, etc. didn't hurt their pride or take away their dignity?
He's a damn mess. And considering he's married to a white woman, who he wouldn't be able to marry 50 years ago, he needs to shut up and have a seat.
So them counting as 3/5ths of a person (and only to bolster the population of Southern states), and being whipped, chained, kept in stables like animals, etc. didn't hurt their pride or take away their dignity?
He's a damn mess. And considering he's married to a white woman, who he wouldn't be able to marry 50 years ago, he needs to shut up and have a seat.
Uncle Thom has always thrown his own under the bus for the sake of the defending and furthering the far right agenda. I can't even bother myself to dignify that foolishness of a comment with a proper response.
Uncle Thom has always thrown his own under the bus for the sake of the defending and furthering the far right agenda. I can't even bother myself to dignify that foolishness of a comment with a proper response.
I am looking for a serious answer here because I am of the belief that you can treat people with indignity, disrespect, cruelty but their dignity is something that cannot be taken. I think this is an important concept that dignity comes from within not something taught, given or taken from you.
People can give up their dignity or lack dignity but that is a choice they made for whatever reason be it social economic or whatever that's not what I am looking to discuss.
I don't agree with Thomas overall but that one line stuck in my head and I don't disagree with it.
I will give you one example where I disagree.
He said in part, "The government cannot bestow dignity..." I disagree because we have passed laws that allow people to die with dignity when they no longer have control over their own. So in that sense the person is dignified by proxy by the government.
This a is philosophical question so I suspect people won't agree but I want you to think about it before you go ripping my head off.
Good lord 
