It really isn't possible to teach anything of lasting value from a moral perspective, if we, ourselves, represent a contradiction to those higher morals, or when we are inconsistent to such. The thing about morals, is that if we don't live to the heart of their structure, we have, in essence, betrayed them. In other words, it isn't reasonable to believe that we can help to effect positive change upon anyone, when we aren't able to stay in harmony with the righteous moral value that we are thus espousing.
The test of any ethical system, is how it reacts, when it is really put to the test. That is to say, when everything is going well, and we are getting along with everyone, then it's relatively easy to be civil and accommodating; whereas, when we are challenged by something that upsets us, or is insulting to us, or is very annoying to us, then how we so react to this potential provocation says a lot about whether we are actually true to our espoused values, or whether we are in fact, no better than those that appear to be so inconsistent and confused. After all, wrong or right, those that are at least, consistent in their persona, are representing what they really are – as opposed to those that are not, who seem to change with the circumstances so presented to them, or to give in to their moodiness or error.
In order to effect change for the better, we have to demonstrate in action, that in regards to our ethical values that mean so much to us, that we are true to such. For a certainty, those that know which road that they should take, and then fail to consistently walk the pathway of that road; have to themselves and to those that they interact with, committed a wrong. To stay upon the high road, we have to continue to walk upon it; which signifies that whatever obstacles come our way, must be dealt with upon that road, and done so successfully, or else we have fallen down and have slipped away from that good pathway.
If, in the end, there does not appear to be much difference in the ultimate action so taken, between one guiding philosophy as opposed to another -- because those that preach the most considerate words and ethics, can't themselves live up to those words; then many a person, isn't going to bother to see either as being much different than the other. We are what we actually do, which means that it is our responsibility to live up to that which we know to be the right and the better way, and of which, it is therefore our responsibility to rise up to the commitment so bestowed upon us, if we desire to be considered as someone that is actively working to make this world a better place for our involvement in it; by recognizing that in order to do so, we must acknowledge in our actions between one another, that we are ultimately all one big family, and therefore we must embrace the best of family values, which are best represented by consideration, patience, forgiveness, generosity, and love.