Progressive Values Stories: Suzanne Kite on the Golden Rule

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Apr 13, 2008 12:26 PM EDT

 “The golden rule is that there are no golden rules.” 
      George Bernard Shaw

We continue with another story about the golden rule.  In this interview with Suzanne Kite, she says that  progressives value the Golden Rule, "Treat people like you’d like to be treated, and don’t gossip."  As she says, "The problem is in politics there’s always gossip". I'm finding there seems to be a lot of different  versions of the Golden Rule.

We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit it to life.”     Edwin Markham

Suzanne Kite on the Golden Rule

 

My name is Suzanne Kite.  I live in Marina del Ray and am on the Board of Directors of the West L.A. Democratic Club, a member of Democratic Club of West Side progressives, a new club, and also Events Chair for the club.

It’s so different for everybody.  I think that progressive values are the values that I was taught and many people were as a child to follow the golden rule, to do for others as you would have them do for you.  Treat people like you’d like to be treated, and don’t gossip, 

  Of course in politics there’s always gossip.  But I was instilled with good core values growing up and have maintained them.  The progressive movement is going back to what used to be when you felt for one another.  You want the best.  In this case for the most part we want to get out of Iraq.

Edwin:  What is that value?

Answer:  Not cutting yourself or others down.  Being your true self.  Let your emotions come out, feel what you’re doing, and do what you’re feeling, and try to be good, a good person, do good things and make a difference in society.  Even in a small amount, everybody can make a difference, every voice counts, and I really believe that.

Edwin:  How did you develop those values?

Answer:  I think my whole childhood was an experience.  I came from a very conservative family, my parents were Democrats, but nobody in my family has been active in politics.  That was something that I learned, but the values that I was taught carried me through, and those values are basically what I said – do right to people around you, and yourself.  Don’t harm anybody, don’t do anything to harm anybody in the world.  If you can do something to better the world, that’s wonderful.

Edwin:  Do you remember a lesson you learned, an actual incident.

Answer:  My parents were strict, and honesty and integrity were very important.  I didn’t know what integrity meant, I do now, but honesty was the most important – don’t lie.  I found out I’m not good at lying, so it just totally gives me away if I’m lying, so I don’t do that anymore because why bother?

To keep the Golden Rule we must put ourselves in other people's places, but to do that consists in and depends upon picturing ourselves in their places.”  Harry Emerson Fosdick

"Absolutely speaking, do unto others as you would that they should do unto you is by no means a golden rule, but the best of current silver. An honest man would have but little occasion for it. It is golden not to have any rule at all in such a case.”  Henry David Thoreau
 

Definition of The Golden Rule
 - a basic principle which should always be followed.
 - a command based on Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount;  
     "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
 http://www.thefreedictionary.com/golden+rule
 http://www.onelook.com/?w=golden+rule&ls=a

At Wikipedia
The ethic of reciprocity or the Golden Rule is a fundamental moral value which simply means "treat others as you would like to be treated." It is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights. Principal philosophers and religious figures have stated it in different ways.

In Buddhism

   Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.

One who, while himself seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other beings who also desire happiness, will not attain happiness hereafter.

  If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. Dalai Lama 

In Confucianism
Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself. Analects XV.24,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethic_of_reciprocity 

Some Questions To Ponder:
- What does the golden rule mean to you?

 -  Do you have your own creative version of the Golden Rule?

-  Do you have a personal story or anecdote of how you learned some insight into this value?

-  How does this progressive value differ from conservative values?

-   How have conservative values failed?

 -  How would you improve these Progressive Values Stories?
 

More Progressive Values Stories:

Edwin Rutsch
What Are Progressive Values? Documentary Project
http://ProgressiveSpirit.com 
and Study Group
 

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