HomeMy WebLinkAboutCharter for Compassion approved to begin the process for HunCITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
City Council Interoffice Communication
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Ax Connie Boardman, City Council Member
Date: August 9, 2013
Subject: COMPASSIONATE CITY
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
I recently met with a representative of the Interfaith Council about Huntington
Beach participating in the Campaign for Compassionate Cities. The Interfaith
Council would like our city to become a City of Compassion and I agree.
Background:
The International Campaign for Compassionate Cities is a global campaign inspired by
the Golden Rule to raise awareness of the benefits of compassion. Huntington Beach
has a history of compassion as evidenced by our Declaration of Policy About Human
Dignity.
Our residents participate in many non-profit organizations that act in compassionate
ways towards others in the community. The city itself also acts in a compassionate way
by participation in such activities as literacy training, and Project Self Sufficiency.
Participation by the city in the Compassionate Cities program is a way to highlight these
activities.
Becoming a "Compassionate City" involves signing the Charter for Compassion, which
is attached, issuing a resolution or proclamation of support, developing a plan for action
which the Interfaith Council has offered to assist with, and becoming listed as a
Compassionate City by the International Campaign for Compassionate Cities. Other
Cities of Compassion in the U.S. include Cincinnati Ohio, Danbury Connecticut,
Houston Texas, Louisville Kentucky, Winston-Salem North Carolina, and Seattle
Washington.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
To begin the process for Huntington Beach to become a City of Compassion by
appointing the Mayor to work with the Interfaith Council to develop a plan of action and
to then return to the council for approval of the action plan as well as approval of the
Charter for Compassion.
Charter for Compassion
The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions,
calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels
us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves
from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour 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. We acknowledge
that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum
of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women - to restore compassion to the centre of
morality and religion - to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture
that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate - to ensure that youth are given
accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures
to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity - to cultivate an
informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings, even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our
polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion
can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep
interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity.
It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and
a peaceful global community.
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