The Rotary Minute
A certain scribe was banging on about Rotary and although it is very much non political and non religious, it does seem to have adopted the4 way test test as a sort of ideal. But the concept of applying it to our everyday life gets harder and harder, especially with the pandemic, which seems to have lowered everybody's IQ and common manners, respect and threshold of rage. So whats so hard about applying these words developed nearly 60 years ago??
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it fair?
- Will it bring friendship?
- Will it be beneficial to all?
"The Four-Way Test is a mirror, not a window"
Rotary members should not use The Four-Way Test to look at others but rather to look at themselves in considering the ramifications of a thought, statement, or action. It should not be a window through which we look to judge others. It is a mirror at which we look to judge ourselves.
The argument I’ve heard Rotarians make is that if they determine some thought, statement, or action violates any part of the test, it is their duty to declare that thought, statement, or action wrong. I have heard The Four-Way Test used to support any number of topics, some which readers would find hard to support. Yet through the Internet, one can cobble together any sort of argument to back any thought or concept with a plethora of “facts.”
I do not believe that is what The Four-Way Test is about. I believe the test is more about how we treat each other than how we measure ideas.