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The planet Earth can seem like it's shrinking, every year there is more people packed into a place that doesn't get bigger. With globalization of economy and society becoming a real factor, folks from all walks of life have to learn to co-exist. Everybody is going to have to be on the same page regarding rights and freedoms if we're going to get along peacefully.

People often cite the Golden Rule as the means to a peaceful world. "Do unto others as you would have done unto you." But the Golden Rule leaves room for subjective interpretation. How a person prefers to be treated and in turn how they treat others is going to vary by the individual. That's why many people are adopting the Non-Aggression Principle as their rule of co-existence.

The Non-Aggression Principle is simple: Do not initiate a use of force. Meaning, force can only be used in a case of self-defense. Using force is not limited to an act of violence, it can be any violation of a person's consent. Theft is a use of force because the thief takes property without the owner's consent. Stalking is a use of force because the stalker forces a relationship of interaction with the victim's consent.

Another thing society has to keep in mind in order to co-exist is tolerance. Every culture on Earth is different, and every individual that makes up each culture is different. One person can easily do something that another disapproves of for any number of reasons. Tolerance is key in these instances, but how do we know when to let questionable behavior slide or when to step in and stop it?

Referring back to the Non-Aggression Principle is helpful with this issue. You may not approve of a person dying his hair pink and wearing nothing but a spandex jumpsuit, but your consent is not necessary for that person's fashion choices. I don't smoke, but I can't stop any person from smoking unless they are in my home subjecting my lungs to their fumes. That's when my consent is necessary, because that behavior is now being forced on me. Any behavior, belief, lifestyle etc. that doesn't require your consent in turn must be tolerated, but not necessarily approved of.

Another key to a peaceful co-existence is caring for the environment. There is only one planet, and the entire human population and its future generations have to live on it. If society is going to have a healthy environment, then every individual that makes up society has to be taught to respect the earth. Everyone must do what they can to leave the planet in as good a shape as they found it. Without a clean world, we cannot exist let alone co-exist.

Learn more about this author, Dan Keizer.
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