Glen Fernandes
I remember during our good old school days, we used to recite the Preamble of the Indian Constitution everyday at the school assembly, with fervour and gusto, as we had been taught how important it is. This Preamble introduces us to the Constitution and confirms the principles of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity for all citizens in order to safeguard the nation’s integrity and seeks to provide equality of status and opportunity to all individuals, thus promoting a sense of brotherhood among all citizens. One of the statements in the preamble is ‘treat everyone with courtesy’. That indicates the golden rule –‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’’. It is called the ‘golden rule’ because there is a value which expresses respect and caring attitude for one another and it acts as a foundation for all other values.
The ‘golden rule’ exists in almost all religions and spiritual traditions in some form or another.
It places top priority on relationships first and inspires a level of thoughtfulness to consider how you would want others to treat you if you were in the same situation. As Pope Francis recently observed that almost all our problems and woes can be traced back to a loss of reverence for the sacredness and dignity of human life.
Considering this is the 21st century, we would think that the respect for human rights would be universal. Today, religion has become a controversial matter. People of all backgrounds –both those who believe in religion and those who don’t – are becoming more polarized in their views. Blamed for division, accused of eliciting hatred, religion is considered by many to be the main source of discord in the modern era. Political platforms which are supposed to create opportunities for betterment and well being of the people, are being misused. It is difficult to rely on political leaders since they are motivated by the selfish desires to get ahead. It’s hard to follow these people whose decisions are based on political ambitions rather than the good of the organization or the well-being of the people. They attempt to advance at the expense of everyone around them.
As a human being, it is important to treat all individuals with respect and kindness. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion regardless of their beliefs, background or actions. Respect is the foundation upon which interpersonal relationships and personal growth is built upon. Respect is also demonstrated by the actions of people toward certain beliefs such as respect for the human rights and difference in cultures. What a difference it would make to the world if everyone began to practice what they preach from their own doctrine. It’s about learning about others’ perspectives and beliefs and being open to changing your own. It’s about giving others the space to make their own choices, even if those choices differ from yours. Working with others is the only way we’ll make sure respect for human rights is at the heart of a fairer, more socially inclusive world. The world can only be built if we have the right foundation — Respect for Human Rights.
