Funny, this is the exact part of the statement I was somewhat taking exception to.  The fact is that a lot of humans don't act very dignified most of the time, but that's not to say they don't understand or respect it.  

Not to give Sven or you a hard time, but saying a culture doesn't understand the concept of dignity is a classic form of the ol' us v. them rhetoric.  I've heard it too often applied to the poor, to women, and to minorities to let it slide by as a generalization.

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes