Category Archives: Golden Rule

AlterNet

Seth Meyers Has One Rule Everyone Should Follow During Trump's Scandalous Presidency AlterNet While processing the mounting evidence of the Trump administration's collusion with Russia, it's best to remember the "Golden Rule in the Trump era," Seth Meyers reminded his viewers last night. "Nothing is too stupid to be true." Since the New York ... Investigators look for links between Trump, Russia cyber operations | McClatchy Washington Bureau - McClatchy DCMcClatchy Washington Bureau all 290 news articles »

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Seth Meyers Has One Rule Everyone Should Follow During Trump's Scandalous Presidency - AlterNet

It is not just Bhutan where China is perceived to be meddling in the internal affairs of a smaller country. Chinas longstanding principle of non-interference in other states internal affairs is evolving with its growing global footprint unlike India, according to a study made public last week by the International Crisis Group (ICG), an independent organisation working to prevent wars worldwide.

As Chinese overseas investment and business links grow in scope and depth, Beijing faces increasing threats to its citizens, economic interests and international reputation, claims ICG. That, in turn, has confronted China with the inherent limitations of its traditional hands-off foreign policy posture, the study notes.

"The most prominent test case appears to be Africa and, within the continent, South Sudan, where Chinese measures to protect its citizens and economic interests, coupled with its support for an end to the war and pursuit of humanitarian objectives, seem a calculated trial run for a more proactive global role," according to ICG.

Interestingly China's bilateral approach is contradictory to its position -- on non-interference in other's states affairs -- at multilateral platforms including BRICS. However, since 2012-13, China has been keen to play a role of security guarantor in countries where they invest and have strategic interests, pointed out an expert on Chinas foreign policy. Pakistan falls in this category. Besides, China has militarised South China Sea region where it has significant economic and strategic interests. Beijings naval presence in the Indian Ocean Region are also on the rise.

Elaborating on Beijings role in Sudan, ICG recalls, China first experimented with deeper involvement in Sudan in response to powerful international criticism (culminating in calls to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics) of its support for Khartoum, which was fighting a brutal counter-insurgency campaign in Darfur. Using its influence with the Sudanese government and in the UN Security Council, China helped ensure deployment of UN peacekeepers to Darfur in 2008 When South Sudans civil war broke out in late 2013, Chinese advocates of a more flexible interpretation of the non-intervention policy saw an opportunity to try new approaches to protect their nations interests.

China engaged in the peace process held in Ethiopia, hosted discreet talks among warring factions in Sudan, shaped the UN Security Council action, sent peacekeepers to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and joined the August 2015 peace agreement oversight body, according to the ICG report released on July 10.

Beijings forays in Sudans hydro-carbon sector dates back to 1997 when China National Petroleum Corporation was new to acquiring hydrocarbon assets abroad. Keen to tap into an underdeveloped market with, at the time, few competitors, Chinese nationals and companies flocked to South Sudan after it achieved formal independence in July 2011. But the region soon proved volatile and risky for businesses. In January 2012, Juba shut down oil production after negotiations over pipeline fees with Khartoum deadlocked.

Production did not restart until April 2013. Civil war broke out in December that year and disrupted production again. Oil workers had to find shelter in UN bases until companies could airlift them to safety. Chinese nationals scrambled to flee the war zone; their shops were looted and business projects halted. Beijing made the unprecedented decision to step in, with three related aims: (1) protect Chinese citizens and economic interests; (2) support an end to the war; and (3) serve humanitarian objectives. Although this was an emergency response, it also became a calculated trial run for a more proactive role in step with Chinas expanding overseas footprint and international stature.

China, according to ICJ report, is taking into account the desire to export its own governance and development model and shape global norms. Such a distinction increasingly may blur if Beijing comes to see cultivating local political allies who share its views as the most effective means to protect Chinese interests and if it gains the confidence and capability to do so.

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Non-interference no more the golden rule for rising Chinese aspirations - Economic Times

The anti-nuclear movement is alive and kicking, something obvious to anyone who happened to be at the Vallejo Yacht Club on Friday when the Golden Rule made a stopover here.

The Golden Rule Peace Boat, arriving on Thursday, was here as part of a 2017 campaign, its crew members said.

It was great, project manager Helen Jaccard said. The yacht club was very welcoming. We had a few minutes to talk, and got applause from everybody, and several people came up to me later and thanked us for being part of this mission and several took a tour of the boat, and I think some may even go online and make a donation. It was a very successful event. Im glad we did it.

The yacht club allowed the group to dock the peace boat overnight before it set sail again, she said.

Often times here Im preaching to the choir, she said. These people (at the Vallejo Yacht Club) are not activists, and when we speak to people like that, the further our message can get out.

That message is the urgent need to ensure the United States doesnt launch a nuclear strike without Congress first declaring war, as well as working toward a nuke-free planet, Jaccard said.

Its important to know the anti-nuclear movement isnt dead and in fact is having a big revival with (President Donald) Trump getting into office, she said. We aim to advance Veterans For Peace opposition to nuclear weapons and war, and to do so in a dramatic fashion.

The ocean-bound movements history goes back decades.

In 1958, four Quaker pacifists sailed the Golden Rule toward the Marshall Islands to interfere with nuclear bomb tests, organization members said.

She sank in 2010 in Humboldt Bay and Veterans For Peace (VFP), Quakers and others rescued and worked to restore her, they said.

Since 2015, the VFP Golden Rule Project has been sailing for a nuclear-free world and a peaceful, sustainable future, they said.

We have recovered and restored the original peace ship, the Golden Rule, that set sail in 1958 to stop nuclear testing in the atmosphere, and which inspired the many peace makers and peace ships that followed, they said.

This year theyre sailing the ship down the California coast to San Diego, and future planned voyages include ones to the Gulf Coast, the East Coast, all around the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi, organization members said.

Contact Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824.

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Anti-nuke ship and crew welcomed in Vallejo - Vallejo Times Herald

Good life refers to a life abounding in material comforts and luxuries and the life lived according to the moral and religious laws of ones culture.

A good life depends on the work you do and on what matters to you. Take the time to define your values, priorities, and goals for life.Work to fulfill the things you want to achieve. Build your relationships and be a good family member and friend. Serve your community and mankind, and stay true to yourself.

Treating others how you want to be treated is one of the most recognized phrases known as a golden rule. It may sound simple but it is not easy as it seems.The acts of kindness and selflessness are remarkable. People who have lost everything are still helping and finding strength to move on their way because they know the golden rule of life. Following your dream is also a golden rule of your life. Morality is also important rule as it makes life livable.

Why to fit in when you are born to stand out? Golden rule lead to a healthy and happy life.

Nancy is a student of Grade X at LRI School, Kathmandu.

Have a story to tell? Send your articles, poems, short stories and opinions to mycity@myrepublica.com, gennext@myrepublica.com or post it on our facebook page at fb.com/mycityrepublica, fb.com/gennextnepal

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My Republica - Golden Rule of life - Republica

Why 'think before you tweet' should be golden rule for NI's politicians

BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Why do they keep on doing it? Public figures saying stupid things on social media, that is.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/why-think-before-you-tweet-should-be-golden-rule-for-nis-politicians-35936287.html

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/article35936285.ece/3b67b/AUTOCROP/h342/2017-07-17_opi_32936931_I3.JPG

Why do they keep on doing it? Public figures saying stupid things on social media, that is.

The latest eejit to fall prey is Rhodri Philipps, 4th Viscount St Davids no less, who found himself in hot water after offering 5,000 on Facebook to "the first person to 'accidentally' run over" anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller.

He insisted it was just "satire"; but as a result of that, and other racially aggravated outbursts, the loose-lipped lord is currently beginning a 12-week sentence behind bars.

Apparently he's now "permanently deleted" all his social media accounts, so at least one sinner's learned his lesson. Plenty of others, politicians included, have still not wised up to the dangers. "Think before you tweet" should be the golden rule, but fingers have minds of their own. They've written the offending message and pressed send before the brain has processed what's going on.

There may be too many political representatives in Northern Ireland who are familiar with the inside of a cell, but so far none have been sent to prison for their activities on social media.

However it's only a matter of time before one of them goes too far and becomes the news, rather than simply commenting on it 24/7 via their smartphones.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams is almost as infamous for his surreal Twitter account these days as he is for claiming never to have been in the IRA.

Another of the party's MLAs got into trouble for 'liking' a Facebook post about the former First Minister that included an offensive hashtag with Arlene Foster's name in it, while a further Sinn Fein councillor was forced to apologise recently after describing Bangor as a "sh**hole".

It would appear that encouraging all your elected representatives to get out there on social media and spread the message can have its downsides as well. Fancy that!

Unionists are far from immune. The first ever TUV councillor on Belfast City Council was strongly criticised for sectarian comments she left online as a teenager, while Jim Wells of the DUP was chided earlier this year for messages stating that Sinn Fein canvassers in Rathfriland were "not welcome in this unionist town".

Ruth Patterson was even arrested a while back for leaving apparently supportive comments under a Facebook story imagining a terrorist attack on senior republicans.

Charges were later dropped, but she accepted the posts were inappropriate. The point is that trouble could have been avoided entirely with a little forethought. The internet is a public space. The clue's in the name of social media. It's many things, not all admirable, but private isn't one of them.

South Belfast MP Emma Little Pengelly of the DUP would have spared herself a headache by remembering that.

She got into a late night Twitter exchange last week following comments she made about controversial effigies on Eleventh Night bonfires being an expression of a "free society". She explained at length what she meant, but broke some of the cardinal rules for politicians who go online, as listed by the BBC's own social media trainer. Rule One: Don't tweet late at night. Rule Two: Don't get drawn into arguments. Rule Three: Always consider if what you're saying could be taken out of context. Twitter itself publishes a 136-page guide for politicians, including advice on Page 30 about how to delete a tweet, though by then it's usually too late. Once it's noticed and screenshotted, it's there for ever. Entire websites are devoted to archiving the deleted messages of politicians.

There are undoubted advantages for candidates in embracing social media. It heightens their public profile. They can interact more freely with constituents. They get to address voters directly, without having to sneak past the gatekeepers of traditional media (when Martin McGuinness resigned as Deputy First Minister, Mrs Foster gave her first response in a video posted to Facebook rather than at a Press conference, where she would've been assailed with questions. It's the one place where you can keep absolute control of the content and the way it's presented - though what happens to it afterwards is, of course, still out of your hands).

The risk is that opening themselves up to the public leaves politicians vulnerable to a torrent of abuse from the disaffected, disenfranchised or just plain mentally ill. Mrs Foster has been subjected to plenty of that too.

Worst of all, there's no one else to blame when it all goes wrong. Like many celebrities who've either abandoned or cut down their online presence, politicians are discovering that keeping up an image is often more trouble than it's worth. On Facebook and Twitter a furious row is only ever a click away.

It's harder still to tell them to stop tweeting when even the US President behaves like a demented internet troll, and when so many people are glued to their smartphones morning, noon and night that they're otherwise unreachable.

Politicians also tend to be sociable creatures by nature. They have to be. All that small talk and pressing the flesh at an endless round of meetings, engagements and fundraisers would send them doolally otherwise. Advising them to give up this rich channel of instant communication in their own hands would be a cruel and unusual punishment indeed.

But something is only worth doing if the benefits outweigh the risks, and it's not entirely clear that they do in these cases.

You can't make complex political points in 140 characters, and jokes are too risky. Some people live to take offence. There's always someone waiting to trip up the unwary. Molehills are turned into mountains with alarming frequency.

It makes one wonder why politicians bother. An ill-advised tweet can ruin a promising political career.

Keeping up a constant stream of messages online is simply handing your enemies the ammunition to advance your own downfall.

It will be a shame if that forces them to hide behind bland soundbites rather than saying what they actually think, but they could hardly be blamed if that's what they decided to do.

It might be amusing for Joe Public to watch elected representatives nervously walk that tightrope, but what do politicians get out of it?

That's the mystery. Are their egos really so huge that they couldn't cope without the perpetual drip-feed of attention?

If that's the case, we ought to pity them rather than goading them into further gaffes, because, in cyber space, someone can always hear you scream.

Belfast Telegraph

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Why 'think before you tweet' should be golden rule for NI's politicians - Belfast Telegraph

Welcome to Grillist, our annual celebration of all things smoke and fire. Join us all summer long as we get up in your grill with expert BBQ advice, insightful interviews, great recipes, and bad grilling puns -- but mostly those first three.

F ollowing the golden rule means doing unto others as you'd have them do to you. It's usually applied to interactions with people, but also translates to grilling. Thou mustn't drench thy beef in tangy sauce, lest thy own self be drenched. Thou shan't leave a steak in the fridge all day, lest your last bite be of the frost variety. You know, real biblical stuff.

"Several days prior to grilling any beef, I'll salt it and put it on a drying rack in the fridge for at least 24 hours. This draws the moisture out and really aids in creating a great crust. Then I'll brush the meat with melted tallow. Using rendered beef fat in place of butter makes a ton of sense, and it's cheap and easy to get from any butcher or grocer." -- Trey Bell, LaRue Elm, (Greensboro, North Carolina)

"Save the sauce! Barbecue sauce is best served on the side as a condiment. If you put it on the meat over a hot fire it'll burn easily, and nobody likes that." -- Ray Lampe, aka Dr. BBQ (Saint Petersburg, Florida)

"Of all the methods of cooking, grilling is easily the one with the most back-seat drivers. Just like too many cooks in the kitchen, too many bros around a fire can be the undoing of your ember-kissed edibles. Not much is worse than trying to get in the zone, only to have Biff from accounting instruct you on the proper methods of burger-flipping. My line is this: 'I'll handle this. That way it's only my fault if it sucks.' You have to take control! Get a wing-person to distract gawkers and back-seat grillers away from your food foundry. Have the wing-person deliver the toasty treats to a place away from the grill. I'm not saying you have to be antisocial. Once the cooking is done, bask in the praises of those you have fed." -- Justin Warner, author of The Laws of Cooking: And How to Break Them, host of Chef Shock (Brooklyn, New York)

"Chimney starters are always preferred over lighter fluid -- they make for a cleaner cook." - Takuya "Tako" Matsumoto, Kemuri Tatsu-ya, (Austin, Texas)

"I like to put all the coals on one side of the grill. Skin-on chicken thighs are my favorite, and I like to roast them on the complete opposite side of the grill where there's no flame. The indirect heat slow roasts them and makes the skin really crispy." -- Chris Shepherd, chef/owner of Underbelly, One Fifth, Hay Merchant (Houston, Texas)

"Always take your protein out of the refrigerator a couple hours before grilling to allow it to come to room temperature. A room-temperature piece of meat cooks a lot more evenly than something right out of the refrigerator." -- Mark Dommen, One Market Restaurant (San Francisco, California)

"Wrap your platter with plastic wrap before taking raw meat out to the grill. After the meat is on the grill, you can remove and discard the plastic wrap. That way, you can use the same platter for serving the cooked meat. And you don't need to wash your tongs: If they touch the raw burger, it's OK -- the heat of the burger sterilizes the tongs." -- Steven Raichlen, author and TV host of Project Smoke (Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts)

"To achieve perfect grill marks, do a quarter turn on your patty at the two-minute mark, flip it over after four minutes, then at the six-minute mark do another quarter turn and add any topping such as cheese or caramelized onions. Finally at 80 minutes, remove from the grill and enjoy." -- Steven Banbury, HopDoddy Burger Bar (Austin, Texas)

"At Flip Bird, the golden rule is to first spatchcock the bird. By removing the backbone, butterflying, and flattening the chicken, the meat will cook faster and both the breast and the leg finish at the same time while remaining moist and flavorful." -- John Stage, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Flip Bird (multiple locations throughout New York)

"Make sure the coals are cooked down to the white ash, otherwise the charcoal flavor is too pronounced. I like when it's still very hot, but has a beautiful amber glow with white ash. The perfect temperature." -- David Myers, Gypsy Chef at Salt Water Kitchen, Adrift, and more (Los Angeles, California)

"A few of my favorite ingredients to grill with are lemongrass and fish sauce. Lemongrass is a beautiful aromatic to add brightness to a dish without the introduction of acid. When acid is present, it usually turns bitter when exposed to an open flame. Lemongrass doesnt do that, instead it becomes brighter as the flavor is extracted over heat. Fish sauce is used as a complex salt and seasoning in Southeast Asia. It's better than salt because when you use fish sauce you're not just adding sodium, but also giving the dish more umami." -- Tu David Phu, chef behind An: Vietnamese Dining Experience (San Francisco, CA)

Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email and subscribe here for our YouTube channelto get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.

Dan Gentile is a former Thrillist staff writer based in Austin, Texas, where we make very strict distinctions between grilling and smoking. Follow him to more barbecue snobbery at @Dannosphere.

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The Golden Rules of Grilling - Thrillist

Golden Age Design owners Bill and Kara Kurth at their Robbinsdale storefront

by Jahna Peloquin (Photo by TJ Turner)

In the spring of 2015, two different stores with very similar names opened within one month of each other in the western suburbs of Minneapolis: the Golden Rule, which sells handmade goods from a collective of modern makers in Excelsior, and Golden Age Design, which specializes in meticulously restored, mid-century and Danish modern furniture in Robbinsdale.

Now, the two like-minded retailers are joining forces for a month-long Golden Age Design pop-up at the Golden Rule. A selection of Golden Ages stylish furniture has taken up residency of the Excelsior boutiques second floor, where the stores owner Erin Kate Duininck and her team styled it alongside goods by Golden Rules makers, including artwork by Minneapolis artist Ashley Mary.

I believe it was just the alignment of the stars, explains Golden Age Designs Bill Kurth. Similar names, similar personalities, just all around good stuff. We absolutely love what Erin and company are doing at Golden Rule.

Five years after setting up shop in a home garage, Golden Age Design opened its own storefront in April of 2015 inside a 125-year-old building located across the street from Travail Kitchen & Amusements in Robbinsdale. Founded by Kurth and his wife, Kara, the company began as something of a happy accidentthe pair ended up with a garage full of furniture that didnt work in their new home, so they decided to put it on Craigslist. The company quickly developed a cult following for its curated selection of mid-century and Danish-modern furnishings, all restored to mint condition by Bill and a small team of craftsmen.

There are many similarities between us and the Golden Rule, but one that stands out the most is that both shops just have a strong desire for good clean design, says Bill. We love the thought of our pieces being surrounded by the amazing art and home goods at the Golden Rule. It all blends together beautifully.

The Kurths carefully selected some statement-making pieces for the Golden Rule space, including a restored set of four Danish teak dining room chairs, a pair of 60s-era Danish lounge chairs by Sren Ladefoged for SL Mobler reupholstered in a light gray Scandinavian wool covering, and a teak chest of drawers that the couple just brought back from Denmark.

We wanted it to feel very minimal but not too thin, he says. The space was already so peaceful and serene so we just wanted to add what we could to help with that vibe. After staging and styling it, it felt like a little apartment in Denmark. Golden Age will continually be adding pieces though through the month of July, so check back frequently for a fresh selection.

On view through July 31 @ the Golden Rule, 350 Water St., Excelsior, 612-598-2098, goldenrulecollective.com.Visit the Golden Age Design's storefront at 4157 W. Broadway Ave., Robbinsdale, 612-408-6896, facebook.com/goldenagedesign.

Here's a preview of the pop-up and some of the pieces available:

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Golden Age Design Pops up at the Golden Rule in Excelsior - Midwest Home Magazine (registration) (blog)

Too often, all the American people see of Congress is hyper-partisan bickering on cable TV. What they dont see when the cameras are turned off? Many of us are friends. The policy disputes? They arent personal, even when passionate.

We are passionate because we all love our country. We want to serve the people who sent us to Washington to get things done for the American people. And we believe strongly in what we stand for. But we can disagree without being disagreeable. And the way we carry ourselves in our public debates is how we are represented to the American people no matter how cordial we are behind closed doors.

Weber Shandwick and Powell Tate, in partnership with KRC Research, recently released a report on the state of civility in America. It found that incivility has reached crisis levels in our country.

These findings, sadly, are not surprising. Particularly disappointing was that a majority of Americans believe incivility in our politics encourages general incivility in society, which deters citizens from engaging in public service. Incivility can lead to intimidation, threats, harassment, cyberbullying, discrimination and violence. In the wake of the attack on our fellow members of Congress at a Congressional Baseball Game practice of all places, the need for action could not be more urgent.

To try and disrupt this troubling trend, we have put forward bipartisan legislation, H. Res 400, creating a National Day of Civility. Its one small way to give this issue greater attention and spark greater awareness in communities across the country, and in Washington. The bill has overwhelming bipartisan support, introduced with the backing of nearly every member of our 50 plus person freshman class. As public officials, we have a responsibility to lead by example.

Matthew7:12reads in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. Its the Golden Rule. In our civil discourse, we must strive to disagree without being disagreeable and practice the Golden Rule every day. We look forward to growing support for our effort to recognize July 12(7/12) as the National Day of Civility.

Words matter. How we treat each other matters. Lets foster more civility in public discourse Congress is a great place to start.

The views expressed by this author are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

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Promoting civility and practicing the Golden Rule every day - The Hill (blog)

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The Modern Technique of the Pistol gave us four simple rules of gun safety that make it so much easier for us to prevent injury to ourselves or others. Rule No. 3 is, Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target. This is such an important safety rule that many of us call it the Golden Rule.

In teaching the draw stroke, most of us teach the students to not only keep their finger off the trigger but to keep it out of the trigger guard area, too. In fact, instructors almost universally teach that the trigger finger should be straight, along the slide until the muzzle is pointed downrange at the intended target or threat. Further, in order to make this a habit, we practice this safety method whenever handling any sort of firearm for any sort of reason.

When I was first exposed to this important safety method, I thought that it would slow me down for that first, most important, defensive shot. Not that I really doubted my teachers, but I gave this admonition a lot of thought and practice. What I found was that, no matter what kind of fast-draw artist the shooter might be, he still had plenty of time to get the finger to the trigger while the gun was being brought to eye level and the sights acquired. I also realized that, the more conscious that we are of proper finger control, the less likely we are to have a negligent discharge.

Some would say that they keep their finger in the trigger guard, but off the trigger, until they are ready to shoot. But these folks simply don't understand the business of sympathetic reflex. Often, especially under stress, if we clinch one hand, we are very likely to clinch the other hand and this is one example of sympathetic reflex. A gunfight can be a very dynamic event and we may have to double up the fist of our support hand. Or we may use our support hand to grab onto something to keep from falling. Clinching that support hand may cause us to also clinch our shooting hand and, if your trigger finger is anywhere near the trigger, we could very well let off an unintended shot.

A critical time for keeping that finger straight is during the re-holstering process. Some time ago, I did an informal survey of defensive classes to determine when negligent discharges were most likely. What I found was that ND's most often occur when folks are re-holstering and still have their finger in the trigger guard. The finger smacks the top of the holster. Then it smacks the trigger. And then there is often a loud noise. Sometimes that loud noise is immediately followed by the need for Bandaids.

I have personally witnessed two negligent discharges on shooting ranges, one involving injury. In both cases the shooter had his finger on the trigger when it shouldn't have been. One of these, the one involving injury, was during re-holstering. The second was when the shooter was chambering a round and, fortunately, had his muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

I also have personal knowledge, though I did not witness it, of a fellow peace officer smacking a crook over the head with his revolver. The blow impacted his trigger finger, which was on the trigger, and the resultant shot wounded two bystanders. That, by the way, is just one of the many reasons why it is not a good idea to hit someone with your pistol. Reviewing these three incidents, it is clear that Rule No. 4 is important regardless of whether we use a revolver, a striker-fired semi-automatic, or a single-action semi-automatic, since these were the guns involved in those incidents.

I am impressed when I see people handle firearms with their trigger fingers straight. I've even noticed savvy gun folks doing this at the SHOT Show and the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, when the guns displayed have short firing pins installed and could not fire even if they were actually loaded. It is simply the mark of a professional and safety-conscious individual. We don't do that to impress others, we do it to make it an ingrained habit.

Remember to keep that finger straight and off the trigger until your sights and gun muzzle are pointed at the target or threat. It is the right thing to do because it is the safe thing to do.

Rule No. 3 is truly the Golden Rule of gun safety. Make it part of your life. You'll be glad that you did.

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Sheriff's Tips: The Golden Rule - American Rifleman (press release) (blog)

Do unto others as you would have others do unto you (Matthew 7:12).

That verse is known by most people as the Golden Rule. Whether you are a person of faith or not most people would agree that it is a pretty good guide for life. Yet even as most would agree that it is a good life goal there seems to be an absence of it on a number of levels in our world.

In a nation whose political landscape is so divided we see an absence of this practice. In a world where so many talk at each other instead of to each other the practice seems forgotten. In a culture where electronic communications so easily voice our weaker nature, one would assume there has been a vacancy of learning about the transformational power of the Golden Rule.

With all this being considered I suppose we could throw up our hands, give up and avoid people. We could cry that, nothing will change and I am checking out. We could do that, but that would change nothing. That attitude would offer no hope for the future, and that simply is not an attitude that we as humans can afford to have.

When I was in high school our cross-country team was very good, state ranked, in fact, all season. They wore T-shirts to summer training camp with the following statement on them. The shirts said, What will be is up to me! That sentiment gave me a simple language that revealed what my heart believed. No matter what the circumstances may be I can make a difference wherever I am. No matter what the circumstances may be we can make a difference no matter where we are.

Later on, another thought occurred to me. What happens if enough Is become wes? What would happen if our attitude became I cant change everything but I can change something every day? What would happen if people began doing five simple acts of kindness every day? What would happen if we held doors for people? Smiled and said hello? Allowed people to turn in front of us in heavy traffic? What would happen if we made it our purpose to treat people who bring us our food or sell us our gas like we wanted to be treated? What would happen if for an hour or so every day we shut off the TV or the electronic devices and talked and listened to each other? What would happen if we went for walks in the neighborhood every summer evening and just looked to help someone with something simple?

South African Bishop Desmond Tutu said, Hope is being able to see that there is light despite the darkness. This reminds us not to give up.

St. Paul said, Faith, hope, love, abide these three but the greatest of these is love. This reminds us of the powerful source of transformation that can change anything. What will be is up to me reminds us that I/we are the living sources of transformation. This mornings sunrise reminds us that it is time to get to work changing the future!

A Fellow Traveler on the Journey Pastor Dan

The Rev. Dan Bowman is pastor of First United Methodist Church in Gaylord. He can be reached at fumcpastor@winntel.net.

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OPINION: The 'Golden Rule' in the face of a negative climate - Petoskey News-Review