Compassion

How do you define “Compassion”.  I could give you my definition but then this post would become one of  semantics which is not the intention.  I will allow you to have your own definition of “compassion”.

Do you value compassion?  Is compassion a high value in your system of values?  I would hope so.  If you do not value compassion, then you can stop reading here.  I only want to communicate with others who feel that compassion (and empathy) are important values that we each should have.

How do you express compassion?  Or do you believe that compassion is something to be discussed but not include any action?  Again, if you don’t believe in delivering compassion to others, then you can stop reading.  I only want to communicate with others who believe that compassion should include some kind of action.

With that, let’s proceed.  For this exercise in compassion, let’s say that we do not “show” compassion to dead people.  Even when we go to a funeral, we may be showing respect to the dead person, but not compassion.  But those of us who value showing compassion will look for ways to show compassion to those others at the funeral who are currently alive – like the family and friends of the deceased. 

Now let’s apply this to the situation in Gaza.  Let’s be sorry for the over 45,000 Gazans who have been killed/murdered, but let’s realize that that feeling is not the same as showing compassion on them.  Instead, we need to show compassion on those who are still living in Gaza.

Now we are not talking about 45,000 people, we are talking about millions.  How many people have lost a spouse in Gaza?  How many parents have lost one or more children in Gaza?  How many people are unemployed in Gaza?  (It seems to me that the unemployment number in Gaza is close to 100%.)  How many parents are unable to support their families and children?  How do these people feel knowing that they are helpless in terms of helping their own families.  How many people in Gaza are living in fear every day of their lives?  How many people in Gaza have no hope of things getting better soon? 

Millions.  Millions of people are suffering in Gaza.  And they are suffering on a daily basis.  And yet, we only hear of the 45,000 that are dead.  We can’t do anything for the dead.  But we can do something for the millions of people in Gaza who are suffering every day. 

The first thing we can do for the millions of people who are suffering is to admit that this is wrong and this does not need to be the only situation of life or death.  But when I hear even the progressives here in the States say anything (which is far too seldom) they say that it issue shouldn’t even be discussed.  If it can’t be discussed, then it cannot be admitted that this is terribly wrong.  If we refuse to admit that this is terribly wrong, we are no better than the Germans in the 1930’s who said that the issue of Nazism shouldn’t be discussed.  I’ve been told that the issue is too complex, it’s been an issue of millennia and so it can’t be otherwise.  (Which is false because there wasn’t this issue before 1948.)  I’m told that we might offend some innocent people if we discuss it.  Correct discussion does not lead to offense.  The offense comes in attributing shame, or blame, or guilt onto labels that don’t deserve it. 

The labels of Hamas, or Jew, or Gaza, or Israel should not be used.  The guilty are those people who believe that the destruction of innocent men, women, and children is the appropriate action or reaction to take.  If you want to use a label, then use the label “Zionists” as your label that pretty much fits that category.  But not all Jews or people in Israel are Zionists just as all Muslims in Gaza are terrorists.  But you never hear Zionists argue their case because they would rather hid behind a Label that is meaningless. 

I have found that those who are in favor of war (both Iraq and Gaza are good examples here) are motivated by fear.  And those who are anti-war are motivated by compassion.  If I had a choice, and I thank all the gods that I do have a choice, I would rather be known as one who is motivated by compassion than by fear.

And that is true regardless of your definition of compassion.

David Kimball