The golden rule Published March 25, 2011 By Lt. Col. Donnette Boyd 451st AEW Chaplain KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Most of us are familiar with what is referred to as the Golden Rule: "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12) Many of us have had the principles of this rule, or similar type values, engrained in us as children and those of us who are parents are trying our best to instill this concept in our own children. Treating others the way we prefer to be treated is not only a fulfillment of the "law and the prophets" but it is the foundation of an orderly and humane society. How does the Golden Rule apply here on Kandahar Airfield? You might ask. The following is a list of how the Golden Rule may be applied on KAF: · Leave the toilet in a condition that you wish to find it--flush twice when necessary · Leave the shower in a condition you'd like to find it in--remove items from the shower that were formerly a part of your person (such as hair, band aids, etc.) · Treat day sleepers with the same level of respect (quietness) that you expect as a night sleeper--walk up to your friends and tell them what you need to say, don't yell several meters away near living areas · Pick up fellow Airmen, soldiers and sailors walking with their laundry bags, and other bulky items, if you are headed in the direction they are traveling, you would want the same courtesy · Talk to peers and especially subordinates in a manner that you would like to be addressed--give each person the respect they deserve regardless of your personal feelings about them... These are just a few examples, I'm sure you can come up with a few others. The Golden Rule exists in eight world religions, which the majority of the world's population collectively follow. The Golden Rule transcends cultures, languages and religions and nothing could be more apropos to apply in an international setting such as ours.