Is it Possible to Follow the Golden Rule Today?

We know deep down that we should treat others with respect, but in our world today it seems that it's 'us' against 'them'. The Golden Rule appears to be lost from everyone's conscience. I mean, come on, who wants to respect and love terrorists and criminals?

Most of the religions of the world have the Golden Rule in some form as one of their principles.

From Judaism/Christianity: "Love your neighbor as yourself", Leviticus 19:18.

From Islam: "Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself", Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13.

From Confucianism: "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you", Analects 15.23

From Hinduism: "One should not behave towards others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself", Mahabharata Anusasana Parva 113.8

The concept of the Golden Rule seems easy enough to understand: it says that you should treat others exactly as you wish to be treated. Note however what it does not say;" treat others as they treat you." We are instructed to be kind to all people regardless of what they have done or we think they have done.

We hear constantly about the large number of human rights violations. The media is filled with horrible stories happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Darfur region in Sudan is another example of human rights violations. The list goes on and on. No human deserves to be subjected to these inhuman treatments such as starvations, beatings, or other forms of torture. However, if we respond to these actions with brutality, aren't we becoming what we want to stop?

Is it difficult to give kindness to those we believe have slighted us? Of course it is. How can we not want revenge when we see the atrocities happening in Iraq and globally on our television? Is there anyone not disgusted by the violence you see and hear about in the news? Can we really treat terrorists and murderers with respect and not withhold their human rights? Is there an answer to this dilemma?

Loving those who commit atrocities seems outrageously wrong, perhaps. Is there any parent on earth who hasn't said this to their child;"Just because he/she does XYZ doesn't mean you should."

Cardinal Francis George of the Catholic Theological Union once stated in a homily: "The world distrusts us not because we are rich and free. Many of us are not rich and some of us aren't especially free. They distrust us because we are deaf and blind, because too often we don't understand and make no effort to understand". It seems that according to theologians and spiritual leaders we have an obligation for our own inner peace to promote peace and to make it a reality. True, we can only accomplish small changes, but together we have a chance to change the world. By following the Golden Rule in our own lives, perhaps we can inspire others to love one another, to defend a helpless person, and to be the voice of the voiceless.

Easy to do? Of course not. Does that mean we should not try? Of course not.