Category Archives: Golden Rule

In January 1998, Tom Benson and his fellow NFL owners had just won the Fort Knox equivalent of the Super Bowl.

The league signed off on a blockbuster, $17.6 billion network television contract that would raise the NFLs annual salary cap for players by $10 million to $51.5 million per team.

For several years, Dennis Lauscha, a young CPA with the independent accounting firm of Arthur Andersen, had audited the Saints compliance with the intricacies of the newly installed salary cap. Benson was so impressed with Lauschas work that he asked the 28-year-old, a 1987 graduate of Jesuit High School, to come to work for him.

Bensons chief financial officer, Bruce Broussard, had serious health issues, and Benson wanted Lauscha to learn the CFO job for a year under Broussards careful tutelage and then take over as his top financial officer.

I distinctly remember saying, You know, Mr. Benson, Im relatively young at 28. Would you be comfortable with a 28-year-old being a CFO? Lauscha recalled. And he told me, Look, Dennis, I got my first car dealership at 28. So that made me feel pretty good.

The NFL is big business. There may not be a more important corporate entity to the health of the New Orleans region and the state than the New Orleans Saints, and by addition, the New Orleans Pelicans.

Thats why when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005 and there was talk of the Saints never coming back to town, that uncertainty fueled a passionate backlash among surviving fans who were dragging their lifes belongings to the curb.

Despite his early missteps in responding to the disaster, its irrefutable that when Tom Benson made his decision to return to New Orleans, he was all in.

There was a lot of discussion about what the team would do and where we were headed and everything else, Lauscha told a June 7 gathering at Immaculate Conception Church in New Orleans for the churchs Cannonball Conversation series in honor of the Ignatian Year. I distinctly remember him saying, Hey, were going back. Were going back to make a difference. Lets pack up and go. The inference was were going to be a great football team, but first we need to make a difference in our community. He really meant that. It was moving, to be honest with you.

Anyone keeping track of the NFL ledger these days and, by comparison, the NBA ledger understands how unfathomably valuable sports franchises have become. Seven hours after Lauscha spoke at Immaculate Conception, the Denver Broncos announced they had been sold for $4.65 billion the same team previous owner Pat Bowlen paid $78 million for in 1984.

Lauscha, president of both the Saints and the Pelicans, said Gayle Benson, who assumed the ownership role of both franchises following her husbands death in 2018, has embraced and enhanced the core value of good corporate citizenship. Lauscha said the Gayle and Tom Benson Foundation has made nearly $200 million in contributions toschools, hospitals and other charities.

There are literally thousands of organizations we have done something for, and I wish we could do more, Lauscha said. I know Mrs. Benson wishes we could do more. Its been said that she has no heirs. When she passes and lets say a prayer that thats a long time from now all of her assets will be sold and given to charity.

Lauscha is an aficionado of church architecture. In his travels to cities across the world, he visits cathedrals. He and his wife Jennifer were in Seville and walked through Santa Mara de la Sede, the worlds largest cathedral after St. Peters Basilica in Rome and St. Pauls Cathedral in London.

How could a mid-sized port city in Europe have built something on such a large scale, Lauscha thought.

There was a plaque in the back that basically said, Let us build a church so grandiose that those who see it will think we are mad, Lauscha said. We are talking about Seville. Were not talking about Rome or London or Paris. Then I think, hey, it wasnt long ago when New Orleans a mid-sized port city decided it was going to have a vision to be the greatest in the world, and we built the Superdome. How was it that this small town had the vision that those folks in Seville had to see what can be accomplished?

The Saints pay careful attention to their audience. They poll fans each year about their game-day experience and also seek, in a sense, to evangelize by casting a wide net. Lauscha said there are 7 million people living within a reasonable drive of New Orleans all of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida panhandle. Those living outside the metropolitan area now represent about 35% of ticket sales.

He said there are three things that drive ticket sales: You have to be priced right; the team has to be heading in the right direction; and the fans have to like the players, coaches and owners. Thats it.

The likability factor comes down to personal integrity, which Lauscha said was instilled in him from his time at Jesuit. He mentioned the success of the Pelicans sticking together through injuries and early-season losses to make the playoffs. There were even players, such as Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who were traded but stayed around that night to attend a game courtside at the Smoothie King Center just to say goodbye to their former teammates.

That kind of bond is virtually unheard of in todays bottom-line professional sports.

That value proposition starts with you, he said. What do I bring to the organization? What do my colleagues, employees and other team members bring to the organization? We always have to be respectful of others. Its amazing what we can accomplish when we realize we dont care who gets the credit.

Among all of those things, even deeper, is a recognition that you must be humble in the eyes of God. It all starts there. If youre not humble there, then the whole value proposition falls apart. We see that in the Ten Commandments, we see that in the Golden Rule, we see that in Jesuit education. It begins with the acknowledgment that everything we do, we do for the greater glory of God. A.M.D.G.

pfinney@clarionherald.org

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Saints, Pelicans have scored points by giving back - Clarion Herald

Death penalty

In response to Death penalty positions in your May 26th issue calling for supreme Court Justices Alito, Thomas, Roberts, Kavanaugh and Coney Barrett to be denied Communion for their stand on the death penalty, I submit that we Read and follow Gods instructions rather than our personal feelings. God places such a high value on Human life that He commands the death penalty for those who murder, (Not to be confused with justifiable killing). In fact, the death penalty is the only commandment that is repeated in all 5 books of the Torah. I think that says something about Gods position on the subject. (Gen 9:5&6; Exodus 21:12-14, 28-29; Leviticus 24:17. 21; Numbers 35:16-21, 29-33; Deuteronomy 19:11-13).

Lee BurkeSt. Margaret Mary, Golden Valley

The possible overturning of Roe V Wade, and giving the abortion decision back to the states, might help us to admit what abortion really is. It is not only torturing and killing living human babies, but also insulting them by calling their deaths Health Care. Honesty is needed. Death should cause, and require, grieving. Pre-born babies are too small and helpless to fight for themselves against the selfishness exhibited by our forgetting or denying where we came from. We need to thank God, and our mothers, and pass on what we have been given: life. The Silver Rule, the other side of the Golden Rule, says, Do not do to others what you would not want done to you.

Catherine CarlsonSt. Peter, Forest Lake

Tags: Abortion reality, Alito, Coney Barrett, Death penalty, Golden Rule, Kavanaugh, Roberts, Silver Rule, Thomas

Category: From Readers

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From readers - June 16, 2022 - TheCatholicSpirit.com - The Catholic Spirit

From the moment you start kicking a ball around as a child, the golden rule is to be able to play with both feet.

Be it for getting out of danger and turning onto your opposite side or spotting a pass that requires the opposite foot, youd think having a weaker foot was illegal in your youth. Seriously.

Unfortunately, though, kicking a ball against a wall with your weaker left peg 100 times a day and driving your mum insane does not actually guarantee a career as a pro footballer. Shambolic, we know.

Truth is, this whole needing to be well balanced and good on both feet idea is actually a big myth. Well, sort of. Let us elaborate.

The beautiful game we know and love hasnt become so endlessly enjoyable through the years by way of watching the very best players perform like robots without weakness. Far from it. The best players are the ones who know their strengths and weaknesses, and play to them as best they can.

Simply put, not everyone can be flawless on both feet. Sure, it would be nice to be a tricky midfielder that can create an angle out of anywhere and ping passes effortlessly off either boot, but its just not realistic. Same goes for the wide players of the world; sometimes constantly cutting inside is the only option.

While you absolutely do need to have some use of your weaker boot to make it to any respectable level in football, there is a category of severely one-footed players who have still managed to reach exceptional heights despite having a notoriously weaker foot.

And today, GIVEMESPORT is listing 12 of the best one-footed players in celebration of us who have to make do with only one half decent foot at grassroots level, in faint hope of still somehow making it pro.

Some of the players in this list are absolutely sublime footballers. So, without further ado, lets get to it.

Nobody can deny just how magnificent a footballer Robertson is, and just how tirelessly he has worked to transform himself into a world class full back despite once being a relegated minnow at Hull City.

Having said that, its a good thing the Scotland internationals left foot is as scrumptious as it is, because hes miles off it when tasked with repeating similar feats on his right.

Now, he might not be there yet in many peoples eyes, but Odegaard can absolutely end up being one of the best one-footed players ever over the course of the next few years, so weve included him.

Arsenals Norwegian creator can look a little clunky by avoiding his right foot, but with how endlessly silky his left is, we cant exactly have a go at him. Odegaard is a delightful player to watch, and glides through the lines at the top level. We back him to fulfil his one-footed potential.

In an era where defenders are required to be more progressive, composed and all of that boring stuff about no longer being a throwback defender, Chiellini has somehow massively outstayed his welcome.

Despite rather obviously having no right foot, the veteran Italian has forged a tremendous legacy for himself as one of Italys greatest defenders. Combining the dark arts with a blend of modernity, his career at the top has been a joy to watch.

Before his leg break against Rangers in 2010, Valencia looked like yet another world class piece of recruitment from Sir Alex Ferguson, blazing down the right wing for United and turning defenders inside out.

However, he was never quite the same following his return. While he enjoyed an illustrious career at United, he lost that ability to beat a marker on either side, and would always do everything he could to fashion angles on his right foot only. Endlessly frustrating to watch.

When in full stride, Dybala and his wand of a left foot can cause havoc for any defence in world football.

Be it threading through a killer ball, bamboozling a marker one vs one, or letting one rip into the top bins with all the finesse in the world, La Joya has a wonderful left peg. Show him onto his right, though, and he looks half the player, unfortunately.

Ah, Vieri. The Italian powerhouse who bulldozed his way to goals no matter the conditions or the club.

An unrelenting eye for goal and a physicality that does not wilt meant that Vieri was always good for a goal, with 23 in 49 caps for Italy. However, it was only his left foot that was capable of finding those world class levels; never the right.

When your right foot is as good as Beckhams was and probably still is you can absolutely get away with not having much to offer from the left peg.

In fact, Beckhams left foot was very good; very good at planting into the floor and making room for his right foot to do something outrageous. A viciously one-footed technician that goes under the radar. Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy it was on display worldwide.

Di Maria simply should not have worked as a world class right winger for Real Madrid, with just how often hed shift the ball back onto his left. But alas, he did work, and he made defenders lives hell in his best years.

While he evolved into a much more refined player in his later years, the younger iteration of the Argentine was unleashing crosses from deep in the right flank from near enough exclusively his left peg. Defenders knew what was coming, but they couldnt stop that vicious whip. Neither could goalkeepers.

The man so one-footed that it nearly won him a Puskas Award.

Was Quaresma so good with his right foot that he simply didnt need his left, or so bad with his left that he had to make his right foot so unstoppable to even things out? Well never know for sure, but what we do know is that he had it all. Rabona or outside of the boot, Quaresmas right foot is a menace, and hes proof that one-footed players are just as exciting as two-footed players.

Another with a left foot that was near unstoppable, the general consensus here is that if youve got an absolute wand of a left peg, youll do alright.

Stoichkov winning the 1994 Ballon dOr is a win for all of us who didnt put in the reps against the wall as kids. Skills or goals, El Pistolero could do it all with his left boot, thus he neednt try with his right.

We all knew what he was going to do, every single time. But could any defenders stop him when he was on it? No chance. Robben was a killer, and his left foot was the poison.

Think Di Maria at Real Madrid, but multiply it by ten. Peak Robben was a complete cheat code. Marking him? Good luck. Hell run you wide, square you up and send you packing. Every time. Football heritage.

In the eyes of many, Maradona is the greatest footballer of all time. And you cannot rubbish that opinion. The majestic Argentine really was that incredible.

What makes that feat even more staggering is the fact that he wasnt all that well balanced. In fact, Maradona was heavily left-footed, but that didnt stop him from turning defenders inside out and pulling off moves that very few footballers are capable of repeating. The man was a magician in every sense of the word.

1980 1982 1984 1986

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The 12 greatest one-footed players in football history - GIVEMESPORT

GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) Every year tens of thousands of visitors travel to Golden to get a taste of the old west and to cool off in the Clear Creek corridor. On Tuesday, Golden officials held a news conference offering advice to visitors and a stern warning on the dangers of the river.

As temperatures and water levels rise along the Clear Creek corridor so do the number of visitors. According to Golden officials, all ofthat traffic can cause some congestion and safety issues.That has the City of Golden concerned.

Golden City Government, Golden Fire Department, Golden Police and Golden Parks and Recreation gathered creekside for some advice and a warning to the public.

Westart combining alcohol with the congestion on the trail, bikers, things of that nature, and the cold waters of the creek [cause] catastrophic consequences, said Sgt.Ben Salentine of the Golden Police Department.

In addition, the use of alcohol, smoking, vaping, marijuana and the possession of plastic bottles have been banned by the city.

The biggest danger here is the biggest attraction, theClear Creek corridor. Water sports are allowed, but Golden Fire Chief Jerry Stricker answered candidly when asked if he would allow his grandkids to play in the creek.

Absolutely not. Its powerful, its relentless, it is not a lazy river, not a smooth tile or glass-bottom like a pool in a hotel, said Stricker.

The City of Golden has made some adjustments to promote safety on the trails surrounding the creek, and officials highlighted the things you need to know before recreating Tuesday morning. Leaders also discussed how to get alerts if rising creek levels get too dangerous for water sports and recreation.

The golden rule, know before you go, not go before you know.

You can watch the full news conference on FOX31 NOW.

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What you need to know to stay safe on Clear Creek this summer - FOX 31 Denver

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The above gap is not a mistake. That space is blank to graphically indicate to my readers what silence looks like, and by extension its power. Sometimes called the pregnant pause, white space in a conversation says volumes that do not have to be spoken out loud.

A recent article from MIT Sloan professor Jared Curhan digs a little deeper into the science of why the power of nothing works well. He and his co-authors argue that in fact, silence is often valuable in negotiations. It makes the other side believe that you are of a deliberative mindset. It suggests reflection and authority, when in fact, you may have simply nodded off based on the outrageous demands from the other side.

Curhan found that breakthroughs were more likely to occur after pauses than at any other point in the negotiation. Personally, I use the pause right after the penultimate sentence. And in that way, I make clear that the next sentence really matters. Pay attention, pal, fastball coming high and tight.

We all have a tendency to respond quickly. Curhan says taking a moment of up to three seconds gives both you and your opponent a moment to consider, reflect on and digest the previous sentence. That pause adds to the power of what is unsaid. We all need to resist the desire to quickly indicate how damn smart we are or wish we had. It is called biting your tongue.

The pause also decreases the chance for a loud response (lets call it by its proper name screaming) which normally occurs in a rapid response back and forth interaction. Think road rage. In other words, you need to slow down the conversation. If you hold the gavel, no one else speaks until you do.

If you follow television crime dramas, you will see that the superior, high-status, person in power will often use the long pause to create gravitas and suspense. (After all we have been through, are you really going to kill me?) This is silence as intimidation.

Another type of pause is the deafening pause used when someone steps over the line of accepted behavior (think of a sexist or racist remark). That pause, coupled with a glower, speaks volumes.

And then there is the classic advertisement from Coca-Cola in the 1920s The pause that refreshes. They were selling happiness in a bottle.

Buying some time to think is a rational way to manage the flow of a conversation. In a dialogue that gets contentious, you can always ask for a bio-break or stand up and get a fresh cup of coffee.

Curhans study says, extended silence increases value creation by fostering a more contemplative mindset. The assumption here is that you are truly thinking about the issues and considering the other point of view, (or simply trying to remember if you put on the alarm at the house).

The use of silence has cultural nuances. In Japan, prolonged silences during negotiations are standard practice, Curhan says. In one example he cites, there were 20 minutes of total silence followed by standing up, bowing and nodding in agreement to the terms of the deal.

Managing the length of the pause is a balancing act. Study magicians. They are the masters of timing and misdirection. You wait to see what happens next. They rivet your attention. You cant go any faster than they let you.

Finally, consider another golden rule, He who speaks first, loses, unless you are telling the guy to drop dead and pound sand. In that case, why wait.

Rule No. 718: Never miss a good chance to shut up. Will Rogers

Senturia is a serial entrepreneur who invests in early-stage technology companies. Hear his weekly podcast on innovation and entrepreneurship at http://www.imthereforyoubaby.com. Please email ideas to Neil at neil@blackbirdv.com

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Silence might lead to gold - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Amy McVay Abbott| Indianapolis Star

Indy Pride Parade 2022 sights and sounds

Thousands attend the Indy Pride Parade on Saturday, June 11, 2022, along Mass Ave in Indianapolis.

Mykal McEldowney, Indianapolis Star

My college friend, who would later be the best man atmy wedding,asked me out for a beer just me. I wasnt sure what was up. We usually spent our dollar pitcher nights at Muncie, Indiana'sThe Chug with a group.

He poured me a mug. After a few rounds, my friend blurted out his secret, Im gay, he said. Unsure of how I would react as the most nave of our friends, he chose to tell me alone. I was the last to know.

I started to cry, not because I judged him, but because I knew how the larger world would. I told him I loved him and would always love him. Who he partnered with made no difference to me. I committed to always supporting him.

'Love, freedom, happiness': Business owners speak their truth during LGBTQ Pride Month

He stood boyishly handsome in his gray tuxedo on a beautiful autumn day as I married his dear friend. Decades later, my groom and I are still friends with our Best Man.

So whats the point of this little story? All who are straight and who desire to be allies must start somewhere. I respect that a change in perspective isnt always easy weve been programmed to see the world a certain way from early childhood, if not before. Gender as a dichotomy begins even before a childs birth with pink or blue confetti at a gender-reveal party. The event should be called a sex-reveal event. Science teaches us that gender is on a spectrum.

The reality is that gender is more complicated than sex. Since 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics has encouraged parents to affirm their childs preferred gender over sex at birth. We must be willing to listen to what advances in science tell us, that sexual organs do not always define gender. Sadly, some people will never accept that.

We all want human connection. Love is what drives us, what we seek more than anything. And I passionately believe, having lived into my seventh decade, that love is love, for the lesbian couple who raised twins who are both wildly successful college students. Or my friend who mourns her partner of thirty-plus years, who died of COVID while her family sat in the hospital parking lot, connected by FaceTime. Or the family whose young child knew they were a different gender. The parents and grandparents support and engage this child, walking in Pride events and raising them with encouragement, not judgment. The world may still be cruel, but this child knows many people love them, and thats foundational to the childs growth and development. Frankly, love and acceptance are foundational for all, no matter our age.

How does it hurt you to accept another human being for who they are? Isnt it ironic that many people are against same-sex marriage when heterosexual marriage doesnt have a stellar history? The CDC reports that heterosexuals have a 42% chance of getting a divorce.

'Celebrate and be together': Indy Pride parade returns in person for first year since 2019

So what can allies do?From GoodRx Health, An ally listens to, believes, and amplifies LGBTQ+ voices. Anyone can be an ally. This includes those outside ofandwithin the LGBTQ+ community.

Isnt it about being kind? Its so simple. Treat a person who is LGBTQ+ the same as we treat any other human. The golden rule principle treating others as we would like to be treated is at the core of many religions and creeds throughout history.

How do you want to be treated? Give back what you want to see from others. Use the correct pronoun and name of a trans person, get out to an event if you are able, support organizations that support the gay community, wear a Pride shirt, fly a rainbow flag, and love and encourage the LGBTQpeople in your life. Happy Pride Month!

Amy McVay Abbott is a journalist and author from southern Indiana. A chapter from her latest book, Centennial Farm Family, won the 2022 Elaine Spires Smith Family History Prize from the Indiana Genealogical Society. The book is available where books are sold.

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How does it hurt you to accept someone for who they are? Here's why I'm an ally - IndyStar

A Republic Services worker in Houston assists with garbage collection on a summer afternoon. The company has been fined in the wake of heat-related deaths of workers but says it has implemented prevention policies. This worker was not interviewed for the story.

Temperatures are expected to reach upwards of high 90s across Texas Friday, with much of the western half of the state topping 100 degrees. The U.S. National Weather Service warned of heat indexes Friday as high as 106 degrees across southeast Texas. By Saturday, highs across most of the state will climb higher than 100.

The scorching heat wave across the state of Texas this week means dangerous conditions for people who work outdoors.

Heat deaths have doubled over the last decade: an investigation last year from the Texas Newsroom and Columbia Journalism Investigations found at least 53 people died working in the Texas heat since 2010. Many were workers of color and employed in trash collection, mining and fossil fuel extraction, and construction.

Hot Days: Heats Mounting Death Toll On Workers In The U.S.

With the high temperatures this weekend, construction workers are encouraged to follow OSHA's golden rule: water, rest and shade.

Fernando Moctezuma the senior safety manager with Harvey-Cleary Builders, one of Houstons largest construction companies says their job sites make sure to have ice, filtered water and tents that offer shade.

"You know how your co-workers are on a daily basis, and (if) he seems to act a little bit different, to tell him hey, stop what you're doing, let's get you in the shade, get you some water and report to us immediately if such a thing happens on the job site," Moctezuma said.

The National Weather Service is urging people outdoors to drink plenty of water and limit direct sun exposure.

Around 200 Harvey-Cleary employees met with OSHA personnel Friday to receive heat safety training ahead of the hot weekend, Moctezuma said. These trainings educate workers on the signs of heat illness and emphasize that workers need to look out for each other.

Harvey-Cleary has a policy that requires their employees, contractors and subcontractors to work in pairs or groups.

"Lets say to do roof work, you cannot do any roof work by yourself," Moctezuma said. "You cannot be in a trench or an excavation by yourself, even if youre a supervisor, it doesnt matter."

NPR and CJI analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and found a spike in the three-year average of U.S. worker heat deaths since 1990. Those included farm laborers in California and Nebraska, and construction workers and trash collectors in Texas.

Last year, the Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced new federal protections for workers, including prioritizing inspections on hot days and targeting certain high-risk industries. OSHA also developed a federal rule to protect workers from heat-related illnesses.

As this weeks historic heat continues, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas has said the state could break an all-time record for energy use Friday afternoon. ERCOT warned last month of potential outages last month as temperatures rose briefly. But the grid operator now says it will be able to keep up with the record-breaking demand after several plants came back online over the last few weeks.

Meanwhile, cities and counties across Texas are preparing for the intense heat.

The city of Houston said it will activate its public health emergency plan over the weekend. Beginning Saturday, people without access to air conditioning will be able to seek shelter at any of the citys designated cooling centers located at all Houston Public Library locations and Parks and Recreation community centers.

Big Bend National Park along the Rio Grande topped out at 117 degrees Tuesday, tying the all-time high for that location. That high was just 3 degrees short of the hottest temperature ever recorded in Texas, last seen in 1994 in the small West Texas town of Monahans.

National Weather Service meteorologist Katheryn Lininger says its not unusual to see high pressure systems like this but usually in August, not in early June.

With that high pressure too, you just get warm, sinking air, Lininger said. Its hard for any type of rain to develop over Texas, its hard for clouds to develop over southeast Texas, so you get the perfect set-up for just continuous hot.

Jack Williams and Travis Bubenik contributed to this report.

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Sweltering Texas heat this weekend is a danger to outdoor workers - Houston Public Media

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. (Luke 6:31).

In the previous passage that was contained in the Sermon on the Mount proclaimed by Jesus Christ, we find one of the most popular and quoted sayings in the entirety of the Bible. These words spoken by our Lord are not just prudent, practical, and inspiring for Christians, but any and everyone would greatly benefit from them (if they would observe them).

It is difficult to imagine the profound and positive effect it would have on our country and culture if most of our citizens, regardless of their race, creed, politics or any other distinctive influences would truly follow the Golden Rule. In the following section, we are going to briefly consider a few what ifs concerning the Golden Rule.

Observance of the Golden Rule would greatly diminish racism in America and the violence it inspires

The recent killings in Buffalo of 11 innocent people, who were targeted and murdered by a white supremist only because of their skin color, perhaps would not have happened if he and those who were his accomplices (through their media influence and beliefs), had truly been embracing the Golden Rule.

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This is true for those who hate and target Jews, Asian Americans, Muslims or any whose race, religion, and origin differ from theirs. In all truth, if I truly strive to do unto others as I wish them to do unto me, I will refrain from harming them in any shape, form or fashion. After all, what sane and rational person would do themselves any harm?

Observance of the Golden Rule would remove the rift between employers and employees

There is often a dispute and divide that exist between employers and employees over things like wages, benefits and such like. Just imagine that if both parties in the employment equation would be willing to treat the other the way that they would want to be treated if there were a reversal in position.

If the employees could see things from their employers perspectives, perhaps they would better understand why they insist upon proficiency and productivity from them. After all, one of the primary reasons why they own and operate the business is to make as much of a profit as they can for themselves and other shareholders.

Contrarily, if the employers could see things from their workers perspectives, they would better understand why they demand fair wages, benefits, and proper working conditions in regard to time and environmental factors. No type of industry (regardless of the product it is producing) will be able to compete and produce a quality product without a competent and content workforce.

Observance of the Golden Rule would curtail (if not cancel) the alarming divorce rate in America

One of the things that I am certain would happen, which I am learning by experience, is that divorces would be drastically reduced if married people would practice the Golden Rule. Of course, it might put many divorce lawyers out of business.

However, imagine what it would do for many families and dependent children, who often do not do well when there is a separation or divorce between their father and mother. I am convinced that by both parties observing the Golden Rule, it would automatically nip in the bud many, if not most, of the disputes and differences before they fester into something that would be life threatening to their union and family.

Observance of the Golden Rule would diminish the crime and violence rate

Undeniably, one of the most challenging dilemmas that we are confronted with in our culture is crime and violence that have escalated to epidemic proportions. Regrettably, much of this mayhem and devilment are being perpetrated by young people (mostly males), who seem to have been reared the wrong way or in defiance to what they were taught by their parents who did their level best to bring them up right.

What if these defiant ones and others who commit crimes and violence against their fellow citizens would put forth a serious attempt to practice the Golden Rule? There would, of course, be fewer crimes and slayings that we are experiencing in our nation today. There would perhaps be no mass killings with military-grade weapons (like AR15s). I know that I have set forth some suppositions and what ifs that we will never realize in this present age.

However, according to my Judeo-Christian and eschatological beliefs, there is a new day approaching that will experience crime, violence, and war no more. It will be a time when men shall literally beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; a time when war will be no more (Isaiah 2:1-4). Nevertheless, until that golden age of peace arrives with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, each of us must endeavor to live in harmony and peace with our neighbors and practice the Golden Rule that He set forth while He was here in the flesh. Even though it will not be universally accomplished in this present evil generation, we can be a part of the solution and not the problem by treating others like we desire them to treat us.

Dr. Michael E. Goings is senior pastor of Outreach Family Fellowship of Dillon and Florence.

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MICHAEL GOINGS: Why we need to follow the Golden Rule - SCNow

If theres one that human history teaches us, its thats were an inconsistent lot. Humans are capricious, unreliable, and wayward. Whimsy governs life more than rigid rules. As George Bernard Shaw put it, when it comes to human nature, the Golden Rule is that there is no golden rule.

As such, our attitudes toward following rules are not uniform. We generally accept that most rules will have their exception, or that most laws need to be at least a bit flexible. But how do our views on rule-breaking differ? And which rules should bend more than others? Our willingness or reluctance to break rules is determined by our upbringing, culture, and personality. And as a new study reveals, it even depends on the kind of reasoning we use.

In early 2022, a study published by Awad et al. collected data on how humans judge the acceptability of breaking well-established norms. The team was motivated, in part, by the increasing need to program ethics into AI to make morally competent machines. Since its obvious that humans will break rules under certain circumstances, we have to resolve when and why that happens if we are to have AI mimic human behavior. In other words, we need to identify what second-order rules determine when to break to the first-order ones.

The team took a real-world example of rule-breaking: cutting in line. On the face of it, waiting in line is governed by a simple maxim: Everyone gets helped in the order they arrive. And yet, there are all kinds of exceptions. One example the paper gives is someone who forgets their cutlery after they placed a food order. In this case, most people would allow you to quickly pop in front to get the item.

The team presented participants with a range of scenarios in different contexts of waiting in line: at a deli, airport, or bathroom. Participants were then asked to judge whether an excuse or reason given from a list justified someone cutting in line. The participants were further invited to tap into the underlying cognitive mechanisms by considering what determined their decision, for example the length of delay, the benefit to the cutter, and so on.

In 2011, Daniel Kahneman introduced the non-psychology world to the idea of Thinking, Fast and Slow. In his book, Kahneman argued that human reasoning operates on two models. The thinking fast (System 1) approach uses predefined rules, or shortcut mental heuristics. Thinking slow (System 2) reasoning requires deliberation, thought, and a decision process.

Kahnemans distinction maps well onto the existing moral literature. In deontological (rule-based) ethics, we are expected to follow the rules, or satisfy some duty. This falls under System 1. In consequentialist (outcome-based) ethics, we should perform actions that maximize the best kind of outcomes, which resembles System 2 deliberation much more closely.

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What the 2022 study argues is that rule-breaking considerations are governed overwhelmingly by System 2 reasoning. The team subdivided System 2 reasoning into two kinds: outcome-based thinking (e.g. the cutting in line will help someone a lot) and agreement-based thinking (e.g. its socially accepted that cutting in to get tap water is okay). People who break rules will most often exploit one or another of these System 2 models.

So, people who use their quick-fix System 1 reasoning will often consider rules to be inviolable. Inversely, whenever we consider a rule worthy of breaking, we use our deliberative System 2 reasoning: calculating consequences and social acceptability.

Awad et al. show that humans do not sit well with absolutist rules. It seems that we even reach different moral outcomes depending on whether were using our System 1 or System 2 reasoning.

The psychological concepts found in Thinking, Fast and Slow serve as an analogue to the wider world. Our brains will sometimes need to operate instinctively from System 1-type rules, and so, too, does society. Civilization needs laws to operate. For instance, no one would ever leave the house if you thought someone would steal everything the moment you did. We need to know that we wont be killed, exploited, or betrayed the moment we let our guard down. Following rules is what allow us to get about and do things.

Yet, unreflective and inflexible laws can sometimes be just as bad. In a world of nearly 8 billion people, making around 35,000 decisions every day, its ridiculous to assume a single rule can determine every situation. As the British philosopher, John Stuart Mill, wrote: the complicated nature of human affairs [mean] that rules of conduct cannot be so framed as to require no exceptions, and that hardly any kind of action can safely be laid down as either always obligatory or always condemnable. We need System 2-type reasoning to make sure our rules actually work.

So, we must live in dissonance, our beliefs wrestling one another. We must assume laws are unbreakable, yet accept that they need breaking from time to time. In other words, we sometimes need to think fast about ethics, and sometimes, think slow.

Jonny Thomson runs a popular Instagram account called Mini Philosophy (@philosophyminis). His first book isMini Philosophy: A Small Book of Big Ideas.

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Thinking fast and slow about ethics: When is it okay to cut in line? - Big Think

By Earl Henry

Ms. Rebecca Bennett and Editor, I appreciate your insights on rural voters which are complex not only to rural voters but to all voters. Respect your view. The issue is relevant more so in rural areas, based on my observation as I cycled through rural areas in NY, PA, and MD. The signage in these areas defined a moment that has that placed a burdened on my thinking. Why is it and is it new?

It is not new and this happened in previous eras and significantly in post Civil War era in reconstruction. The evidence is historically documented especially in trying times when various groups are manipulated by politicians. Cut to the chase, why? The reasons are likely the same for why reconstruction failed -- corruption, financially and national moral perspective lost, of what citizens expected their elected officials to accomplish for them and others.

That problems remained and we failed to reform government structure at all levels. Most will hold on to constitutions, which were intended for a period of time and place that we no longer live in.

Why are we in these cultural wars of conservative or liberal in politics? If you observe nobody, except a minority, are fully liberal or conservative. It is situational.

I agree with Jesse I. Etelsons view not just on ideology of liberal or conservative instead what is best in each community from local to global. Asking such of each of us is required and if not we will remain in this swamp of labels floating about us on all platforms of media.

Today, people fail to ensure what they read and understand is fact. And they just pass it on without editing. That also happened during other eras but with lesser impact because immediate means of communication were not available. Now we just flip, click, or swipe without thought to get on with self attending.

What baffles my perspective of the political realm with all their flag waving and bombastic remarks is none have offered a platform on what they see as priorities locally, statewide, or nationally. As for the Golden Rule, forget mentioning that about these cast of characters. Their rule is me. They rarely mention any moral positions and rely on buzz language.

Welcome to the world of political populism as just another game.

Again, I appreciate your candid perspective from rural Pennsylvania and beyond. Too often, that is ignored. And youre right, that magic beltway crowd couldnt cares less.

Earl Henry writes from Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Originally posted here:

Why are we in these cultural wars of conservative vs liberal? | Opinion - PennLive