ThePlayDrive
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2011
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What is the harm in being compassionate? This is a question that I've had in the back (and sometimes front) of my mind since I heard a gay woman tell the story of how, rather than being angry with her parents for reacting negatively to her sexuality, she approached them with understanding and compassion. From what I remember, she said that she knew it was hard for them to deal with having their entire worldview and dreams for her challenged and essentially destroyed in one minute, so she took their condemnation and responded with love and patience.
Even though I can understand the logic behind that response, I still find the woman's actions remarkable because I understand the logic behind mercilessness as well and mercilessness is much easier to delve into than compassion. Ultimately, I'm wondering what the harm is in being compassionate to those who have completely different views than us, even views that are harmful? I suspect that we can solve the problems that those harmful beliefs cause while being kind to those that have them, but most of us don't choose that route. We choose to demonize and humiliate and rebuke. Why? And should we change?
Even though I can understand the logic behind that response, I still find the woman's actions remarkable because I understand the logic behind mercilessness as well and mercilessness is much easier to delve into than compassion. Ultimately, I'm wondering what the harm is in being compassionate to those who have completely different views than us, even views that are harmful? I suspect that we can solve the problems that those harmful beliefs cause while being kind to those that have them, but most of us don't choose that route. We choose to demonize and humiliate and rebuke. Why? And should we change?