CARE, an acronym meaning (Compassion, Action, Responsibility, and Equality). I'm sure that most follow this model without realizing it, as our society places great emphasis on following a high moral standard. With the four however, we should be able to rank them to determine which should gain the most emphasis.
1) Equality
When you have equality, the rest will follow. If a society is composed of faiths and cultures treated equally, we will realize the necessity of tolerating others and with it begin to see others with a greater degree of humanity. If we look at the examples of racism in America, it was not caused because of a genetic mutation, nor was it caused because they were unable to treat other cultures with humanity. They were able, they chose not to. A great portion of racism ended in 1865 because African Americans were given the same legal rights as American Caucasians. A lot more left in 1964 when they were made socially equal. We all have the capacity to be compassionate, but unless all people are recognized as equals, this will never occur.
2) Compassion is next because it is the result of equality and allows for the other two to occur. Compassion is the development of a higher moral authority that allows us to act well and responsibly. Compassion occurs only when we see others with a degree of humanity equal to ourselves, and as such the justification for equality is presented. With compassion, we can now determine how to act.
3) Action
When we have compassion, we can now act accordingly. In doing so, we create a new norm. Past methods of discrimination and disrespect are replaced by actions demonstrating compassion and tolerance. Every generation must renew their pledge to respect others, something which is done through the examples of older generation, the legal limits presented by the government, and the moral limits determined by a force greater than ourselves.
4) Responsibility
Once we have acted in a moral fashion, only now does responsibility occur. Once the incentive to act morally has occured and society starts to do so, responsibility will ensure that it continues. Rather than simply being an action to occur just for one day, society will instead pressure others to act in an moral fashion. Society has great influential pressure. If society believes an immoral action or thought to be justified, there are no limitations to the catastrophes that can follow. If it instead can forced to inspire others to act in moral fashion, there are no limitations to the extent of how moral and just we can be.
