And # 3 The willing to pay the consequences… this is why I go to bed grateful for those rare people like Gov. Mills. She is one willing to put it all on the line for what is right and just. She will pay a high price career wise. But her core empathy guides her unwavering belief in democracy and the rule of Law.
This is the stuff of story. The Hero’s/ Heroines Journey. I believe history will place Biden in that role. He loved being President He wanted it. But his love of Country, say empathy, was greater.
Conversely, Sharon Salzberg, a teacher of loving kindness meditation, says the heart of true morality is empathy. When I heard Musk's quote, I immediately thought of Salzberg.
Your article made me think of the book, "The Man Who Broke Capitalism," about Jack Welch. According to the book, capitalism before Welch was empathic. The corporation was responsible to the consumers, the workers, and the community -- before they were responsible to the shareholders. Welch turned that on its head and made the shareholders the only priority. According to the book, "We the Corporations," this has been codified into law in the US. Now we see it in our everyday lives as well, a rise in hyper-individualism and a sociopathic lack of empathy. Welch didn't just break capitalism; I think he broke our whole society.
I think about this a lot. It used to be that successful businessmen wanted to give back, valued the common good , and were proud to build hospitals and libraries and museums that benefitted all. The pendulum has swung far from this with DJT leading the applause for greed and selfish individualism.
But we humans are not sociopaths by nature. We are empathic, relational and at core, wanting to care. We will find our way back to our essential humanity I trust. Thanks for your thoughtful comment and the references.
Thank you Mary for being able to formulate so much more eloquently than I can never do feelings and ideas about our current political and social predicaments .
And # 3 The willing to pay the consequences… this is why I go to bed grateful for those rare people like Gov. Mills. She is one willing to put it all on the line for what is right and just. She will pay a high price career wise. But her core empathy guides her unwavering belief in democracy and the rule of Law.
This is the stuff of story. The Hero’s/ Heroines Journey. I believe history will place Biden in that role. He loved being President He wanted it. But his love of Country, say empathy, was greater.
Sacrifice is integral to empathy.
Amen. So well said about Biden. He loved executing the democratic functions assigned to the Presidency. With respect and concern for all.
So too Janet Mills. She respects the rule of law and her obligation to enforce it. That’s her job and I respect that she does it with integrity.
Conversely, Sharon Salzberg, a teacher of loving kindness meditation, says the heart of true morality is empathy. When I heard Musk's quote, I immediately thought of Salzberg.
Your article made me think of the book, "The Man Who Broke Capitalism," about Jack Welch. According to the book, capitalism before Welch was empathic. The corporation was responsible to the consumers, the workers, and the community -- before they were responsible to the shareholders. Welch turned that on its head and made the shareholders the only priority. According to the book, "We the Corporations," this has been codified into law in the US. Now we see it in our everyday lives as well, a rise in hyper-individualism and a sociopathic lack of empathy. Welch didn't just break capitalism; I think he broke our whole society.
I think about this a lot. It used to be that successful businessmen wanted to give back, valued the common good , and were proud to build hospitals and libraries and museums that benefitted all. The pendulum has swung far from this with DJT leading the applause for greed and selfish individualism.
But we humans are not sociopaths by nature. We are empathic, relational and at core, wanting to care. We will find our way back to our essential humanity I trust. Thanks for your thoughtful comment and the references.
Thank you Mary for being able to formulate so much more eloquently than I can never do feelings and ideas about our current political and social predicaments .
You are very kind. I hope it brings courage and comfort to all of us trying to resist the best ways we can.
Excellent article, Mary. Thank you for spelling it all out so clearly and eloquently.
Thank you for reading and commenting. This is my resistance.🙏