Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to
you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. –Jesus
Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do
unto you. –Wendell Berry
Newsflash:
Doing Unto Others doesn’t mean behaving toward others as if they had the same
likes, dislikes, desires, and turn-offs that you have. “But I love it when
people smack me upside the head!”
Doing Unto Others is more of a global mindset and attitude to guide our
behaviors toward all people … unless
we are full of self-hatred and then, please, whatever you do, do NOT, “Do unto
others.”
Okay: How is it that I want
people to do unto me?
I want people to be loving
and charitable, not hateful or spiteful: to speak their truths in love, wanting
my best far more so than wanting to Be Right.
I want people to love and
accept me for who I am (not the same thing as approving of everything I do or say, by the way), and not to be
constantly seeking to make me into who they wish I were.
When people hear wild and
wooly stories of me, I want them to call and ask for my take, my perspective,
and my experience before they blast me to kingdom come on Facebook or anywhere
else.
If I do fall, fail, or flop,
a helping hand would certainly be appreciated. If you don’t want to do this,
got it. But if you can’t be a Good Samaritan, could you at least be a Quiet
Samaritan?
I want people to respect my
beliefs and feelings, even when they disagree or do not understand. It has
always baffled me when people throw caca at all that I hold sacred and think I
should be cool and calm with this. If I verbally abuse your spouse, children, or
closest of friends, tell me: is it even in the vicinity of sanity for me to
expect you to be all chummy with me? That’s what I thought.
I want people to not steal
from me, not lie about me, and, please, don’t murder me, literally or
metaphorically.
I want people to respect my
unalienable rights.
I want people to relate to
me as an individual, not as a statistic, a member of a sociological group, a
cog in a wheel, or as a potential scalp for their lodges. I am myself, not
“them.” I am a person, not a thing: a subject not an object.
Now, Wilson, don’t be a
hypocrite: Get out there and Do Unto Others.
No comments:
Post a Comment