Senate Resolution No. 1376

BY: Senator DEFRANCISCO

RECOGNIZING April 1-7, 2017, as Golden Rule Week

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks that are set aside to promote and encourage empathy and
compassion which benefit the lives of the citizens of the State of New
York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
recognize April 1-7, 2017, as Golden Rule Week; and

WHEREAS, The Golden Rule, also known as the ethic of reciprocity, is
the idea that people should treat others in the same way they themselves
would like to be treated, with tolerance, consideration and compassion;
and

WHEREAS, Derived from human feelings and experience, the Golden Rule
requires people to think about others and try to imagine how they might
think and feel; it is a simple and clear default position for moral
decision-making; and

WHEREAS, People who bully others, lack the empathy, generosity and
kindness of those who follow the Golden Rule; bullying and intolerance
is comprised of direct behaviors such as teasing, taunting, threatening,
hitting, and stealing that are initiated by one or more students against
a target, as well as indirect behaviors such as spreading rumors and
acting in other ways to cause another person to be socially isolated
through intentional exclusion, with all such behaviors, direct or
indirect, amounting to physical or psychological intimidation occurring
repeatedly over time to create an ongoing pattern of harassment and
abuse; and

WHEREAS, Those who stand by passively watching or actively
encouraging bullying are also affected by these hostile acts; by
encouraging bullying they may create an audience, may become
desensitized to cruelty, may learn to imitate these behaviors and become
bullies themselves, and/or may be fearful for their own safety, adding
to their own insecurity; and

WHEREAS, Race, age, religion, physical disability, physical
appearance, socioeconomic status and various other factors can be the
basis of bullying and anyone can be a target; and

WHEREAS, People who intimidate others are at increased risk for
substance abuse, academic problems, and violence later in adolescence
and adulthood; and

WHEREAS, Individuals who choose to live by the Golden Rule empathize
with other people, including those who may be very different from them;
empathy is at the root of kindness, compassion, understanding and
respect, all valuable qualities that we each appreciate being shown,
whoever we are, whatever we think and wherever we come from; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative to recognize weeks in which empathy,
compassion, and kindness are observed, and to encourage all New Yorkers
to practice this simple philosophy and incorporate it into your
lifestyle; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize April 1-7, 2017, as Golden Rule Week.