On Compassion

There is an ugly trend that has arisen in this country recently. I don’t know exactly when it started, but it appears to be getting worse. The first time I noticed it actively was when Tony Snow announced he had cancer. The blogosphere was full of people who basically said “Good. Serves him right. I hope he dies.” This was repeated when he died recently. There was also some of the same behavior when Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with cancer.

Who are these people who take pleasure in the pain and suffering of others? When did we become a nation that lacks basic compassion for other people, regardless of their politics? What happened to “I may disagree with what you believe, but I will fight to the death for your right to believe it”? (Voltaire)

All religions have teachings about compassion. All religions have some version of the Golden Rule. And if you don’t have a religion, guess what? You’re still no better than anyone else. I love the story about the Buddha telling the grieving woman to bring him a mustard seed from a home that had never known suffering. Of course she couldn’t do it. We all suffer in this world. I tend to be a pretty faithful Catholic, but I have to admit to a belief in karma. It may not be “kosher” for Catholics to believe in karma. Too bad. However you want to describe it, if you spend your life wishing ill on others, or rejoicing in their suffering (and the suffering of their families), you will get payback for that. Call it karma, call it juju, call it the universe getting even. You will pay for it. Instead of this kind of hurtful behavior (which dehumanizes you, ultimately) you should be praying that you never get put through anything this serious. I have watched someone I love die of cancer, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, regardless of his/her politics, religion, nationality, etc.

I guess what it comes down to is: WWALS? (What Would Abraham Lincoln Say?)

“With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.”