Empathy For You

It seems as if empathy has been under attack lately. “The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy…” said Elon Musk. How wrong he is!  I prefer what Thich Nhat Hahn says, “Understanding and Love are not two separate things, but just one. To develop understanding, you have to practice looking at all living beings with the eyes of compassion. When you understand, you cannot help but love. And when you love, you naturally act in a way that can relieve the suffering of people.”

Empathy is the foundation of a strong society, and when empathy is lost, society is lost. The moment that we lose the ability to not understand one another, and that means all of us, we have become a wandering tornado that can only cause destruction and harm. 

If all of us could take a moment and place ourselves in another person’s shoes, especially our so-called adversaries, and walk around them for a while, maybe we’d have less hate in the world. I recently reached out to a Trump supporter and asked them a sincere question, “Has he done anything that you disagree with? I am trying to understand, so please tell me.” I continued my question with, “Is there anything that he would do that would turn you against him?” I added that I did not always agree with the politicians that I voted for, but I have yet to hear a Trump supporter speak out against anything that he has done. This is not normal in many cases. I believe this is because his followers are not practicing empathy. And, many on the left are also not practicing empathy. However, when people are being harmed, it is difficult to find empathy. I will argue that is when it is most important. 

I truly have sat with this thought, “What has the left done to make the right, especially the MAGA right (There is a difference), to hate them so much?” I know that the word “Woke” has been used to spread that hate. I also know that the right feel that the left pushed their agendas too far and too hard. I would agree. I have seen it, and it is difficult at times. For example, “Cancel Culture” was something that appeared to come from the left, and it was ridiculous. I remember hearing how they wanted John Wayne canceled because of something he did in the 1970’s. Certainly one cannot escape their mistakes, but let's let a dead man rest. 

I have been accused of “Bothisms” in my politics. This accusation comes from those who favor the extremes. It has isolated me a bit, but I know there are many others who are tired of the extremes on both sides of the aisle. What does this mean? Well, maybe one day in the future, common sense and finding a middle ground will prevail, and with that comes a better, greater society, one led by empathy. One must find common ground with their enemy, their adversary, in order to thrive as a human race. Otherwise, we have war. I feel if war broke today, I would be standing in the middle saying, “I support transgender people, gay marriage, DEI, but your not getting my guns.” That one statement would make both the left and right upset, and that would be a pity, but I would show them a great deal of empathy in their madness.