The Golden Rule

Expressed in portentous Bible-speak, the Golden Rule means “Do unto others as ye shall have them do unto you.” Put plainly: Treat others how you would like to be treated.

Progressive yoga types enhance and sharpen the meaning: “Be the change you wish to see.” They also believe the Golden Rule involves love moving in all directions, spreading goodness to all living creatures.

Western or Eastern – the concept of conducting one’s life consciously, weighing behavior decisions based on the Golden Rule instead of the monkey brain (eat, fuck, fight), is a template for being that most of humanity embraces, at least in theory. It sounds good and it works!

When we look at our collective behavior as a nation, as a community called the United States of America, we wonder if our national decisions are based on Treating Others the Way We Would Like to Be Treated, or if it’s Being the Change We Wish to See. Sometimes it’s hard to tell.

Indefinite solitary detention of foreign prisoners. Torturing foreign prisoners, including force-feeding. Entering someone else’s sovereign airspace and killing civilians. Spying on everyone, including our friends and strategic allies.  And countless other acts of bullying, intimidation, and cruelty. Our daily mode.

Surely this is not the way we wish to be treated by others. Can it really be that this is the change we wish to see? A change toward medievalism and constant war?

Ask yourself what sub-heading of the Golden Rule allows for the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave to behave as we do.

Ask yourself if this is the world we wish to manifest.

And the next time a representative of the gleaming American War Industry promises to keep you and your family safe at any cost, remind him that abandoning Jesus Christ’s most powerful and abiding life lesson is not a golden option.