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A Question of Empathy
Is anyone else shocked at how ignorant well-off white liberals are when it comes to alternative views about abortion. I am hanging out with North Eastern Democrats who seem to be the Michael Shellenberger variety rather than the Bernie Sanders variety.
But during the conversation with these well-educated people, I learned how much of a bubble that they live in. “I can’t understand why women are pro-life.” from one lady. Then her mother said, “Well you know, we forget about how many women are pro-life.”
As an agnostic on this site, I get exposed to people who do not agree with me daily. I can easily imagine, pro-life or pro-choice women. Simultaneously, I can also imagine communists and Islamists. Now perhaps I have an unusually active imagination, but that still doesn’t explain how half of the American population does not understand the basic ideas of the other half.
I noticed the exact same pattern at Boise State University School Newspaper. On the introductory day there, the Professor said, “Why does everyone think that we journalists types are so left-wing. Also, what pronouns should we use as I discussed investigating multiple companies for any emanation of right-wing thought.”
What makes BSU’s journalism even more perverse is that there are several churches within walking distance who will politely explain right-wing thought. Talking to people on the other side is basic journalism. Yet somehow, left-wing people aren’t capable of that basic empathy. Why?
Anybody’s take on my question would be appreciated but do allow me to tender a theory of my own.
In my experiences, religious people and non-religious people can’t understand each other. If one believes in G-d it affects them from their scalp to their pinky toe. Religion not only affects your beliefs and the logic behind those beliefs; it reprograms your basic values and assumptions at the core of your psyche before it even gets to the thought-through beliefs in the front of the conscious brain.
For centuries leftism has championed sexual liberation and the destruction of the nuclear with the fervor of a religious zealot. The ability to enjoy sex free from political and biological consequences is often the most important value to certain kinds of leftists. Equality mercy and compassion can’t withstand the right to autonomy in matters of sex. Without G-d sex becomes the most important thing. Also, the flesh becomes a thing of worship when one denies the spirit. Look at vegetarianism and alternative medicine among atheists.
But what are your thoughts with regard to empathy or the lack thereof?
Published in General
It wouldn’t be the first time.
Yes, ultimately that is the reason. I’d say in Poland there’s a much higher percentage of people who don’t take religion very seriously (maybe even non-believers) who still have their children take First Holy Communion. It’s based on Poland’s history both during their 120+ years of partition and during communism. That is not ideal in my opinion. I think about it a lot though. I think I prefer that than the alternative of having only a few kids do it. Mainly, I believe strongly in the power of the Sacraments, especially the Blessed Sacrament. Also, I’m happy at least there’s some sort of exposure to the kids that’s not completely negative towards faith in God. Like I said, not completely ideal but I think the alternative is much much worse.
Maybe I can explain it to you. Liberals(as you call it in the US of A) have their idea of “accepted conservatism”. “David Frum” springs to mind or Andy Sullivan with his self-professed admiration for Obama. We have them in Portugal too. A type of Conservative that wishes to be loved by the left. They go to these debating shows on tv and they perform the duty of sparing partners for left pundits. They, of course, get trashed. But these are the acceptable conservatives. When one of us actually takes the time to explain to them what conservative thought is, they blow their minds!
Recently a friend engaged me regarding the recent decision by your supreme court regarding Roe vs Wade. I replied “I agree with the decision, the US is a federal State and it’s up to the states to decide on matters such as abortion rights” he replied, “well it’s stupid!”.
We had a referendum in Portugal regarding Abortion and I voted for legal abortion. If we had the referendum today I would vote again for legal abortion. The limit is 10 weeks. Fortunately, I was never confronted with such a decision. I don’t frame the problem as a problem of choice. Humans are the way they are, and abortion, unfortunately, happens, legal or illegal. This year, alone, in a country with 10 million people I have stumbled across two news articles about babies left in trash cans. Dead. With legal abortion.
My mother was to the last day of her life anti-abortion. Her sons voted for legal abortion.
The way I rationalize it is that we have to make compromises. Most lefties live in a bubble. The day that most right-wingers do the same will be the point of no return.
There’s a difference between compromises and tradeoffs. Conservatives recognize tradeoffs, but lefties don’t. This makes their policies unworkable.
On abortion though, it’s never wise to compromise with evil. Killing babies to solve problems is evil.