Fairness and the Golden Rule

One of the most famous examples people site as being the golden rule is in the bible; Book of Luke: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This philosophy is ingrained in many religions and also society. There have also been many critics who have rebelled against this "far too simplistic" notion.

One could argue that there are a few generalities in the terms of a certain base of kindness and not killing one another. But, yet most people cannot easily come to an agreement on what fair or just treatment to each other is. This principal of not accepting someone else's idea of what is fair is seen in court rooms every day. It's not only in the juror's eyes but also with the victim, the families on each side, the defendant and even the judges. People do harm and even kill one another every day; it has been that way since the dawn of man. Personal opinions, behaviors, biases, judgments and the like run deep. Each and every one of us has views that are nonnegotiable, and others may take an opposite stance with just as much fervor. Even in families, you see how personalities play havoc with the "this is overall judgment of what is just and fair" ruling.

In corporate offices and companies across the country management is trying to put a set policy together that enthralls everyone's needs and wants, it is close to impossible. The idea of team building was such a big hit when it first started and now it is looked upon very suspiciously. As well it should be, because having everyone involved in some out of the company event does not solve the issues and attitude problems of specific problems. It also costs a lot of money and employees know and usually resent it. That was the way of the Christmas/Holiday parties of days gone by. Ask anyone over 30 years old about "what these parties used to entail" and your mouth will drop with how much time, money and resources went into an event where everyone acted like a bunch of college students on spring break.

Justice also seems to bend and flow with the times, as it should. The acceptable behavior in society has never stagnated even for a day. That is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to follow the dogma of religions that are based on concepts that were formed by a very different society, many years ago. It is almost like man lived on a different planet back then.