19
"Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you”
– Jesus
Issue 19
January 1, 2016
Treat others the way you would want them to treat you. That is the heart of it. The Golden Rule is all about you, for it is about the way you ought to behave, not about how others ought to behave. It is not about a contract or agreement of any kind. It is unilateral, one way. It is not mutual; you do your share and I’ll do mine. It is not conditional; if you do your share, I’ll do mine. It is not an incentive; do so that others will do. It is not revenge; do what has been done to you. It is not a reciprocal agreement of any kind. It is one way. It is just do. You. Would you like others to be patient when you make mistakes? Fine. In the meantime be patient with them. It would be nice if others were patient in return, but whether they are or are not doesn’t matter. What they do is irrelevant. The rule is for you, not the other party. Would you like all drivers to be alert and courteous? Then be that way yourself, no matter how many crazies are cutting in front of you. Do you wish your office mates would be a little more considerate of your concerns? Then be considerate of theirs, no matter what they deserve or do. Would you like your spouse to be a little more accepting of your shortcomings? Well? And so on. You can make up your own examples. The Golden Rule covers everything.
The Golden Rule is not about justice or equality; it is basically unfair, but it is at the heart of morals and ethics, for it provides insight and assurance in the business of life when you must make judgments about what is best for another. As everyone knows, in such instances it is easy to get all tangled up in the right and the wrong, the short and long term, the individual’s good and the greater good, and so on. Whole books and endless conversations work over the matter. That’s life. But the Golden Rule provides a forceful clarity because while you may have no idea what is good for someone else, you usually know very well what’s good for you, and there, so often, is your answer.
