Recently I overheard a discussion at a patriotic event concerning the idea that principles would be a better way to measure the potential of political leaders and legislation in which a certain gentleman asked, “Whose principles?—a most discerning question and perhaps the most important one to ask during the upcoming election year. Are we to be governed by the principles of global corporations who seek to institute a form of economic slavery subjected to the greed of their shareholders? Or are we to be governed by those who would seek to politically enslave us in the name of safety and the common good? Either way we loose our liberty.
I ask the reader to consider that there are common principles, principles that all mankind can easily understand. It is in the understanding and living of these principles that leads to the path of peace among individuals, tribes, peoples, and nations. These principles are not new, nor are they the intellectual property of any particular creed.
The most basic principle is known in the Christian world as The Golden Rule, that is, "Whatsoever you desire that men should do to you, do you even so to them." (New Testament, Matthew 7:12). If you expect your opinion and lifestyle to be respected, you are obligated to first respect the lifestyles and opinions of others whether you agree with them or not. This principle requires that each individual allow every other individual the liberty to choose his or her own path in life. If every individual and nation actually lived by this simple principle, how the world would change. Here is a list of several other traditions that espouse this same value.
Vedic Tradition (3000 BC) - "This is the sum of duty. Do not unto others that which would cause you pain if done to you."
Judaism - Talmud, Shabbat 31a (1300 BC) "What is hateful to you, do not to our fellow man. That is entire Law, all the rest is commentary."
Zoroastrianism - Avesta, Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5 (600 BC) "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself."
Buddhism - Tripitaka, Udanga-varga 5,18 (525 BC) "Hurt not others in ways that you find hurtful."
Confucianism - Analects, Lun-yu XV,23 (500 BC) "Surely it is the maxim of loving kindness, do not unto others that which you would not have done unto you."
Jainism - Agamas, Sutrakrtanga 1.10, 1-3 (500 BC) "One should treat all beings as he himself would be treated."
Taoism - Tai-shang Kang-ying P'ien (500 BC) "Regard your neighbor's gain as your gain and your neighbor's loss as your loss."
Socrates (470-399 BC) "Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it to you."
Seneca - Epistle XLVII,11 (5-65 AD) "Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your superiors."
Shinto - Ko-ji-ki, Hachiman Kasuga (500 AD) "Be charitable to all beings, love is the representative of God."
Islam - Koran, Sunnah (620 AD) "No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself."
Sikhism - Granth, Japji XXI (1500 AD) "We obtain salvation by loving our fellow man and God."
It really is that simple.
(originally published in the Quincy Valley Post-Register: 19 July 2007)
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Declaration of Independence
In this patriotic season, Memorial Day-Flag Day-the Fourth of July, the hearts and minds of the residents of the Quincy Valley reflect upon the sacrifices made for the cause of liberty. But, I wonder, do we pause to remember the “deeper magic from before the Dawn of Time” [C.S. Lewis, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”], the magic of liberty that stirs our souls to make such sacrifices, that inspired the Founding Fathers to forge the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution? These principles are forever engraved in the hearts of all peoples-past, present, and future, all those who have been so blessed to know them.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident (even a little child will know when these are violated), that all Men are created equal (this includes you, male and female, rich and poor, without regard for creed, nationality, race, or ethnicity); that they are endowed by their Creator (by who? God, Nature, Allah, whatever you conceive that higher power to be) with certain unalienable rights (rights that neither individuals nor governments can deprive you of because these rights exist independent of anyone or anything); that among these are: life (the ability to move, to think, to grow, to learn), liberty (the power to act as one sees fit, without any restraint or control except by the laws of nature and the natural consequences of violating the liberty of others, whether they be good or whether they be bad, whether right or wrong), and the pursuit of happiness (the agreeable sensations which spring from the enjoyment of good, not evil).”
It seems to me that we have forgotten the simplicity of the way in the complexity of our modern government. We must begin to remember what we have forgotten, that government exists to PROTECT life, liberty, and property, not to deprive us of these rights, but to protect one individual or group from intrusion by another individual or group in these three areas only. We must use this knowledge to restore our government to its proper place in our lives. In this upcoming election year, exercise your patriotism all year as you ponder the issues and candidates that will be placed before you. Does a particular piece of legislation or candidate advocate the protection of life, liberty, or property, or does it advocate something that would interfere with it? Does a legislation or candidate seek to take something from one individual or group to give it to another? If so, it violates principles of true liberty and the reason for which governments are established, and each individual voter must decide for himself what secures liberty or what destroys liberty.
As Sherlock Holmes would say, “the game is afoot”, but the stakes are high and our very lives may depend upon it, in this age of globalization, terrorism, and climate changes. Let not our faithful dead have died in vain, rather let them live in our memories as we breathe the rarefied air we call liberty.
(originally published in the Quincy Valley Post-Register: 21 June 2007)
“We hold these truths to be self-evident (even a little child will know when these are violated), that all Men are created equal (this includes you, male and female, rich and poor, without regard for creed, nationality, race, or ethnicity); that they are endowed by their Creator (by who? God, Nature, Allah, whatever you conceive that higher power to be) with certain unalienable rights (rights that neither individuals nor governments can deprive you of because these rights exist independent of anyone or anything); that among these are: life (the ability to move, to think, to grow, to learn), liberty (the power to act as one sees fit, without any restraint or control except by the laws of nature and the natural consequences of violating the liberty of others, whether they be good or whether they be bad, whether right or wrong), and the pursuit of happiness (the agreeable sensations which spring from the enjoyment of good, not evil).”
It seems to me that we have forgotten the simplicity of the way in the complexity of our modern government. We must begin to remember what we have forgotten, that government exists to PROTECT life, liberty, and property, not to deprive us of these rights, but to protect one individual or group from intrusion by another individual or group in these three areas only. We must use this knowledge to restore our government to its proper place in our lives. In this upcoming election year, exercise your patriotism all year as you ponder the issues and candidates that will be placed before you. Does a particular piece of legislation or candidate advocate the protection of life, liberty, or property, or does it advocate something that would interfere with it? Does a legislation or candidate seek to take something from one individual or group to give it to another? If so, it violates principles of true liberty and the reason for which governments are established, and each individual voter must decide for himself what secures liberty or what destroys liberty.
As Sherlock Holmes would say, “the game is afoot”, but the stakes are high and our very lives may depend upon it, in this age of globalization, terrorism, and climate changes. Let not our faithful dead have died in vain, rather let them live in our memories as we breathe the rarefied air we call liberty.
(originally published in the Quincy Valley Post-Register: 21 June 2007)
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