Using the Golden Rule will save America

I wrote this piece a couple of weeks ago. Some of it is excerpted from my book, “THE LIMITLESS GOLDEN RULE: 21 Ways to Use the Golden Rule In Your Life,” which is available at goodshortbooks.com and Amazon.com! *****************************************************************

Using the Golden Rule will save America

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That is the Golden Rule. And it is common to all the world’s major religions. We can drastically reduce the level of racism, hate, bigotry in this world if we “religiously” use the Golden Rule. Let’s take a look at what the world’s major religions have to say about the Golden Rule:

Christianity (“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12”)

Confucianism (“Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state. Analects 12:2”)

Buddhism (“Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. Then there will be no resentment against you, either in the family or in the state. Analects 12:2”)

Hinduism (“This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you. Mahabharata 5, 1517”)

Islam (“No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself. Sunnah”)

Judaism (“What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow men. This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. Talmud”)

Taoism (“Regard your neighbor’s gain as your gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. Tai Shang Kan Yin P’ien”)

Zoroastrianism (“That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself. Dadisten-I-dinik, 94,5”)

So, if most of the world’s religions believe in some form of the Golden Rule, when will religious leaders and believers join forces and call on their flocks, family, and friends (and that’s a whole lot of people!) to start living the Golden Rule?

And the media can do a lot to help, too. America needs more television shows, magazine articles, newspaper articles, movies, cartoons, and other images that promote using the Golden Rule.

We need to go “full-tilt” on the Golden Rule—implementing it in everything we do. Bumper stickers, flags, shirts, hats, etc. Using the Golden Rule would change attitudes and behaviors.

Start asking “Golden Rule” questions: “Did you use the Golden Rule?” “Will you use the Golden Rule?” “How would you feel if that was done to you?” “How would you feel if that was said to you?”

Those in power, those that make the laws that govern life in America, should also focus intensely on the Golden Rule, especially laws governing healthcare, housing, education, etc. They should ask themselves “Golden Rule” questions, too. “How would I feel if this law was imposed on me?” Being led by the Golden Rule would allow for more humane laws, which would make for much happier Americans! Happy citizens are the breeding ground for a peaceful, successful America. Come on, lawmakers. Get with the new program. There’s enough for everybody. No one should be homeless or hungry. Not in America. It’s not too late to rebuild America’s promise—based on the Golden Rule.

And, by teaching children to actually live the Golden Rule, we would soon have a much better world because children learn what they live, and it would become a part of their hearts, souls, and spirits to treat others as they would want to be treated. This would be a life-long lesson.

If you don’t want it done to you, don’t do it to anyone else. And don’t tolerate someone else doing it, either. It’s never too late to start treating others as you would want to be treated. We can start in our own homes, families, and communities, and that would spread to cities and states.

Let’s save America by letting the Golden Rule rule!