The Golden Rule now gets booed in the Bible Belt. Two weeks ago, during a debate in South Carolina, presidential candidate Ron Paul stated, “If another country does to us what we do to others, we’re not going to like it very much. So I would say that maybe we ought to consider a Golden Rule in foreign policy: Don’t do to other nations what we don’t want them to do to us.” Before he could finish speaking, Paul was practically booed off the stage.
It is a sad state of affairs when the Golden Rule gets booed in the heart of the Bible Belt. According to Gallup’s enormous 2009 survey, “State of States: Importance of Religion,” 80 percent of South Carolinians stated that religion was an important part of their daily lives. Only two other states had a larger percentage of residents who claimed that religion was an important part of their daily lives.
Hopefully, the booing did not come from audience members who are part of this 80 percent. The Golden Rule is the age-old maxim that states one should treat others as they would like to be treated. When it comes to the Golden Rule, the Bible is far from silent. During the famous Sermon on the Mount, the gospel of Matthew records Jesus as preaching, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
A full reading of the Sermon on the Mount shows that it is highly relevant to conducting foreign policy. In the same sermon, Jesus said, “blessed are the merciful … blessed are the peacemakers;” to agree with adversaries quickly; if somebody smites you in the face, turn the other cheek; love your enemies, bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use and persecute you.
The gospel of Luke records Jesus saying, “and as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” The Bible even takes Paul’s suggestion further by repeatedly commanding Christians to love their neighbors as themselves.
In fact, when asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus stated that the second great commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself. It was surpassed only by the first great commandment — to love God with all your heart, soul and mind.
So when the Republican audience booed the Golden Rule, they were booing a rule advocated by Jesus himself. Advocating an American foreign policy that follows the Golden Rule is not a novel idea; rather, it was also espoused by some of the Founding Fathers.
In his farewell address, George Washington stated, “Observe good faith and justice toward all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all.” During his first inaugural address, Thomas Jefferson called for “peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations.”
John Quincy Adams, who many regard as one of the greatest diplomats in U.S. history, gave a speech on July 4, 1821. He said America benefitted mankind through its respect of other nations and their independence, as well as its abstinence from interfering with the internal affairs of other countries.
A Golden Rule in foreign policy is not something to be booed. Instead, it should be cheered and embraced. Americans should want their government to treat people of the world how they want other governments to treat themselves. This is not only the sensible way to conduct foreign policy, but it is also morally superior to the foreign
policies carried out under the Bush and Obama administrations.