Comments on: Experience and Empathy

By: Ob

Ob — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:19 +0000

Interesting, I wonder whether McCain could still feel empathy for the prisoners of war on making that decision and chose to make it due to more emotive drive to tend to the public or whether the empathy had left simply due to passing of time not being enveloped in his former experience. Or whether his original decision was made due to a differing understanding of what the public wanted at that time.

Forgive me if I am getting obvious facts about us politics wrong, I'm from the UK.

By: Ravine of Light » Best Posts of 2008

Ravine of Light » Best Posts of 2008 — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:47:22 +0000

[...] Julie Clawson – One Hand Clapping – “Experience and Empathy” [...]

By: Missional Tribe

Missional Tribe — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:03:12 +0000

[...] Julie Clawson – One Hand Clapping – “Experience and Empathy” [...]

By: Minnow

Minnow — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:38:49 +0000

Absolutely and expressed like that I have NO Problems with what you're saying. I didn't really have a problem with your original post until I got to the traded at the alter of greed and selfish ambition part. I understand the disappointment and frustration when a political leader changes positions on issues s/he once championed. People sometimes loose sight of the forest for the trees and make little compromises that snowball into bigger ones. Our voices of support need to be louder when they take courageous though perhaps unpopular stands as do our pleas to stay true. I meant to get back here before now and admit that I was probably being too harsh in my criticism toward you as well. I am usually incredibly impresses with your well thought out points of view and your probing insights si please forgive my sharp edge.

By: Julie Clawson

Julie Clawson — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:23:44 +0000

Sorry – I didn't mean to offend. But honestly I used to really like McCain, but as he has changed his position/story over the past couple of years on issues like this I have begun to like him less and less. Same thing with Obama – it seems like politics is forcing them all to abandon convictions they used to express.

By: minnowspeaks

minnowspeaks — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:32:21 +0000

Wow Julie! Your condemnation of John McCain is almost palatable. I would guess he would not state the reasons for his position the same way you do. Disagree with the man's position but leave the character assasination to lesser minds.

By: Don

Don — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:57:05 +0000

I agree that empathy is vital to truly care about issues that matter and to make changes. And our life experience helps to empathize.

Unfortunately, it isn't enough to have limited experience. It seems that we need to live others' experience on a regular basis to truly empathize. Time seems to allow empathy to fade. John McCain is a perfect example of that. Would he denounce the court's decision if he were a POW 5 years ago instead of 30 years ago?

On the other hand we truly have to live our own lives. It's a hard balance. But if we truly cared about an issue, we would stay close to it in our life experience.

Peace.