Love Thy Neighbor

Since it is Sunday, I feel a religious observation is not out of order. I would like to comment on the comandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. This is a commonly cited but, I feel, frequently misunderstood commandment. We are not commanded to love mankind as ourselves, but our neighbors. "Mankind" is easy to love. It is an abstraction. "Mankind" does not leave it's trash in your yard or mow it's lawn on Sunday morning. Mankind does not steal your paper or play it's music too loud. Your neighbor is possibly the most difficult person in the world to love,(short of your spouse). That is why we are commanded to love him. Just as it's easy to feel compassion for the poor but resent the beggar on the corner, it is easy to love mankind but hate your neighbor.