After reading the book 4 and a little of the book 5 of the analects, I chose this one. 5.12- Zigong said, "What I do not wish to do unto me, I also wish no to do unto others." The master said, "Ah, Zigong! That is something quite beyond you. This means that what I don't want others to do to me I shall not do to them. I thought this analect was very interesting because it made think of many people I knew.
God I know so many people that do wrong to others and when other people in a sense "take revenge," the wrongdoers tell them to treat others the way you want to be treated. When I see this happen I really laugh because of the irony, but I also look at those people with disgust. They don't realise that what they are saying doesn't apply to the problem do to the fact that they also have done something offensive to other people. When you try to tell them this, they either tell you that it is true and they will try to be a bit nicer which eventually is a lie, or they will simply insult and tell you that you are lying. People are very naive and really silly. Instead of trying to solve their problems they make them worse. Right now I am thinking about so many people that are this way. This is something that really gets on my nerves. For me this is a sign of inmaturity. Not only some of my friends do this but my cousins sometimes do this. I can remember a time when a friend of mine really treated someone poorly by insulting the other person and about a week after the kid insulted him back. Of course my friend went and told the teacher. The kid got in trouble at first. But after the teacher asked him why he had done this, he in a very calm manner told the teacher that eventually my friend has insulted him before. Both ended in trouble but the teacher made clear to both of them to treat other like you want to be treated.
I wish those people could realise the damage they are doing to the other person. People all over the world have actually killed themselves due to an offensive joke they make about them. Most of those people that offend others have serious problems at their house or just problems. I understand that problably that is what they learn from their parents or because they are so destroyed inside, they act this way. But they shouldn't act this way. This isn't an excuse for their behaivour. If they are feeling sad or angry go talk to a counselor, a different family member or any of your friends! They don't have to discharge all their anger and insatisfaction against us. I have to confess that sometimes this was a problem I had. But there is very good quote that many of this people can apply. Think before you act! Always do this. Before you are going to say something think about how you are going say it. Is this going to offend someone? Will this get me in trouble? Will it hurt someones feelings? Be very careful with what you say and choose your words carefully. There is two lessons that I learned from this analect which are the actual meaning of the analect and that I have to think befor I act.
