5+8=13, 1+3=4.
4 is the death number.
This little limerick is an old one, written when I realised I no longer saw people as members of a homogeneous group as my religion had dicated, but related to each individual as a unique human being.
Out went any claim to superiority by class, race, religion, nation, and with it the inherited permission to treat others with less than total respect. ‘Gunboat diplomacy’ was dead.
Survival of the Fittest.
We invented the cannon and sabre
To take from those living by labour.
But change is demanding
A new understanding,
That ‘I am my own neighbour’s neighbour’.
From that came the one rule that governs all my dealings with others. “Do not do to others what you would not wish others to do to you.” (the Mosaic commandment lets the deluded pester me with Watchtowers!)
Note: My 'commandment' does not work for masochists!
Dragged from the archives in response to Magpie Tales
A good Magpie. I agree, no-one is more superior to another.
ReplyDeleteEasy when you say it like that.
ReplyDeleteI try to do likewise.
Nicely put, Stafford. I had to double check what 'masochist' meant as I've been a lot of 'chists' in the past but thankfully not this one...!!
ReplyDelete.. from sea to shining sea. I am my neighbor's neighbor. I like that!
ReplyDeleteExcellent words. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteand we all live in one neighborhood; so very true these days.
ReplyDeleteI like it!
ReplyDeleteWell said, Stafford.
ReplyDeleteNOT the Hon Roderick D'Stamford motto!
ReplyDeleteIf only the rest of the world could adopt this philosophy, we would be in a happier state.
ReplyDeleteNice post, as always. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThe death number? I wondered why swords were on my mind this week.
ReplyDelete“Do not do to others what you would not wish others to do to you.”
ReplyDeleteThe same thing i learned and follow since long :)
PS : 13 is not as unlucky. Not for all !!
Wise words, sir...
ReplyDeleteWise words indeed! I ahare your philosopy and treat everyone as a potential friend.
ReplyDeleteAnna :o]
I like this, and the wisdom of the last line!
ReplyDeleteDepending on dialect and/or pronunciation, "4" can also carry the meaning in Chinese of "sure" or "certain". For example, when I bought a car in Singapore years ago, the license plate number was 8848. "8" meaning "prosper/prosperity", the salesman interpreted the number to mean "Prosperity, prosperity, sure prosperity!"
He wanted to buy my plate from me.
I should have sold it to him! :)
Rick
Too many never realize the implications of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." By doing it to them you place your approval on their treating you that way.
ReplyDeleteThe golden rule is a great one indeed Stafford....we may not always see each and everything eye to eye....but I certainly respect your brilliance and love your brave honesty. :-)
ReplyDeleteWise words, yet a shameful world when we must reverse the golden rule to not do to others... Well done.
ReplyDeletelove your re-written commandment -- it takes on a subtly different meaning when you rephrase it that way....so much more powerful.
ReplyDeletewonderful.
Wise, terse, and oh so humanistic.
ReplyDeleteI always felt that we should get
busy breeding ourselves into
one race, and shift our ethnicities
into one; of this earth, and
earthite. Our humanity is always
tested, daily, every second; that
and the calamities we have helped
to nurture by goading our planet.
Haha what you said about masochists :)
ReplyDeleteDear Stafford: Great limerick! Very inspiring! The fact that you "do unto others..." is a solid philosophy, and I believe Confuscious was the first to say these words and then incorporated in other philosophies. Particularly love;
ReplyDelete"A new understanding,"
Lovely take on Love Not War theme! I do agree completely!
Right on, bro. You are a wise man, indeed!
ReplyDeleteWell said! (and the disclaimer for masochists is funny)
ReplyDeleteThis poem moves me... to tears. Beautiful!
ReplyDelete