On March 22, 2011, at 10 a.m., at the urging of many local citizens, the Board of Supervisors will consider a local proclamation endorsing the International Charter for Compassion.

The Charter for Compassion is a statement reaffirming the role of compassion in our lives and a call to become more compassionate in our treatment of and interactions with others. It is a document that transcends religious, ideological and national difference.

Supported by leading thinkers from many traditions, the Charter inspires worldwide community-based acts of compassion. Cities such as Seattle, and Vancouver have promoted Compassion charters for their communities.

Every day, especially in these difficult economic times, we face an onslaught of media messages, online comments, and other polarizing and degrading interactions that are aggressive, fear-inducing or just plain mean-spirited.

For the sake of our community, for our own well being and especially for our children, we in Lake County can choose to behave differently, knowing that it is possible to disagree and still respect one another as human beings.

The Charter for Compassion calls us to always treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves: with kindness, dignity and respect. By calling attention to compassion, the local proclamation is just a reminder that we have the capacity to be there for one another.

From the Charter:

“Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the center of our world and put another there, and to honor the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.”

“… it is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others – even our enemies – is a denial of our common humanity.”

I hope you can join us at the courthouse on March 22 at 10 a.m. to reaffirm Compassion as a clear and dynamic force in our community of Lake County. Perhaps the charter will inspire all of us to continue the ongoing work of alleviating the suffering of others, particularly those right here at home.

More information on this proclamation and the Charter can be found at www.LakeCountyCompassion.blogspot.com.

Denise Rushing represents District 3 on the Lake County Board of Supervisors. She lives in Upper Lake, Calif.