Empathy is a feeling, it's not a science. When you see someone being bullied it's possible to feel the ouch. To feel sad and angry. Sometimes to feel absolutely disgusted with someone. It's not that you are superior but you came into this world with feelings. Your feelings may be different from mine but you do have them and they speak to you.
You have also been trained to judge others, to make judgements even though you can't be sure you are right.
Feelings are not about being superior or ashamed or smart or special. You may feel these things but it doesn't guarantee you are right.
Mostly feelings enable you to question how you are feeling. And what you can do. You are not a universal police force, but you have lived here for thousands of years. To dismiss uncomfortable feelings is to give away your mind and heart to something else.
Being human doesn't grant you diamonds, certificates, applause or fame. You are one of the millions of souls who are here to do what you can for your kin. You don't have to know their name or their tribe.
It's just a chance to make the world better without acknowledgement or praise or gifts. You are more than a grain of salt.
I apologize for preaching here, but it is direct, and I am concerned whenever I read news papers and letters to the editor. It all seems like a game to out any idea as rubbish.
Power demands absolute obedience. Century after century someone wants to start a war and we must defend ourselves. Leaders will invest most either in power or nurture.
"The nature versus nurture debate in psychology deals with disagreements about the extent to which the development of traits in humans and animals reflects the relative influence of nature and nurture. It is commonly stated that psychologists have moved on from asking whether traits (or variation in traits) develop from nature or nurture, to recognize instead that both nature and nurture work together or “interact” to produce outcomes, although exactly how to view the interaction is a matter of much debate." https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-97801998283
But what if a man is given the job to save his nation from destruction. He has followers all over the world. He cannot appear weak. So he begs other nations for help. He knows the nations who are willing to send armaments are already invested in the arms industry and as time goes on he knows other industries like food and health have no money to spare.
What if loyalty is a big concern? Loyal to what and to whom?
Here's how power works. Everyone knows we must take care of this world and all its interconnected ways but we all have different opinions on what should come first. Power or nurture?
We know of different leaders in the past, like Hitler or Henry VIII had different values. We know that millions have suffered from leaders who only valued power. (To the extent they valued power, say over their love for children is not always clear).
For Hitler he set out to kill all who were Jewish, gay, injured and not useful. This is not just antisemitism. It uses antisemitism to get support from thoughtless people. People who are not in the majority, people who are trained to nurture others, people who have studied history and human behaviour. People who think, who love others. People who are not afraid of "strongmen". People who have learned history and understand that the strongman types only care how things look, not what they mean.
Violence needs ignorant actors not educated and articulate people. People whose sense of self worth is elevated by beating up or controlling someone. I remember one time I was shopping in a nursery and I heard a male voice say loudly "you're so stupid" to a quiet woman standing next to him, waiting to pay for plants and flowers. He was loud, she was silent. He kept repeating himself. I wondered how he could benefit by abusing the woman in public? Anyone who overheard might have felt embarrassed for the woman.
How can a grown man feel he has accomplished something in this outburst? How many men see that as a display of power not embarrassment? After any outburst I've had in public, I feel ashamed, but there was a time when I felt I was being strong.
There was a time when my self esteem was so low I had to display my courage/power/worth/strength by loud outbursts because I was bullied and couldn't stand up for myself. The crybaby became the bully. I was a woman too.
We live in a world that raises people to believe their worth depends on appearances and ranked social status -- white, male, able bodied, slim, well-dressed, confident. Whether we like it or not, we are all slotted in at least one category, and much print is given to articles that tell us who we are or should be.
A woman of colour who has a disability, has much courage and is very valuable in her society. But that public space we call the city, only values the money you can spend, how you look, and the amount of self-esteem you possess. Unless you witness someone being put down or hurt by letting them know you can help.
In a society that values life you are worth a lot. In a society that only values power you must stand up -- to ignore injustice and allow leaders to disrupt, murder and rape others, without consequence, you are giving the world away to despots. You are exhibiting a submission to the ideal only power matters. To allow celebrities to convince you, democracy is worth nothing. To stay silent when you witness abuse is to silence all the songs, tear apart all the art, walk away from all you love, and leave the entire world to the chance of those who only value power over others.
Such a question is bound to receive contempt from many readers? I know I am a woman in her seventies. When I was younger I was pretty. vac...
