The Empathy Epidemic

Via Sioux

  

One of the most overused and abused terms is “empathy.” It has reached epidemic levels and is killing us.

As is true of many aspects of modern politics the problem started with Bill Clinton.  In his 1992 campaign statement he emoted, “I feel your pain,” and since then the expectation that leaders must show empathy has metastasized.

Hillary Clinton recently told us we must “empathize” with America’s enemies --“empathize with their perspective and point of view.”  Barack Obama told us he would choose judges based on their “empathy” -- a requirement found nowhere in our laws nor one that merits respect among legal scholars. 

We must empathize, in particular, with the poor and oppressed.

John Kerry said the “root cause of terrorism is poverty” -- as have Bill and Hillary Clinton.  Americans are to consider terrorists victims of poverty.   They have absolved Islam of playing any role in the rise of terrorism around the world.   Instead, we are told the problem is not extremist Islam but rampant Islamophobia in America.

The protests and riots that followed the Trayvon Martin, Ferguson, and Eric Garner controversies have been chalked up to the effects of poverty and racism that Barack Obama informs us is “deeply rooted in our society” (he would be more truthful had he said racism is deeply rooted in his society since Al Sharpton, Eric Holder and Reverend Wright are among his circle of friends).   New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio stokes the rage by telling us how he has had to warn his own black son how dangerous it is to be black around policemen.  We are called upon to empathize with the rioters and understand their rage.

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