Social forces
Nov. 11th, 2020 21:46![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
torquillI'm going to define a couple of terms:
- "Hope" is the belief that it is possible to change life for the better
- "Empathy" is the ability to understand and identify with someone else's situation
Empathy without hope results in pity.
Hope without empathy results in violence.
Pity begets inaction, or action consistent with the status quo (throwing a few coins in a panhandler's hat).
Violence begets action, from physical violence (attacks on others) to social violence (programs to "improve" the situation of vulnerable people which actually disadvantage them further).
We see both across the political spectrum. Right-wingers cluck about how poverty and drug abuse are inevitable; left-wingers wallow in liberal guilt. Left-wingers come up with all sorts of genius social programs without consulting those affected; right-wingers attempt to improve their own lives by attacking the "scum" and "criminals" dragging them down.
The path to real social justice has to include both hope and empathy, regardless of political affiliation. The trick is, how to instill hope for change, and empathy for others.
- "Hope" is the belief that it is possible to change life for the better
- "Empathy" is the ability to understand and identify with someone else's situation
Empathy without hope results in pity.
Hope without empathy results in violence.
Pity begets inaction, or action consistent with the status quo (throwing a few coins in a panhandler's hat).
Violence begets action, from physical violence (attacks on others) to social violence (programs to "improve" the situation of vulnerable people which actually disadvantage them further).
We see both across the political spectrum. Right-wingers cluck about how poverty and drug abuse are inevitable; left-wingers wallow in liberal guilt. Left-wingers come up with all sorts of genius social programs without consulting those affected; right-wingers attempt to improve their own lives by attacking the "scum" and "criminals" dragging them down.
The path to real social justice has to include both hope and empathy, regardless of political affiliation. The trick is, how to instill hope for change, and empathy for others.