Editorials / Columns
All We Need Is Empathy
By Aaron Racicot
Apr 16, 2004, 23:37

Everyday, when I turn on the news or read the paper I am sickened by the lack of empathy in the world today. For those of you that don’t know the meaning of the word, my little brown Webster’s Dictionary says as a noun, it means emotional or intellectual identification with another. As a verb, it means to stand in another man’s shoes.

I wonder if Leah Fastow would have that arrogant smirk on her face if it was her family that had been ripped off by the Enron jerks or if Kobe Bryant would have a big smile if his mother had been treated in the manner he has allegedly treated that young woman in Colorado?

Or better yet, would Michael Jackson be thrilled if his son had been allegedly molested? My point is, “ What is wrong with these people?” Don’t they consider for one second the ramifications on others for their actions? And why don’t they care?

I say it is a lack of empathy. If people showed more compassion for others, there would be a whole lot less problems in the world today.

Maybe, women could wash their cars in Rice Village without getting shot or you could elect people to Congress without worrying that they would sell out your interests in favor of wealthy corporations. Maybe, I’m looking for Shangri La.

I don’t think so. I think it goes back to the saying, “Do unto others as you would have done to you.”

The day that we as a community embrace that statement is the day a lot of society’s ills vanish.

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