[Skybird]

the best, the very best part of the whole German constitution, is the very first sentence of the very first section if the very first article.

HUMAN DIGNITY SHALL BE INVIOLABLE.

An outstanding and absolutely remarkable sentence.

People now may want to discuss whether it leaves people their dignity to lead them into dependence from the state or leaving them the freedom to move themselves voluntarily into dependence form the state. Or whether helping a weak in despair or leaving him the perceived opportunity to try to seek himself is the option more in conformity with that demand, that human dignity shall be inviolable.

Forget politics and ideology for a moment, and ask your own conscience.

Everything that the ideal of so-called human rights is about, is included in and covered by those five words. Human rights, whether it be the right to breathe or the right to live or the right to eat, is about the basic and inalienable right for having your dignity. Because this dignity means that you are left the freedom to be what by your form and essence as a human being you indeed are, and to accept the biological conditions of your very existence.

Now, there are more complex implications then at first glance there seem to be. For example how to treat terrorism, and people denying others this recognition of dignity. Whether or not torture and execution is allowed or not. War. And how far the care of social wellfare systems shall reach, and this being seen in contrast with the idea of "survival of the fittest".

But any discussion of these issues is hopelessly in vain if not even this very basic fundament is agreed on in principle: human dignity shall be inviolable.