Please take a moment to reflect on the following words, and their meanings. No matter who you are, where you were born, what you believe, they can and MUST apply to you as well as anyone else.

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LOVE
Of this planet. Of family. Of a friend. Of God.
TOLERANCE
Of those who do not believe as you do. Of those who see the world a little differently. Of those who look a bit different from you. Of those who speak another language. Of those whose faith is practiced in another way.
UNDERSTANDING
That not all understand as you do. Of views with which you may not agree. That some bear a greater burden of grief than you have. That some may bear less a burden of grief than you have. In either case, it is not their fault.
That others may choose not to try to understand.
RESPECT
For your elders. For little children. For those who work. For those who wish they had work to do. For those who serve. For those who protect. For those who save. For those who sacrifice. For those who feed. For those who clothe. For those who care. For those who have gone before.
For life.

It is the responsibility of every individual to live daily in remembrance of these words, and also the responsibility and right of every individual to EXPECT these courtesies from all others.

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You can never master the hearts and minds of others by claiming to be Master.
One cannot revere another who would destroy individuality.

You will never be held in respect by showing none.
It is impossible to respect one who cannot give it in return.

You can never earn fidelity by neglecting your own integrity.
It is impossible to be true to one who cannot be true to himself.

You will never deserve kindness when you do not show it to others.
The world may not treat gently one who is not gentle.

It is easy to forget one who remembers only himself and his own purposes.
The world never forgets one who remembers the comfort of others in all things.
Copyright 2002 JDM

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There is no good and just deity who would look on an act of cruelty with favor.
There is only eternal shame for turning to such acts for any reason.
Justice is not dispensed by any man.

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Our world will never heal until every person alive understands these words, and takes it upon himself or herself to act in harmony with them. They do not mean you must give up your faith. They do not mean you must embrace what you believe is wrong. They do mean that every person must be allowed the opportunity to embrace enlightenment in their own way.

Those who would remove that opportunity must not be allowed the responsibility of governing others.

Please feel free to forward this message to anyone you know with email. Translate it into every language on the planet. Print it, share it.
But most important….live it.