the dignity of labour
"You! Take this file upstairs to accounts."
"Hey! - Bring me another one."
"That's all. You can bring the cheque."
"I need this serviced."
"What the f--- d'you mean you can't let me in in these shoes?!"
This is the age of the consumer alright - the one with the manners of a pig. There is already a dignity in labour. We just happen to strip it away from the worker when we treat him/her like dirt.
A person's dignity has two facets: recognition by self and recognition by others. When we refuse to treat people decently because we happen to be the ones "in power" we're the ones robbing the job of dignity - not the waiters, sweepers, peons, bathroom cleaners or maids themselves.
Isn't it interesting that it's the same demeaning tactic we use to put down women? Society is often consistently barbaric!
my life, brownskinspeak
"Hey! - Bring me another one."
"That's all. You can bring the cheque."
"I need this serviced."
"What the f--- d'you mean you can't let me in in these shoes?!"
This is the age of the consumer alright - the one with the manners of a pig. There is already a dignity in labour. We just happen to strip it away from the worker when we treat him/her like dirt.
A person's dignity has two facets: recognition by self and recognition by others. When we refuse to treat people decently because we happen to be the ones "in power" we're the ones robbing the job of dignity - not the waiters, sweepers, peons, bathroom cleaners or maids themselves.
Isn't it interesting that it's the same demeaning tactic we use to put down women? Society is often consistently barbaric!
my life, brownskinspeak
Labels: brownskinspeak, my life
scribbled by m. at 8:36 am
3 Comments:
Society can never be decent..its the individual that can be...The collection of aberrations can never be perfect!!
A very interesting thought. I came to the same conclusion a couple of years back.
However, it gets complex at times. I have seen white caucasians doing physical jobs being given their share of dignity. But when the same job is done by Mexicans, they dont seem to get their share of dignity!
More than diginity of labour, it is the dignity that one gives to human beings. Because labour can only be given by humans for production and in the same manner profits will also be given by humans by consuming it. Imagine a market without humans. Attach dignity to humans and not for the work or labour or private property.
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