The Pain of Others
I used to wonder, sitting in history class, how ordinary people in Germany and in communist countries could turn on their neighbors. It’s so easy to see it now. Working class people have hit the “elites” hard. (By “elites” I mean the educated. Not all elites are rich). Misogynists have hit women hard.
On election night, my rich MAGA neighbors actually set off fire works when Pennsylvania was called. I felt immediate hate in my heart. Wanted to call ICE on them for hiring illegals to take care of their lawn. Couldn’t wait for Hispanic MAGAs to get pulled over by ICE and not be able show papers. Started counting the old people I know who voted MAGA and who survive on SS. couldn’t wait until Rick Scott presents his bill to gut SS. Wishing for Joe Biden to write an executive order reversing his bail out of pensions - but only for Teamster scabs. Dreaming of school teacher MAGAs finding out that the Department of Education defunded their schools.
The list goes on and on. (I’m not a good person).
So, it’s quite easy to see how jealousy can cause one citizen to turn on another. I was fully ready to do it.
I’m going to stop myself from exacting revenge on my neighbors. NOT because I’m a good person, but because social devolution is not rational. Gets us nowhere. Democrats are not the “weak” party because we have empathy. Empathy has a STRONG component which allows humans to feel where the others are at, permit us to gather together, and to make plans for the future. There’s a neurological component allowing us to “feel” others’ pain and anger.
EMPATHY is the strongest evolutionary trait, not the weakest. It’s nice to feel all warm and fuzzy about sweetness and empathy, but the bottom line is that it is our most essential strength-building trait. Unions won because of solidarity. Women’s rights and civil rights were born of empathy. We could see that raising people up would strengthen us all. Empathy has a selfish component - like Ford paying his workers enough to buy his cars.
We have to foster empathy as the choice of winners.
Democrats need to message that.
I think Kamala’s phrasing was good - true leadership is lifting others up. That needs to be tied to an even bigger message that the West (and America) dominated the last century because of successful social programs. People flocked to the West because our of strong societies.
I can’t put it all together, but empathy equals strength.
Not going to become the NAZI neighbor, the Commie snitch. Yes, I will have schadenfreude, but will stop myself from actual retribution.
Finding my way through this mess.