You’ve seen the new Humanity Project motto: “Equality For Each, Respect For All.” Inspiring words. But what do they mean? And what can we do to help make those concepts real?
First, of course, the Humanity Project means “equality” in the more common sense: social justice. Equal treatment in our laws and in the everyday world by our citizens too. Each human being deserves the right to be treated fairly, justly. As we know, far too many are not — in this country and many other nations. And LGBTQ persons as well as people of color and women often are among those treated most poorly.
Second, though, the Humanity Project conception of “equality” goes much deeper. We believe every human being possesses a goodness and inherent value. Our work focuses on helping both adults and children to recognize these qualities and to act on that recognition. We want each human being to understand the intrinsic equal value of every other human being — which in turn automatically strengthens our feelings of self-worth. In other words, when we truly believe that everyone else is equally valuable we are forced to admit that we also must have that same value. The benefits are shared — an idea our founder created and calls simply, “shared value.” Read more about shared value.
The Humanity Project talks a lot about respect as well. And to us this means respect for that equal human value, behaving respectfully toward others whether at home, at work, on the roads or anywhere else. Even when we disagree with someone’s actions, words or beliefs. Humans are complex creatures, each of us with many facets. The Humanity Project teaches us to look beyond the superficial, the obvious, to find something deeper we all have in common. Our humanity.
Humanity Project programs strive to instill these ideas. We invite you to find out more about our Humanity Club, Antibullying Through The Arts, I Care, and our new One Common Humanity. They all are founded on our notions of equality and respect. And each program employs practical, arts-based teaching tools that work.
You also can sign our “Pledge For Humanity” … right now, at no cost. Sign our Pledge For Humanity. We’ll send you an email with some suggestions about how you can personally join our campaign for equality and respect throughout society. “Equality For Each, Respect For All.” To the Humanity Project, these are more than just words. That motto may be new, but the ideas form our cause, our purpose — and they always have.
