THE GOLDEN RULE

Seinfeld, the popular TV series aired for nine seasons with its finale in May 1998 drawing over 75 million viewers.  It remains one of my favourite shows that used routine everyday incidents to create hilarious but astute observations.  Their self-stated tag-line was that it was “a show about nothing!”  An episode in its eighth season highlighted a “Bizzaro World” which introduced four characters, each of whom did everything in an opposite manner to the four protagonists of the Seinfeld series.   

In the 1960s, DC Comics had introduced the concept of a fictional cube shaped planet known as Bizzaro World where everything is the opposite of life on Earth and its inhabitants do the opposite of all earthly things.  

We could well consider ourselves to be Bizzaro World inhabitants these days.  An entity attacks and assaults another but the victim is declared to be at fault.  A homeowner fires a gunshot to scare away intruders breaking into their home but could end up being considered a criminal.  One country attacks another but places the blame for its aggression on the latter.

Growing up in India, we were used to elderly folks, especially grandmothers telling us bedtime stories that could be scary, funny, mystical, mythological or a combination of all these and other genres.  But, they all had a clincher – a moral at the end.  These repositories of our heritage, culture and values were expected to help children learn and imbibe values of morality, ethics, good over evil, compassion, acceptance and love for all.  But, look how we all turned out.  Residents, advocates and perpetrators in a Bizzaro World.

In particular, I recall an ancient Indian story from my childhood.  It was titled Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja [lit. Dark City Chaotic King] about an enlightened master and his acolyte traveling to a topsy-turvy city ruled by an imbecilic king.  In this dystopian realm, everything is traded as Takkey Ser Bhaajii, Takkey Ser Khajaa [One Cent for Vegetables, One Cent for Cashews]; in other words, everything is priced the same irrespective of its value.  The Master observes this nutty atmosphere and decides not to stay there, urging his pupil to leave the unsafe city.  But, the latter is attracted by the cheap goods and stays back.  A few days later, a brick wall collapses, killing a wandering goat.  The King holds the area Police Chief responsible for the murder of the animal in his jurisdiction and orders him to be hanged for the crime.  When the hangman brings out the noose it is too large and loose to fit the culprit’s neck.  So, the King’s Ministers declare that any fat person whose neck fits the noose should be hanged.  The pupil, being fat, is brought forth for the sentence to be served.  Petrified, he prays for his Master to come and save him.  The wise Guru returns and goes to meet the King and explains that his special powers foretell that a person who accepts the noose to hang himself that evening is guaranteed a place in heaven the following morning.  Not to be outdone, the King decides he cannot allow another person to go to heaven and so, hangs himself.  The MORAL of the story is obvious.

We may laugh away this story and its simple moralistic conclusion.  But, are we not experiencing similar pervasive idiocy today!  It is difficult to distinguish whether pulpit thumping speakers are religious or political leaders.  Political expediency overshadows ethical and moral behaviour prescribed by the very religious tenets these demagogues parrot.  You are very familiar with events unfolding globally and it is not my intent to preach to the choir. 

But, a nudge is nevertheless warranted to help refresh and recalibrate our thinking. 

Scarboro Missions – a Canadian Catholic Missionary Community – produced the following poster in 2000 on THE GOLDEN RULE.  I was fortunate to receive a copy 25 years ago, gifted by the Executive Director of the Oakville Distress Centre (now Distress Centre Halton.)  It is displayed prominently in my room to draw attention when I wake up each morning and before turning in for the night.  It provides a much-needed and essential daily reminder.

The Golden Rule “is often described as a universal ethical principle” and “…  is well suited to be a standard to which different cultures could appeal in resolving conflicts. As the world becomes more and more a single interacting global community, the need for such a common standard is becoming more urgent. Clearly, the Golden Rule has the capacity to be the ethical cornerstone as the human family works together to build a peaceful, just and sustainable global society.”

Finally, I urge you once again to Imagine, as did John Lennon back in 1971: