LIFE AND THE GOLDEN RULE

I recently came across a copy of one of the great American painter and social commentator Norman Rockwell’s “The Golden Rule”. First published in the “Saturday Evening Post” edition of April 1, 1961, it ranks among the very best of the many paintings he produced and is recognized universally for the impact of its message of “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you”, given to us by Jesus Christ and recorded in Mathew7:12. In a series of brilliant brush strokes he was able to speak volumes to the single most fundamental rule for living and general principle of ethics for everyone, irrespective of race, religion or social standard, who inhabits this world.

The Golden Rule or more accurately, “The Ethic of Reciprocity” is a proven tenet that has existed and survived for as long as mankind has been in existence, and, in one form or another, has appeared in the folk lore of all the great societies and in the scriptures of every religion. It is the one single truth that knows no boundaries. Regardless of which faith, religion, tradition or community we examine, we find the constancy of the Golden Rule and the basic concept of its interconnectedness among all, irrespective of underlying differences, as a fundamental pillar of belief. It is indeed the single ethic of universal acceptance.

Ambassador Mussie Hailu, the Ethiopian chairman of the Interfaith Peace-building Initiative, speaking at the recently concluded World Summit on Human Rights, defined its role and impact on the world’s communities in following terms:

“The Golden Rule is not just a moral ideal for relationships between people,
but also for relationships among nations, cultures, races, sexes, economies
and religions. Clearly, the Golden Rule has the capacity to be the ethical
cornerstone in developing a Global Ethic as the human family works together
to build a peaceful, just and sustainable global society”.

Unfortunately, the world has yet to learn and to practice the real truth of this statement. One has only to look at the day’s news to quickly confirm that, rather than live within the guidelines and intent of this simple guide, we are driven by selfish, suspicious and avaricious desires to overcome and dominate our environment. This applies equally to us as individuals or as members of a social group, culture, race, religion, national group or any of the endless mixtures or computations that exist. Wherever you go in this world, or search the world’s literature or historical data, the constant recurring themes are reflected less by the requirements of the Golden Rules than by the insatiable drive for control, domination and self- gratification.

Whether it be the ignorant uttering of a politician, or the misguided attitude of individuals or groups against others, or a mother’s comment about her child’s friend or a neighbor, or the poisonous words of a reporter or news commentator, we are continually bombarded with endless efforts to thwart the essence and intent of the Golden Rule. But of all these influences, I believe that over the ages and continuing to this day, the predominant source of failure lies squarely in realm of organized religion.

Although giving lip service to the concept of man’s universality, the majority of religions will teach that they alone have the “truth” and take steps to convince its members that all others are misguided or wrong and that the ethic of reciprocity applies to them only and not to all people. Clearly by doing this they ensure their own survival. The fact that the world continues to be in turmoil can, to a large extent be traced directly to this fact and although we acknowledge allegiance to the concept, we very rarely apply its principles in our living.

This attitude has served to generate a great deal social upheavals over the ages with recurrent religiously-based hatred, distrust, violence, and conflicts. It has also resulted in large scale suffering and oppression, and in my opinion, is the single most constant factor in wars between different religions and even between segments of the same religion. This has led a number of serious historians to conclude that all conflicts have their start and/or continuation to the influence of religion.

To apply the golden rule successfully, we need to truly believe and accept that it applies to all humans and that we are all entitled to the same respect and acceptance. We have to acknowledge the effect our actions have on the lives of others and to consider how we would feel in the other person’s place. Crimes against humanity, whatever the excuse or in whatever form, require that the “victims” first be viewed as inferior or different. We can then justify our actions, however brutal or vicious, in the name of converting them to the “right” way. In the present world as we know it, this has been become so established that we all believe that difference equates to evil, and instead of living with the tenets of the golden rule, we join the rest in alienating and destroying it.

Only when we are able to truly apply the simple truth of the golden rule to all we do, and to believe that it is indeed the only way to ensure total eradication of the present escalating turmoil can we hope to see peace and harmony.

Martin Luther King Jr. spoke for all of us who truly believe in the principles of the golden rule, when he made his famous “I have a dream” speech:

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day

live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color

of their skin, but by the content of their character.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted,

every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough

places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall

be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia,

the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners

will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood”.



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Examples Of The Golden Rule, Ancient and Modern
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Socrates (436-338 B.C.)
Do not do unto others what angers you
if done to you by others."

Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

We should behave toward friends
as we would wish friends to behave toward us.

Egyptian Saying(1580-1350 B.C.)
He sought for others the good
He desired for himself.

Christianity
Do unto others as you would want
Others do unto you

Buddhism
Do not hurt others in waysthat you yourself would find hurtful.

Confucianism
One thing that serves as a principleof conduct throughout one's whole life is:Do not unto others what you wouldnot have them do to you.

Judaism
That which is hateful to you,do not do to your fellow man.
-This is the essence of morality.

Islam
Not one of you is a believeruntil he desires for his brother thatwhich he desires for himself.Hinduism
This is the sum of duty:Do nothing to others which wouldcause you pain if done to you.

Sikhism
As thou deem thyself,
so deem others.

Jainism
One should treat all beings,
As he himself would be treatedTaoism
Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain,and your neighbor's loss as you own loss.

Zoroastrianism
(ancient Persian religion)
That nature alone is good, which keeps fromdoing unto another whatever is not good for itself.

Shawnee Indian
Do not wrong or hate your neighbor,
For it is not he that you wrong,
-You wrong yourself.

Yoruba Proverb (African)
One who is going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird,
Should first try it on himself, to feel how it hurts.