You know in my family, we have a philosophy. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Hey, wait a minute, isn’t that the “Golden Rule” as well?
Huh, apparently for many people, it’s not, for them, the new golden rule must be “Screw over others as you would not have them screw over you.”
And, no we certainly don’t let it shake or our moral compasses.
But we are truthful, upstanding people, who try to do the best to help out people whom we think are our friends, helping them in their times of need, and not expecting anything in return, save a sincere thank you, and a sense common decency.
My wife is a graphic designer, and therefore, she is endowed with skills that are much-needed and desired by anyone who is in, or starting up a business.
She gets paid thousands of shekels for multiple page websites, from strangers, but for `’friends” she tries to do the decent thing and not break their banks while providing them with the same top-notch sites as she would create for anyone else. And yet, on a continual basis, her “friends” screw her over, via any number of means.
Can no one truly trust anyone in this world?
I mean why are we concerned with external forces trying to destroy us, when we are doing a perfectly fine job of destroying ourselves, from with-in?
I want my son to grow up, just as I presume most parents do, in a world where he knows that he can count on his friends to do right by him, and he, to do right by them.
But is this even a valid hope?
Yes we do have a family in Israel, besides our own (cousins included), that we can count on to always do the right thing, who’s compasses point due North. Thank G-d for them, and may they and theirs be blessed in all things.
But for the most part, everyone else we know is purely out for their own best interests, and sincerely, do not give a crap about their so-called “friends.
These people are all liars, cheaters, and snakes. And they are Jews! Our own people, Am Yisrael. We only constitute less than 1% of the global population, and even WE can’t stick together! No wonder we have so many problems!
I believe in doing a good thing for someone, for the sake of doing that good thing. ONLY. I do not expect anything in return but common decency, and when we live in a world where simple common decency is too much to ask for, then what is the point?
So we can all live in our own little bubbles, have no contact with the outside world, and when we do simply fake liking them and being nice to them until they leave so you can talk behind their backs.?
If I have something to say to someone, I say it directly to their face. Does this make me better than you? Certainly not, it just makes me honest.
Could I run with the herd, run with those around me, even in my own extended family, who smile out of one side of their mouths as they proverbially back-stab me out of the other?
Sure, I most certainly could.
But if I allowed myself to sink to their levels, I would (as cliché as it is) be no better than they are. And you know what?
Even if it’s a little lonelier here on the side of honesty, kindness, and common decency, I’ll tell you one thing, I sure do sleep well each and every night!
How about you?
Mordechai
