Today is “Golden Rule Day,” sponsored by the Charter for Compassion.
Regardless of your religious persuasion, I’ve not doubt you’ve heard of the Golden Rule. The truth is most spiritual traditions have a form of it, and even those people who define themselves as atheist (or those who hilariously write in “Jedi” for the religion question on the census) would say they support the Golden Rule, which is To Treat Others As You Wish To Be Treated.
I think it’s champion that we’ve finally found a policy we can all stand behind. Somehow, though, I’m thinking that just because we say we believe it doesn’t necessarily mean we act as if we believe it.
If we did act according to the Golden Rule, it would mean Rupert Murdoch wants us to invade his privacy. It would mean some American newscasters want us to blame them if they are killed while walking home from a convenience store. It would mean that that dickhead who pushed me in the queue wants me to shove him despite the fact that all he’s doing is innocently trying to buy a box of envelopes. That’s how it works—what you do to others must be what you want done to you; that’s the Golden Rule we all believe, yes?
Now I’m not perfect, of course, and I’ve no doubt I’ve sometimes let the Golden Rule slip my mind. I take responsibility for the times I’ve acted without compassion (I’m thinking of the time I rejected the advances of a certain silver-haired gentleman, and I confess being turned down is not something I want done to me—and thank goodness, it’s yet to have happened). I decided to use today to remind myself to be more mindful of the Golden Rule so I surprised Christopher with a mixed bouquet of lilacs, honeysuckle and freesia and a beautiful silk slip. I’m hoping he gets the message.
Everyone Needs an Algonquin 
How does this so called golden rule pan out if you happen to be a masochist?
You always have to complicate things, don’t you?
Well, I suppose one would have to think more generally. If a person is such a perverted soul that he wants someone to hurt him, I suggest he think, as I want someone to satisfy my unique sexual desires, I will need to satisfy someone else’s unique sexual desires. I just hope his partner’s wise enough to claim that their unique sexual desires are things like not having to do the washing up or taking the bin to the kerb. Then everyone’s happy.
Of course, it’d be less complicated if the masochist were just willing to get some therapy to work on his daddy issues.
(MG, never fear: I’ve always got an answer for everything even things for which there is, technically, no answer. It’s one of my many unique charms.)
Yours,
Agatha
Thanks for the illumination. My next question is does this golden rule apply to our furry friends (I am here referring to animals) and if so, does that mean, unless one would welcome the idea of being reared in a tiny pen for several years then shipped off in the back of a van to have their brains blown out, anyone who professes to practise it should refrain from eating meat?
Ideally, it should include all sentient beings (note: not all living things–as you know I’m particularly keen on flowers and never give slicing their little necks a second thought). But, of course, the world is not ideal so we have to do the best we can.
I was once taking tea with the Dalai Lama and said, “Doll, I don’t want anyone to step on me but I fear I may have stepped on an ant on my way in here. Am I now doomed?” He said, “Darling, never fear, any ant would be blessed to have been killed by such lovely shoes as you are now wearing.”
Yours,
Agatha
I think I may have seen the shoes in question and must say he is probably right.