Empathy

            I think of myself an activist –mainly a food activist, demanding transparency in our food system. I also am a strong advocate of gay rights, marriage equality and pro-choice. It’s hard for me to pull myself away from self-righteousness or anger when my passion and beliefs are so strong. I’ve sat with the question of how to be a non-violent activist, a peaceful fighter. It has become a norm that demanding justice means identifying the one bad guy to blame and punish. Even the global legal system agrees with that. (Something bad happens, the one to blame is accused, that person is judged sent for punishment and somehow that is justice.) Look at the Ferguson shooting for example. Stunning amounts of people are protesting and marching under the name of justice, but in my mind, under the rally to strengthen the blame on one person. What gives us so much comfort to know who’s fault it all is?

            My NVC teacher has taught at a preschool when the event of 9-11 occurred. Students had gathered to mourn and honor the lives that were lost when one pre-schooler said, “Boy, I hope someone is giving empathy to the person who was in the plain.” This story resonates with me powerfully.

            I like the article “How not to understand ISIS” tries to understand without the desperate urge to blame . Some quotes that resonate with me are: “none of these terms is particularly accurate, especially given the diverse range of Salafi views and the different ways in which people adhere to them.” And, “The problem with these statements is that they seem to assume that ISIS is a causa sui phenomenon that has suddenly materialized out of the thin ether of an evil doctrine. But ISIS emerged from the fires of war, occupation, killing, torture, and disenfranchisement. It did not need to sell its doctrine to win recruits. It needed above all to prove itself effective against its foes.”