Home | Articles/Blog | Meditation | Forum | Workshops/Speaking | About | Links

One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated - Jainism .... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you - Christianity .... None of you truly believes until you want for others what you want for yourself - Islam .... Treat not others in ways you yourself would find hurtful - Buddhism .... What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbour - Judaism ....
For more Golden Rule statements, click here

Q&A
What is -
the Golden Rule
the Ethic of Reciprocity
Agape

Gerald Ford's Golden Rule Comment

December 28, 2006

     When he announced the pardon of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford said "let us restore the Golden Rule to our political process and let brotherly love purge our hearts of suspicion and of hate.”

Ford died December 26 at the age of 93.

The Marion Chronicle-Tribune had this to say about the former US president.

 Nations are not blessed with many thoroughly honest and decent men as their leaders. Gerald Ford was one of them.

Now, I didn't know much about Ford, and I suppose its true that epitaphs are generally generous. But after I came across the golden Rule reference, I did a little more Googling about the man who became president the year I became legally able to drink.

I remember jokes about Ford's ineptness, a shot, played over and over on television of him stumbling on an airplane step. In my Google results, however, I found testament to a man who was confident in his beliefs, in his sense of right and wrong. A man who was not afraid to make choices that upheld those beliefs even when they flew in the face of expediency.

No one of us is perfect. No one of us is capable of living out the Golden Rule in its greatest depths or its highest heights.

But I believe that it is well for us to acknowledge those who, when finding themselves in places of power, where yielding to self interest is tempting, yet make the effort to be steadfast to its principle.

to comment, please email comment@goldenruleradical.org

I welcome opportunities to speak to groups of all kinds about the universality of the Golden Rule.
Please Click Here to discuss a speaking opportunity or to inquire about hosting a Golden Rule workshop.