I am a Rotarian and I have been for many years.  One of the basic tenets of Rotary is the Four Way Test

I think that many Rotarians take the Four-Way Test as dogma. ---That to be a good Rotarian we must follow the Four-Way Test . We must tell the truth.  We must be fair to all concerned etc.  It should not be confused with the Ten Commandments.

In my belief the Four-Way Test doesn’t tell us what to do and it does not provide a moral compass.  It doesn’t say Tell the Truth.. it asks “Is it the Truth?”  it is a test,  not a set of commandments.  It doesn’t mention morality or ethics. As individuals as Rotarians we create our own moral compass. 

The 4-way test provides us with a set of questions that we should ask ourselves when we reach an ethical dilemma.  We should ask and answer “Is it the Truth”. ..Many times it may be ok for the answer to be no.  When your grandchild asks “Is there really a Santa Claus?”. What is the truthful answer?.  I am reminded of Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men.. “You want the Truth?  --- You can’t handle the Truth”.

Sometimes the best solution that you provide to a problem is not fair to all concerned.  You should examine the problem. Is life supposed to be fair?  Yes you should try to find solutions that are fair to all concerned. But often this is not possible.  Ask the questions,  answer them honestly and take the answer  into consideration when deciding.

Last week the news described the trial of Richard Barnett who was photographed with his feet on Nancy Pelosi’s desk during the January 6 attempted insurrection.  He said that it isn’t fair that he is being held without bail until his trial.  So the judge’s decision to keep him locked up may not seem fair to all.--  But if the judge considered fairness before making the order – I hold that it meets the standards of Four-Way Test

In life we frequently make decisions that would violate the Four-Way Test if in fact it were dogma for Rotarians.  I believe that we can be moral and ethical citizens, good Rotarians and follow the Four-Way Test while making optimum decisions.