Human Dignity by George Kateb

As part of my junior/senior colloquium class I was assigned to read the first chapter of George Kateb's book, Human Dignity.  My favorite section of the chapter was "Human Dignity Is an Existential, Not a Moral, Value."  Kateb said a lot of things that really struck me.  The part that struck me most was "the truth of personal identity is at stake when any individual is treated as if he or she is not a human being like any other, and therefore treated as more or less than human.  The truth of identity is also at stake when a person is treated as if he or she is just one more human being in a species, and not, instead, a unique individual who is irreplaceable and not exchangeable for another."  I feel like, more often than not, individuals are grouped and generalized.  As people, a lot of times, we work hard to become apart of something and we loose sight of what it is to be an individual.  We sometimes loose our identity.  I attend Carlow University; and therefore, I am a part of the Carlow community.  Yes, I am a Carlow student just like the rest of my class, but does labeling me a Carlow student do me justice?  At Carlow, I am a junior.  I am a Biology Major, Chemistry Minor.  I am a tutor.  I am a Tour Guide.  I am the Student Event Coordinator of SPiRiT.  I am an Orientation Leader.  I am more than just a student, so is it enough to just label me as one?  Ya, it all depends on the context in which one is using the term "Carlow student" and what point he or she is trying to make, but is labeling me a "Carlow student" taking away from my identity- who I am.  Is labeling anyone anything taking away from that individual's uniqueness and individuality.  Is it taking away from one's dignity?  Kateb says, "the truth of identity is also at stake when a person...is not [treated like an- unique individual who is irreplaceable and not exchangeable for another"  Why, then, do we recognize each other for what makes us the same, not what makes us different and unique?