It is based upon the idea of the "golden rule."
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Yeah I know it's still as trite as it always was. This particular rule seems to be used most often by parents trying to convince their kids to be nice to someone they do not like. I suppose it applies there, but I consider that a very shallow reading of it.
What I believe is that if I want other people to act a certain way I have to at least be able to function that way myself. Also if I want some something to be there for me I should be willing to put that some something out there for someone else.
What does this mean?
If for example I was struck by a catastrophic event like a natural disaster, I would personally want there to be ample shelter, food, blankets, and clothing for myself and my family. There is only so much of that I can have on my own, or prepare for in advance. I would also want there to be plenty of people helping me to rebuild.
What does that mean from the perspective of the golden rule? It means I have to be willing to be the "giver" even if I do not ultimately "get" in return. I have to be the person willing to go help rebuild, or at least contribute financially if I can to the rebuilding. I have to be the person willing to donate the food, water, clothing, or shelter.
Now this doesn't mean I am going to spring into action at every catastrophe or donate money even when it hurts me to do so. It just means I keep a look out for those opportunities that I can contribute. I want for our society to continue to be a generous one, because I think that generosity could ultimately be a life saver for someone I know and care about. Thus I intend to be a contributor to that generosity even if I do not get an immediate return for my effort.
The rule applies in a lot of other areas as well. I often find myself thinking about "how would I feel if I were in that situation." One of the things that breaks my heart is hearing about people who are suffering from terminal illnesses getting discriminated against because other people are afraid of them. I have encountered cancer patients who had trouble getting professional massage therapy even though we have known for many years that it is safe to massage clients who have cancer.
I have heard many stories of people with aids being mistreated because others were afraid of becoming infected -as if serving someone a cup of coffee could somehow infect you. That is another place where the "how would I want to be treated comes into play."
It has led to me having much greater compassion for people undergoing medical treatment or simply undergoing a difficult time in their life. Forgiveness comes a little easier when you imagine that that guy who just cut you off might have a sick kid in his car, or be rushing home to a wife in labor.
It is also one of the reasons I feel it is important to be respectful of religious differences, and this is the area where my efforts are the least reciprocated. I want other people to be respectful of my religious beliefs even if they wholeheartedly disagree, so I make an effort to be respectful of their beliefs -and believe me it can be a difficult sea to navigate sometimes.
I have been put on the spot many times about my beliefs by those who wanted me to echo their own. Many people do not realize that trying to convert someone of a different faith to your own is not really respectful of their beliefs, and in the case of atheism most people assume I have no beliefs and therefore it must be open season.
The golden rule teaches me to be patient with nonviolent people as much as my brain can manage it. So basically if you want the world to be a certain way, my interpretation of the "golden rule" would advise you to start planting those seeds yourself, to walk a mile in your neighbor's shoes, to give the benefit of the doubt, and to be patient with others where ever possible... and you thought you just had to be nice to the smelly kid!
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