The Golden Rule dates back to the days of ancient China during the time of Confucius in 500 BC. Older versions of this principle exist but the message is clear. Confucius proclaimed, "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself".
Just about every major religion offers it's own version of this maxim. In the Mahabharata, Vidura advises his King of the value of dharma (right conduct) and the need to "treat others as you treat yourself". In the book of Leviticus in the Bible, we read, "Love your neighbour as yourself". In the Tamil Tirukkural we are advised that "the proper punishment for those who have done evil to you, is to put them to shame by showing them kindness in return and to forget the evil and the good done on both sides". In ancient Greece, Thales advised, "Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing". In ancient Rome, Seneca the Younger warned slaves to "treat your inferior as you would wish your superior to treat you".
The quotes can be found across the religious spectrum but the message is quite clear. In effect, they warn against hypocrisy and promote tolerance and self-reflection. The message holds for all time. When people try to use this advice selectively, they do so at their own peril.
The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley provided us with some memorable characters. It was loosely written as a parody of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. In the novel, the underwater society in which the chimney sweep Tom finds himself is ruled by the two fairies Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby and Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid. The former is almost certainly based on the Golden Rule.
The resignation of the Labour MP Keith Vaz as Chair of the influential Commons Home Affairs Select Committee was not unexpected following newspaper revelations. In his resignation speech, Vaz warned that, "Those who hold others to account must themselves be accountable". Whatever the rights and wrongs of the recent allegations made against him, the words he used have seldom seemed more resonant. Had his personal conduct not been highlighted, we can safely assume that he would still be Chair of that committee because "what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't know".
Tolerance is an essential component of any progressive society but hypocrisy clouds the waters somewhat. It is equally true that everybody is entitled to a private life. France in particular is very defensive of it's privacy laws. There used to be a joke in which a man was asked if he was in favour of bring back the birch; "Only between consenting adults" came his reply. But joking aside, the central point is very important. People are different and are entitled to lead their private lives in their own way. But, if for example, Mr.Vaz had been found guilty of such activity during his working time, that would clearly be a different matter.
It is difficult to comment on the case of Keith Vaz not least because we do not yet know the full facts. But even if the media story turns out to be true, there are many who would question what Vaz was doing which was illegal. Aside from the alleged use of illicit drugs, it is not obvious where the illegality lies. But the other point here relates back to the Golden Rule. Vaz has most recently been Chair of a committee seeking to address existing prostitution laws. Put simply, the Golden Rule is the law of reciprocity and on that basis, Mr. Vaz has apparently broken it.
But to be fair to Mr. Vaz, there have been numerous figures in public life who have broken the Golden Rule in recent years. Unlike Mr. Vaz, many of them have simply clung to power in spite of widespread public condemnation.
In a recent post, I alluded to the Bell Principles formulated in the aftermath of the Nolan Report of 1995 in to standards in public life. The first principle for those in public life is to abide by the spirit and letter of the seven principles of public life; selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. Of these, it is integrity upon which Mr. Vaz appears to have come up short.
But this only focuses on a national figure. The same principles must also apply at a local level. We recently witnessed Nathan Gill leave UKIP to become an Independent principally because UKIP had rightly objected to him holding both an MEP and an AM post. Rather than do the decent thing and resign one of those posts, he instead chose to disregard the Bell Principles. If that remains unchallenged, it will illustrate how ineffective the Nolan Report and Bell Principles are in 2016.
This week, two costs were announced by Westminster. One project will cost an estimated £5.7 billion while the other is going to cost £12.5 million. One is the amount of money set to be spent on flood defences for communities in Yorkshire and Cumbria devastated by recent flooding. The other is the for the repair bill for the Houses of Parliament. There are some who say that our priorities are the wrong way around and who am I to argue?
Just about every major religion offers it's own version of this maxim. In the Mahabharata, Vidura advises his King of the value of dharma (right conduct) and the need to "treat others as you treat yourself". In the book of Leviticus in the Bible, we read, "Love your neighbour as yourself". In the Tamil Tirukkural we are advised that "the proper punishment for those who have done evil to you, is to put them to shame by showing them kindness in return and to forget the evil and the good done on both sides". In ancient Greece, Thales advised, "Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing". In ancient Rome, Seneca the Younger warned slaves to "treat your inferior as you would wish your superior to treat you".
The quotes can be found across the religious spectrum but the message is quite clear. In effect, they warn against hypocrisy and promote tolerance and self-reflection. The message holds for all time. When people try to use this advice selectively, they do so at their own peril.
The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley provided us with some memorable characters. It was loosely written as a parody of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. In the novel, the underwater society in which the chimney sweep Tom finds himself is ruled by the two fairies Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby and Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid. The former is almost certainly based on the Golden Rule.
The resignation of the Labour MP Keith Vaz as Chair of the influential Commons Home Affairs Select Committee was not unexpected following newspaper revelations. In his resignation speech, Vaz warned that, "Those who hold others to account must themselves be accountable". Whatever the rights and wrongs of the recent allegations made against him, the words he used have seldom seemed more resonant. Had his personal conduct not been highlighted, we can safely assume that he would still be Chair of that committee because "what the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't know".
Tolerance is an essential component of any progressive society but hypocrisy clouds the waters somewhat. It is equally true that everybody is entitled to a private life. France in particular is very defensive of it's privacy laws. There used to be a joke in which a man was asked if he was in favour of bring back the birch; "Only between consenting adults" came his reply. But joking aside, the central point is very important. People are different and are entitled to lead their private lives in their own way. But, if for example, Mr.Vaz had been found guilty of such activity during his working time, that would clearly be a different matter.
It is difficult to comment on the case of Keith Vaz not least because we do not yet know the full facts. But even if the media story turns out to be true, there are many who would question what Vaz was doing which was illegal. Aside from the alleged use of illicit drugs, it is not obvious where the illegality lies. But the other point here relates back to the Golden Rule. Vaz has most recently been Chair of a committee seeking to address existing prostitution laws. Put simply, the Golden Rule is the law of reciprocity and on that basis, Mr. Vaz has apparently broken it.
But to be fair to Mr. Vaz, there have been numerous figures in public life who have broken the Golden Rule in recent years. Unlike Mr. Vaz, many of them have simply clung to power in spite of widespread public condemnation.
In a recent post, I alluded to the Bell Principles formulated in the aftermath of the Nolan Report of 1995 in to standards in public life. The first principle for those in public life is to abide by the spirit and letter of the seven principles of public life; selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. Of these, it is integrity upon which Mr. Vaz appears to have come up short.
But this only focuses on a national figure. The same principles must also apply at a local level. We recently witnessed Nathan Gill leave UKIP to become an Independent principally because UKIP had rightly objected to him holding both an MEP and an AM post. Rather than do the decent thing and resign one of those posts, he instead chose to disregard the Bell Principles. If that remains unchallenged, it will illustrate how ineffective the Nolan Report and Bell Principles are in 2016.
This week, two costs were announced by Westminster. One project will cost an estimated £5.7 billion while the other is going to cost £12.5 million. One is the amount of money set to be spent on flood defences for communities in Yorkshire and Cumbria devastated by recent flooding. The other is the for the repair bill for the Houses of Parliament. There are some who say that our priorities are the wrong way around and who am I to argue?
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