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Progressive Values Stories: Suzanne Kite on the Golden Rule
Linked to groups: East Bay for Democracy
“The golden rule is that there are no golden rules.”
George Bernard Shaw
We continue with another story about the golden rule. In this interview with Suzanne Kite, she says that progressives value the Golden Rule, "Treat people like you’d like to be treated, and don’t gossip." As she says, "The problem is in politics there’s always gossip". I'm finding there seems to be a lot of different versions of the Golden Rule.
We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit it to life.” Edwin Markham
Suzanne Kite on the Golden Rule
My name is Suzanne Kite. I live in Marina del Ray and am on the Board of Directors of the West L.A. Democratic Club, a member of Democratic Club of West Side progressives, a new club, and also Events Chair for the club.
It’s so different for everybody. I think that progressive values are the values that I was taught and many people were as a child to follow the golden rule, to do for others as you would have them do for you. Treat people like you’d like to be treated, and don’t gossip,
Of course in politics there’s always gossip. But I was instilled with good core values growing up and have maintained them. The progressive movement is going back to what used to be when you felt for one another. You want the best. In this case for the most part we want to get out of Iraq.Edwin: What is that value?
Answer: Not cutting yourself or others down. Being your true self. Let your emotions come out, feel what you’re doing, and do what you’re feeling, and try to be good, a good person, do good things and make a difference in society. Even in a small amount, everybody can make a difference, every voice counts, and I really believe that.
Edwin: How did you develop those values?
Answer: I think my whole childhood was an experience. I came from a very conservative family, my parents were Democrats, but nobody in my family has been active in politics. That was something that I learned, but the values that I was taught carried me through, and those values are basically what I said – do right to people around you, and yourself. Don’t harm anybody, don’t do anything to harm anybody in the world. If you can do something to better the world, that’s wonderful.
Edwin: Do you remember a lesson you learned, an actual incident.
Answer: My parents were strict, and honesty and integrity were very important. I didn’t know what integrity meant, I do now, but honesty was the most important – don’t lie. I found out I’m not good at lying, so it just totally gives me away if I’m lying, so I don’t do that anymore because why bother?
To keep the Golden Rule we must put ourselves in other people's places, but to do that consists in and depends upon picturing ourselves in their places.” Harry Emerson Fosdick
"Absolutely speaking, do unto others as you would that they should do unto you is by no means a golden rule, but the best of current silver. An honest man would have but little occasion for it. It is golden not to have any rule at all in such a case.” Henry David Thoreau
Definition of The Golden Rule
- a basic principle which should always be followed.
- a command based on Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount;
"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/golden+rule
http://www.onelook.com/?w=golden+rule&ls=a
At Wikipedia
The ethic of reciprocity or the Golden Rule is a fundamental moral value which simply means "treat others as you would like to be treated." It is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights. Principal philosophers and religious figures have stated it in different ways.In Buddhism
Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.
One who, while himself seeking happiness, oppresses with violence other beings who also desire happiness, will not attain happiness hereafter.
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. Dalai Lama
In Confucianism
Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself. Analects XV.24,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethic_of_reciprocity
Some Questions To Ponder:
- What does the golden rule mean to you?
- Do you have your own creative version of the Golden Rule?
- Do you have a personal story or anecdote of how you learned some insight into this value?
- How does this progressive value differ from conservative values?
- How have conservative values failed?
- How would you improve these Progressive Values Stories?
More Progressive Values Stories:
Edwin Rutsch
What Are Progressive Values? Documentary Project
http://ProgressiveSpirit.com
and Study Group
Show: Expand All Reply
phil's right--the profit motive and monopolies stifle creativity.
I guess that's because profit introduces the judgment of an
uncreative outsider into the process. There's a reason why
most artists are poor.
Hi Phil,
I did it...bought my fishing license and scored a few walleyes over the weekend. Only kept one though, most were in the slot other than one big female which was released immediately. Now I have to say, down at my favorite fishing hole, there's been some developement going on in one of the old paper mills. Went down this morning but water was way too high to fish but I was there chatting with a fishing buddy when someone else drove in. I'd heard rumor of what was happening there and who was behind it but today I was able to put those rumors to rest.
Steve McAllister, native to this town has come home...
http://community.oceana.org/node/811
I was able to have about an hour long chat with this amazing man and what he is bringing home to our town...that old paper mill is going to be a resort, restaurant, hotel, organic greenhouse, marina and more (and he's doing it all green)...we talked as we walked the property since I've been fishing here 30 yrs...told me Vermont is a haven, few places like it left.
I'm sure glad I bought my fishing license
off to do website, committee work...had enough fun for a while.
The media will continue to create stories in their attempt to force their more corporatist candidates down our throats.
The middle class - bitter and angry and frustrated ?
You bet middle class voters are all of those - and Senator Obama is spot on to say so, just as John Edwards has been for a long time.
And, as always . . . . . .
Oh, and the fifty-state strategy is first - as are Howard Dean and Barack Obama.
6:27 PM EDT
http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/obama_leads_clinton_signifcant.html
Obama leads Clinton 'significantly'
Posted April 13, 2008 3:00 PM
by Mark Silva
For all the turbulence on the campaign front – with a heated battle underway between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania – the latest results of the Gallup Poll’s daily track released today portray the senator from Illinois with a comfortable national lead over Clinton.
The survey of Democratic voters conducted Thursday through Saturday found Obama favored among 50 percent and Clinton 41 percent.
“The latest news in the campaign focuses on remarks Obama made, first reported on Friday, about working class and rural voters being "bitter" about the economy,’’ Gallup’s Jeff Jones notes today. “Initial indications are that the controversial remarks has not yet hurt Obama -- his 9-percentage point lead in the current results (based on March 10-12 polling) is right in line with the average 8.5-point lead he
...
Hey all, just back from Chincoteague, nice time. Weather all over the place. Went to the beach Friday eve and it was weird. fog was thick but he waves were so white.
Great time.
What the stuff about "bitter". Get a life Hillary, you are becoming a joke.
Bitter, Oh let me see, oil prices, forclosures, iraq, no jobs. Hell no we ain't bitter.
Obama has put the conversation out there again folks. How smart is that.
releasing tax returns with 100 million plus of income trading on connections and Hillary calls Obama elitist is one of those rovian attack where you are weak and change the subject gammits
bought my Wisconsin fishing license last night Reed, now to use it
Speaking of elitist. Here's a diary with some questions for Hillary.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/4...
I had a nice chuckle seeing the pics of Hillary taking shots. But she sipped first. LOL. I just take the whole damn thing in one gulp!
In Italy, the shot glass has been used for over 200 years, very popular in taverns for tasting grappa. Contrary to public opinion, grappa is sipped from the shot glass, not downed in one gulp.
7:38 PM EDT
an opinion from a resident in a small town in PA:
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_8897370?source=most_emailed
Letter to the editor: Clinton will say anything to win...Fortunately I have never been under sniper fire, nor have I had to cover my head and make a mad dash for safety to avoid such fire. So, if some day you hear of me telling someone such a personal, harrowing story, you can chalk it up to a senior moment, a bald-faced lie to exaggerate my self-importance, or that I misspoke.
Since I'm not a presidential candidate, I could be guilty of a senior moment or exaggeration. Sen. Clinton has chosen the excuse of misspeaking.
I am reminded of her words during a debate with Sen. Obama: "I will do anything to win..."
Believe her!
William Hutchings
Chambersburg
We will be trout fishing at the end of the month.
Steelheads are less nourmerous and smaller. I won't mess with them this year.
It snowed over an inch this morning.
* rdorgan Sun, 04/13/08 wrote Fortunately I have never been under sniper fire, nor have I had to cover my head and make a mad dash for safety to avoid such fire.
I have and as usual, she insults all who had the experiences she dreams about.
April 12, 2008 5:27 PM
ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Sen. Evan Bayh said today he doesn't believe that Sen. Barack Obama is an elitist, despite his much criticized comments about small town working class voters, but he said the remarks would come back to haunt Obama should he win the Democratic nomination.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/evan-bayh-doesn.html
Reed - I won't drink grappa but my husband loves it. I should add I haven't done a shot in a long time. ;-)
Jim Webb's op-ed written in 2006 rings true with bitter-gate. It's a must read.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/13/...
mary...I too shy away from the shots, wasn't always the case though...I've learned a few Molsons is best the hard way...LOL
Never had a shot grappa myself, just *heard* you talk about it.
Not much to add tonight other than chatter while I'm between sending emails...
dog...thought I've never been in the military, I have been shot at twice in my youth...
while much has come and gone in my memory, those days are crystal clear still.
I'm sick of the lying!!!
By THOMAS BEAUMONT • REGISTER STAFF WRITER • April 13, 2008
function NewWindow(height,width,url) {window.open(url,"ShowProdWindow","menubars=0,scrollbars=1,resizable=1,height="+height+",width="+width); }Iowa Gov. Chet Culver made an unpublicized weekend visit to Kosovo, the turbulent former Yugoslav republic where more Iowa National Guard troops are deployed than anywhere besides Iraq.
Culver met Saturday with many of the roughly 330 Iowans stationed in Kosovo, some of whom are guarding a potentially volatile border area with Serbia. The governor said the troops were in good spirits and succeeding in maintaining order in the once war-torn region.
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4034
sippin whiskey or shots of tequilla for this redneck country boy when I don't have a bottle of bud, but Richardson was the candidate with beeribility and see what it got him
Hillary should have tossed Bill and loosened up years ago
bars are in a panic around here because Iowa just outlawed smoking in public places
9:20 PM EDT
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/13/885541.aspx
OBAMA PA SPORTSMEN PUSH BACK
Posted: Sunday, April 13, 2008 7:05 PM by Domenico MontanaroFrom NBC’s Cherelle Kantey
In this afternoon’s conference call sponsored by the Pennsylvania Sportsmen and Sportswomen for Obama, small-town politicians said the latest attacks from the Clinton campaign are shameless, aimed at creating divisions in their communities.
“Trying to turn small-town Pennsylvanians against each other for political gain is shameless,” said Mayor John Fetterman of Braddock, Pa. Fetterman blasted the New York senator for trying to win votes by patronizing gun owners, a move he said shows a willingness to win at all costs.
“I think it's really discouraging and tacky to see Hillary Clinton pandering as if she's a gun owner,” said Fetterman. “I think it demonstrates and represents willingness to say anything and everything to get elected.”
Rep. Dan Surra (D-PA) said he shares the frustration of the constituents he represents.
“I represent the people that Barack Obama was talking about, that people who have lost their jobs,” Surra said. "I think he understands, there is a frustration out there.”
...
At the conclusion of the call, the sportsmen made it clear that they intend to support Obama, who they say has genuine interest in the concerns of small-town communities.
“Barack Obama has reached out to sportsmen; he’s reached out to blue-collar people,” Surra said. “And I think the reason it’s being blown up like it is, because they don’t want to talk about who can really bring the change that we need.”
Vermont has had a law against smoking in public places for years...all the bars are still here...LOL
And now they're working towards banning smoking in vehicles with children on board...so all the children will still be here...about time I say.
I almost forgot...rd will like this...that fishing buddy I was talking to earlier today voted for W the first, realized his mistake and didn't vote for him the second time...and is now an Obama supporter. This guy is a true redneck too...not a pseudo redneck like Phil...LOL
zzzville
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