Most of us know Who told us that (the capitol “W” is a hint for those who don’t), so many tend to take it very seriously.
Some try to define “neighbor” in such a way that they feel justified in hating, disliking, killing, or taking advantage of those whom they define as “not neighbors”. But, the command is universal. It includes all neighbors, born and unborn, old and young, pagan or believer, murderer or saint.
It is not uncommon for people to consider wiping out whole numbers of neighbors who are especially “dislikable”. Sometimes, while watching an angry crowd of people whom we know would like to kill us, we may wonder “Why doesn’t someone just get rid of them?” We know that there are submarines whose missiles and atomic warheads can land on any given tennis court-sized target in the world when given the command and the coordinates.
“Why doesn’t someone just get rid of them?” is common, if unspoken, both on the right and the left. The right wonders why the enemies of stability and order aren’t destroyed. The left wonders why the enemies of opportunity and “a better life for all” aren’t wiped out.
All of them are our neighbors. As soon as we start to think that a group of either real or imaginary enemies should be wiped out, we have, at least temporarily, disobeyed the command “Love your neighbor”.
