There are a number of things that our mothers (and possibly fathers) told us that, in retrospect, deserve another look. I mean the stuff that has been said for generations, if not millennia. How have they stood up over the years?
The first is what the world calls, The “Golden Rule”. Everyone knows it: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We are told that most religions are built around it.
Let’s take those words for what they express. The first part says, “Do unto others”. This means that the rule will tell us how to treat people. All fine and good. Now let’s look at how we are supposed to do that. The next phrase gives us the answer: “. . . .as you would have them do unto you.” Whoa! Wait a minute. What does that mean? By its very terms it means that we should treat other people by giving them, not what they want, but instead giving them what we would want.
So, this is how the “Golden Rule” really works. Assume I have a friend who is very depressed. It doesn’t matter why. Let’s just say that he’s a New York Jets fan. I know that I want to cheer him up. I also know that nothing makes him happier than dressing up in women’s clothing. Dressing up as a woman, however, is not for me. Under the “Golden Rule”, I should not buy him an expensive negligee which is what he would want. Instead, I should buy him something else, something that I would want. I would then be following the Rule – “what you would have them do unto you”. How ironic that the “Golden Rule” – the Everest of selflessness – is, at its root, incredibly selfish.
Our mothers were wrong about that one.
Now how about “Share your toys.” That snotty little kid who your mother said you had to play with brings none of his own toys. He just keeps grabbing yours’, even you favorites. You keep taking them back. Eventually, the little snot starts to whine. “Mommy! He won’t let me play with his toys!” Then both mothers’ show up and almost in unison they intone, “Share your toys.” That’s how mothers say the world is supposed to work. Don’t be selfish. Share.
Now, let’s look at how that rule applies to the world that those children grow up in, especially the economic system they will have to deal with. If anyone were asked to devise an economic system that stomps on the idea of sharing, it would be capitalism. Capitalism is all about getting yours. The only reason you need to take care of other people is either so they will work for you and help you get more, or to give you a tax deduction. I’m not saying that everyone thinks this way. People do care for others at times out of the goodness of their hearts, but if they do that too often, they’re not going to go very far in this capitalistic system.
Our mothers were wrong again.
This next one is a little different. On this one our mothers were right. We just didn’t listen. It’s Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me.
People today don’t believe that names will never hurt them. In fact, when they hear a slur directed at them, ironically, they often become the ones using the sticks and stones. In fact, calling people names in some cases now is actually illegal. It’s called, “hate speech.” The cops are dragging students off to the hoosgow for referring negatively to other students by their religion. People have become so sensitive to what people say to them that you can lose your job simply by telling a female co-worker that she looks good.
I do not justify offending people. Those who use offensive language are idiots. But our mothers were right when they told us that being called names will never hurt us. We can’t let idiots control us, whether by ethnic slur or by being President. Words are not violence. Words are communication. Depending on what those communicated words are, they can be useful or worthless. We give the worthless ones value when we react to them.
Feel free to tell me what you think of this. You can call me any name you want.
We were right 