OPINION: An alternative to the Ten Commandments in schools

I have a suggestion for Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who stated: “If you want to respect the rule of law, you’ve got to start from the original lawgiver, which was Moses.”

This was in reference to his mandate that public classrooms in his state (from kindergarten through state-funded universities) must display a poster of the Ten Commandments.

The commandments list the tenets associated with some religions. Some are archaic, such as in references to idolatry, maintaining the strict sanctity of the Sabbath, and not being covetous as in a desire for wealth or possessions (as if none of us would consider that.) Although I question why posting these things on a wall would be a good idea, my suggestion is to display a different poster if Louisiana truly wants to inspire its students to be better people.

Schools could hang a poster of what we call the Golden Rule. It is nearly universal and is still meaningful. Consider the following:

Buddhism: Treat not others in ways that you would find hurtful. (Udana-Varga 5.18)

Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. (Hillel, Talmud, Shabbat 31a)

Christianity: In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you. (Matthew 7:12)

Hinduism: This is the sum of duty: Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. (Mahabharata 5:1517)

Baha’i Faith: Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things the things you would not desire for yourself. (Baha’u’lláh, Gleanings)

Islam: Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself. (the prophet Muhammad, Hadith)

Truly, we are more alike than we are different. We don’t need to favor a religion or cultural leaning. We need to be kind to others, regardless of whether or not they subscribe to a particular religion.

Andrea Jacobson has a master’s degree in teaching, worked as a certified fraud examiner for 18 years, and spent more than 35 years in law enforcement.

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