I think the Golden Rule is generally a good one. But sometimes, not everyone thinks the way I think and would like to be treated the way I would like to be treated. People are different and have different preferences.
Let's take this another step further shall we? What about in regards to evil? There are those out there that will actively harm us, or our children, or our loved ones. If we do not destroy them they will continue to do harm until we or our loved ones are dead.
So if we are to apply the Golden Rule, would that mean that if we kill Hitler, we in think we should be killed? What about what happened in Rawanda (genocide, killing, raping, of innocent people, women, elderly, children, etc) ? If we do not simply destroy the people going on the rampage killing, how do we stop them? I doubt treating them with civility and applying the Golden Rule would work.
I guess that view is based on the assumption that evil exists, and the only way to stop it is to destroy it. Some may not believe that assumption and I do respect it.
I think it's wonderful to imagine a world in which people treat each other with kindness and dignity. A world where no bombs, wars, borders, fear, exist. But the problem is, this is not our world now. How do we apply the Golden Rule in this existing world, with out it causing the downfall of our selves and those we love?
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