Is the Golden Rule Enough?

The Golden Rule is a universal principle that encourages compassion when relating to others.  We believe this simple truth of “treat others as you’d want to be treated” is the key to building unity within a community.  However, our identities, expe4riences and cultures create such personal uniqueness that The Golden Rule, or treating people how we want to be treated, may not meet the needs of others. The Platinum Rule instead establishes an understanding of diverse needs and points of view as it calls on us to "treat others as they want to be treated". 

In a Youth TED talk, Valerie Martinez explains that today’s society may need to go further than following The Golden Rule in order to practice cultural humility.  She challenges us to accept this Platinum Rule so that meaningful relationships can be established with our peers and within all communities. ​

President Obama has suggested that in order to bring about real change, we need to reject a world that is either/or and aim instead to BOTH highlight the problem AND create practical solutions.  He explains that as we desire to return to "normal"  post-COVID 19 , we should remember  that the old normal was not equitable across cultures; if we include BOTH The Golden Rule AND The Platinum Rule, society can create a real change that offers a better normal for our diverse communities. ​