When Did Compassion Go Out of Style?
Abraham Lincoln is arguably one of the greatest Presidents in our history. During the most difficult of times, he acted with strength, even as he might have felt week. His famous words: "With malice towards none, with charity for all." show us how compassion was a central part of his being.
When did we stop being compassionate
to our fellow man? Some might point fingers at our current government
administration. Some would go back further and accuse administrations
from decades ago.
But
compassion is not just something for our government, it is for all of us.
If we feel our government does not act with compassion, then we need to show
and even teach, the importance of compassion.
Let's
start simply. What is compassion? Per Miriam-Webster (my go to
source): sympathetic consciousness of
others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. Or to put it in
ever simpler terms: feeling
of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc.
Compassion does not make us weak; it makes us strong.
Compassion is not excusing someone's bad behavior, but honestly and
caringly teaching how bad behavior hurts not only the victim of behavior but
the person who is behaving badly as well. Compassion is not allowing a
criminal to go unpunished, but to punish within appropriate measures, to
provide help and educate so that reformation is possible.
Being compassionate is not a one-time act. As a
society, as a WORLD, we need to be compassionate to ALL living things. To
treat each other with care; just as we would like to be cared for.
(Hmmm...Where have I heard that before? Let me go all King James on you
here: "And as ye would that men should do to you, do
ye also to them likewise.")
We are NOT responsible for the reprehensible acts of
others. (And it's very important to remember that! No one speaks
for us, but us.) But those who show no compassion CAN learn from our
acts. (It may be the only way they WILL learn.) Maybe they
won't learn. Maybe they won't change. But maybe they will and that
hope alone is enough to act with compassion.
Show compassion to your fellow man. Be compassionate
to those in need. Teach compassion to future generations with your words
and deeds.
Change the world; make the world a better place -- show
compassion. Let's bring it back into style!
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