We stand in sympathy and shared mourning with the people of Norway over their loss in the horrific terrorist attack of July 22, 2011 in Oslo. We can only imagine the pain of parents who have lost their children, and the pain of families that have lost their loved ones. They are not just numbers or statistics, but they were unique and special human beings who loved and were loved. As I am writing this, some of the first funerals have ended, and those families and friends have gone home to remember their loved ones.

While we may want to “make sense” of such horrific terrorism against innocent children and people, the truth is there is no rational reason for the monstrous actions that Anders Behring Breivik has confessed to committing.

But as the world watches the courage of the Norwegian people after this terrorist attack, we must also find the courage to urge our society to make changes that would discourage inspiring such individuals as Mr. Breivik. Too many have known too much for too long, and not done enough to stop the rise of hatred in our world. Our sympathies to the Oslo families must not be half-hearted regrets, but must be full-hearted commitment to find ways to change, including standing up for our responsibilities to one another.

We have many freedoms as human beings. But with great freedoms comes great responsibilities. Any cause or campaign for human rights must understand these basic aspects of human society.

Those who work in the vital and passionate cause of human freedom must also remember that the struggle for such universal human rights are for all people. That includes human rights for those we may disagree with, as common brothers and sisters in the human race – the only race that matters.

It has been my privilege to preside over a coalition of individuals passionate about human rights that periodically come together for different human rights issues, coordinated by Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.). We address different human rights issues for people of all nationalities, religions, races, and genders, because equality and liberty is a right for all. When equality and liberty is denied for some, it is our problem as fellow human beings.

Our slogan has been “Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.”

I was surprised to discover how controversial that slogan would be. A number of people have told me how weak it sounds, and how they did not find it sufficiently inspirational to “fight” for human rights. But we are not “fighting,” we are reaching out. We may challenge anti-freedom ideologies, and we may even confront organizations’ activities, but our goal is to reach out to our fellow human beings everywhere for consistency on the cause of our universal human rights.

While we may disagree with the ideas, words, and activities of some, as human beings we must reach out to offer love and our shared human rights to all, including those who would call themselves our enemies. Some may wonder how can we love those who view us as their enemies? But the real question is: how can stand for universal human rights and NOT love our fellow human beings? Our greatest defense for these rights is not our passion for campaigns and causes, but it is our compassion for one another as human beings.

There are some who believe that they can work for human rights, just for one culture, one religion, one race, one group, and not others, because they believe that only their group deserves such rights. That perspective negates the very term “human rights.”

Confessed terrorist Anders Behring Breivik may have believed that human beings in only some groups, religions, and cultures are entitled to human rights, and even life itself. But those who believe in human rights must always reject such exclusionary and supremacist philosophies – and we must never forget the grim results of such thinking. We must always remember that all human beings have human rights, including Mr. Breivik.

The challenge our society faces is how to balance our disagreements with dignity and compassion. For some and in some instances, this may be difficult. But we are reminded by the terrorist attack in Oslo, what happens when we do not make love and dignity for our fellow human beings our first priority.

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This will be continued in “Oslo and Finding the Courage to Change — A Commitment to Change Our Dialogue (Part II).”