So very true - frighteningly so. America is right on the precipice now. Each of us need to take stock - an inventory, both personally and culturally. Are we able to resist the constant beating of fear and hatred of ‘the other’? Are we able to individually summon and share more light and love while standing firm for equity, justice and fairness for all? I find this to be the greatest challenge right now, in the face outrageous and persistent callousness by our so-called leaders of this country.
Your reflection is powerful and urgent. The erosion of empathy, fueled by fear and division, is a deliberate strategy of control—one that history warns us leads to devastating consequences. In a time when cruelty is normalized from the top down, the challenge is clear: resist dehumanization, amplify compassion, and stand unshakably for justice. It requires both personal integrity and collective courage. Light and love are not passive ideals; they are radical acts of defiance against a system that thrives on callousness. The question is not just whether we can resist, but whether we will—because the future depends on it.
Thank you for your comment. I really connect with what you're saying. It is frightening how close we are to losing the values that hold society together; compassion, empathy, and the responsibility to look out for one another. Fear and division are constantly pushed on us, making it easy to feel exhausted or powerless, but we can’t let that happen.
Resisting hatred takes effort. It’s in the way we speak to others, the media we choose to engage with, and how we respond to people who see the world differently. Choosing kindness doesn’t mean ignoring injustice. It means standing up to it without becoming bitter or hateful ourselves.
Our leaders may not always do what is right, but that doesn’t mean we are helpless. Every act of fairness and kindness pushes back against the cruelty around us. The challenge is real, but so is our ability to meet it.
https://essayx.substack.com/p/without-empathy-civilization-crumbles
Her book as an excellent read it’s long, but it’s good. Recommend everyone that can read it. Read it and yes, empathy seems to be at a low
So very true - frighteningly so. America is right on the precipice now. Each of us need to take stock - an inventory, both personally and culturally. Are we able to resist the constant beating of fear and hatred of ‘the other’? Are we able to individually summon and share more light and love while standing firm for equity, justice and fairness for all? I find this to be the greatest challenge right now, in the face outrageous and persistent callousness by our so-called leaders of this country.
Your reflection is powerful and urgent. The erosion of empathy, fueled by fear and division, is a deliberate strategy of control—one that history warns us leads to devastating consequences. In a time when cruelty is normalized from the top down, the challenge is clear: resist dehumanization, amplify compassion, and stand unshakably for justice. It requires both personal integrity and collective courage. Light and love are not passive ideals; they are radical acts of defiance against a system that thrives on callousness. The question is not just whether we can resist, but whether we will—because the future depends on it.
Thank you for your comment. I really connect with what you're saying. It is frightening how close we are to losing the values that hold society together; compassion, empathy, and the responsibility to look out for one another. Fear and division are constantly pushed on us, making it easy to feel exhausted or powerless, but we can’t let that happen.
Resisting hatred takes effort. It’s in the way we speak to others, the media we choose to engage with, and how we respond to people who see the world differently. Choosing kindness doesn’t mean ignoring injustice. It means standing up to it without becoming bitter or hateful ourselves.
Our leaders may not always do what is right, but that doesn’t mean we are helpless. Every act of fairness and kindness pushes back against the cruelty around us. The challenge is real, but so is our ability to meet it.