On Empathy
My thoughts are still swirling from this weekend's tragic events across our world. In more than one place citizens of the world have faced acts of terror. Unfair. As has happened before in situations such as these, my mind and soul can't seem to land on a feeling. Instead, I read posts and articles. I listen to opinions and reflect on my feelings towards those.
This weekend I was supposed to attend a Ted Talk session, including Linda Sue Park as one speaker, here in Boston. We are currently reading Linda Sue Park's A Long Walk to Water in class. The book tells the story of one of the thousands of "Lost Boys" of Sudan, who fled the second civil war in Sudan in 1985. Her talk was about the power of children's books to change lives.
At the last minute, I decided not to go. I knew I could watch a live streaming of her talk later and I just did that. In her talk, which you can view here (she starts at 4:01) she describes how children's books offer a place and space to feel empathy for others. To see that life isn't fair, but it might be worse for others than it is for you. Once you have empathy, you are empowered to take action and become engaged in making change.
We live in a world where we are quick to point fingers and lay blame. I think, in part, because we long for fast answers. The internet offers the promise of immediacy. The news of the attacks in Paris reached my cell phone instantly. Articles were posted within 20 minutes of me learning about the attacks. Friends shared images, articles. Quick to follow the feeling of shock and need for comfort, was the finger pointing. This group was using the attacks to blame this other group for problems completely unrelated to the attacks. Blame was shared for not knowing about all the other violence, or perhaps for not acknowledging the other violence, in our world. What about refugees? What about Beirut? What about Kenya? Why aren't you saying everything there is to say instead of just one thing? My social media venues became a place of separation, not coming together.
In all of this, I was reminded of something I overheard at a book reading I attended a few weeks ago. The author was promoting democratic discussions in classrooms.
Obviously, this is something I support. An audience member spoke up, "Talking is great, but when do we offer the time to think?" (Side note, I found out later she was the one and only Sarah Lawrence-Lightfoot and man, do I want to sit and have a cup of tea with her to discuss the world.)
I often console angry, frustrated children by reminding them that they cannot control the actions of others. They can control their own actions and reactions. To do this, I ask them to stop and think. Think for a long time. When we take time to think, we provide ourselves with a space to start to feel empathy. I assure you, I have no answers for the violence that dominoed through our world this weekend. But before you share, comment, "like", or react, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to think first.
This weekend I was supposed to attend a Ted Talk session, including Linda Sue Park as one speaker, here in Boston. We are currently reading Linda Sue Park's A Long Walk to Water in class. The book tells the story of one of the thousands of "Lost Boys" of Sudan, who fled the second civil war in Sudan in 1985. Her talk was about the power of children's books to change lives.
At the last minute, I decided not to go. I knew I could watch a live streaming of her talk later and I just did that. In her talk, which you can view here (she starts at 4:01) she describes how children's books offer a place and space to feel empathy for others. To see that life isn't fair, but it might be worse for others than it is for you. Once you have empathy, you are empowered to take action and become engaged in making change.
We live in a world where we are quick to point fingers and lay blame. I think, in part, because we long for fast answers. The internet offers the promise of immediacy. The news of the attacks in Paris reached my cell phone instantly. Articles were posted within 20 minutes of me learning about the attacks. Friends shared images, articles. Quick to follow the feeling of shock and need for comfort, was the finger pointing. This group was using the attacks to blame this other group for problems completely unrelated to the attacks. Blame was shared for not knowing about all the other violence, or perhaps for not acknowledging the other violence, in our world. What about refugees? What about Beirut? What about Kenya? Why aren't you saying everything there is to say instead of just one thing? My social media venues became a place of separation, not coming together.
In all of this, I was reminded of something I overheard at a book reading I attended a few weeks ago. The author was promoting democratic discussions in classrooms.
From Several Short Sentences About Writing. Perhaps advice not just in revising our writing, but also revising our lives. |
I often console angry, frustrated children by reminding them that they cannot control the actions of others. They can control their own actions and reactions. To do this, I ask them to stop and think. Think for a long time. When we take time to think, we provide ourselves with a space to start to feel empathy. I assure you, I have no answers for the violence that dominoed through our world this weekend. But before you share, comment, "like", or react, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to think first.
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