Why do some people insist that we should all love each other?

I’m not sure they mean it in the literal sense, but more that all of mankind should try more to love each other in the general sense – show more empathy, understanding and consideration for others. Be civil.

What people? I don’t know anyone that thinks this. It’s not a love/hate kind of thing, though.

I suspect that these people remember that God wants us to love all living things because they are part of his creation. It’s really not that hard. All you need to do is learn to love the person, not their behavior. : )

The Youngbloods song from the 60’s or early 70’s “everybody get together and try to love one another right now…”

Love one another means in the brother human sense not love like you feel for your family or lover.

“And there are a few that I justifiably despise. I find myself occasionally hoping that they will throw a punch in my direction so I can legally exorcise my negative passions.”

I love Internet tough guys.

It is not for the other person’s benefit. It is for your benefit. Living a life of compassion, concern and empathy is healthier, more satisfying, and much more pleasant.

@zenvelo GA!

It sounds like a religious line more than anything. It is obvious that not too many people share that view though —just walk down the street and count how many loving people you come across.
I agree with @diavolobella and also think that all of us as members of the same species share a lot of common problems, both as individuals and as a whole, so we might as well try to get along and stop all wars and concentrate in dealing with the world’s environmental problems and our own survival on the planet. As individuals, we can’t go around being nasty and unpolite with people we come accross with on our everyday life because life is hard enough as it is and being nice makes life easier for everyone.

People are complicated which is an understatement I think. This “love each other” stuff is an attempt to gloss over that aforementioned natural fact. It’s just not that simple with us.

It is well meaning if not done in an incessant, annoying way. Personally I find it hard to feel negative towards anybody who might say I should love such and such because I do get the point. And love is just a word really but sometimes when you hear it being pushed, promoted and advertised it gives it a shallow, manipulative feel. Oh well I guess I should learn to love the word love no matter how it is used then…

It’s hardly just religious! We are all brothers and sisters of the same mother.

I think it’s a tolerance thing more than anything else. We don’t have to love everyone, but that saying spawns from brother fucking up his brother…so you know, I think it just means, let’s at least not kill one another.

Not like you love your mom or something, just care about people and have their best interests in mind. If everyone did this, everyone would benefit and the world would be alot less scary b/c you know you can count on everyone!

I think what they mean by love is compassion and empathy. It is reasonable for people to ask you to try to be compassionate and empathetic.
As a general rule, we should love one another, because then there would make people less of the assholes that they are… But, no you don’t have to love everybody.

Love is incredibly important, and if you lack it you should see a shrink because it’s a clinical disorder. But limiting love to people as this suggests is silly, a lot of people are assholes. Look to the world to find love, in the Moody Blues sense of the word, in art, movies, music, nature. Anything and everything, and once you see beauty here, there and everywhere, it’s only a small switch to loving people, too. Love triumphs over everything, in my opinion, it’s the basis for all life.

I think you’re taking this idea far too literally. There are quite a few people I dislike, some quite strongly. I still don’t wish them any ill. I still hope they are all treated fairly. If I was in a position to save one of their lives, I would. That’s what it means.

@augustlan

Interesting. I always thought that “greater love has no man than this, to lay down his life for a friend.”

@CaptainHarley I’d change that to “greater love has no man than this, to lay down his life for a stranger.”

@augustlan

That would be a totally different sort of love, although definitely noteworthy. : )