Friday, February 1, 2008

Comic Books and Golden Rules

Golden Rules From Other Comic Books:

Do unto others whatever you would have them do unto you. -The New Testament of the Bible

Tzu Kung asked saying, is there any single saying that one can act upon all day and everyday? The Master replied, perhaps the saying about consideration: Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you. -The Analects of Confucius

No one is a true believer unless he desireth for his brother that which he desireth for himself. -The Hadith (traditional sayings of the prophet Mohammed)

Do not hurt others with that which hurts yourself.
-The Dhammapada (teachings of the Buddha)

This is the sum of all duty: Do nothing to others which if done to you, would cause you pain. -The Mahabharata (Hindu text)

You shall not take vengence or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the Lord. -The Torah

All beings are fond of life, they like pleasure, hate pain, avoid decay, wish to live long. To all, life is dear...... All breathing, existing, living sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This is the pure, unchangeable, external law, which the clever ones, who understand the world have declared. -Acaranga-sutra (Sacred Book of the East- Jainism)

Surrender yourself humbly; then you can be trusted to care for all things. Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things. -Tao Te Ching (Lao Tzu)


Of course, we all know how seriously people have taken these rules over the years. Having a plane loaded full of passengers fly straight into a building where I work isn't exactly what I would desireth for myself, personally. Nor would I fathom having someone tie me to a stake and burn me alive. The Israeli government seems to know more about vengeance and bearing a grudge than they do loving their fellows.

But hey, what can we expect from scriptures that don't offer us any full color pictures and promote gods, prophets, and supernatural forces who can't even pilot a Galaxy-class starship or wield the Green Lantern's power ring.

That's why these are the only golden rules, you ever need concern yourself with:

1) Do unto your enemies as the Batman would do unto the Joker and always carry kryptonite in your utility belt in case your best friend from Krypton goes rouge.

- DC Comictology


2) Do not destroy an enemy vessel with photon torpedoes until you've disabled it's engines and weapons systems first.

- Star Trekiology

There, now doesn't that feel better. Two simple commandments that everyone can live with.

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