Sneak Peak

For the last 4 1/2 years, I've published a weekly e-zine called Greener Times (link in the left sidebar). Most weeks I pen a column called Pencil Shavings. Here's my column for this week's edition which will be posted this Sunday.

Do Unto Others

If one looks at all of the major religions and philosophies of the world, there is at least one aspect of human relations that all agree on -- treat others as you would want them to treat you. If doesn't matter if you're a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, Pagan, etc. Though each belief system phrases it in their own individual way, the maxim still holds true.

Yet, as I gaze out into the world today, the Golden Rule seems nowhere to be found. In the US, the rabid right -- supposedly those who hold to the fundamentalist brand of Christianity -- spew forth with the most vile comments imaginable and suggest that the best way to get what they want may be at the end of the barrel of a gun. Is this the way they wish to be treated?

In Israel, the Jewish authorities have authored a strategy to rape, murder and pillage innocent Palestinians. Is this the way the Jewish authorities wish to be treated?

In many places in the Muslim world, people are recruited and trained to become suicide bombers. Is this the way such Muslims wish to be treated?

In the corporate world, people are moved around as pawns and notions like worker safety, environmental stewardship and basic human rights are given a short shrift. Is this the way corporate honchos wish to be treated?

We on the left are not immune from this plague either. We call our opponents names, shout them down at meetings and write letters suggesting that anyone we disagree with (the capitalists, the right-wing, the government) should be drawn and quartered. Is this the way we wish to be treated?

Of course, as a defense, each group or individual claims that they/we are only dishing out what is being thrown at them/us. Everyone claims that "we" didn't start it! In the end though, it doesn't matter who fired the first salvo or how other people treat you. If you believe in the message of the Golden rule, then it is incumbent on each of us to practice it -- regardless of whether or not it is returned in kind.

If we only treat those who agree with us in a respectful manner, then we're no better than the people we criticize. In fact, we're worse.