You hear the word "compassion"attributed to people and groups quite frequently these days. I believe most would agree that they do not mind being considered compassionate. I do not think there is a person out there that does not feel compassion in situations that involve real compassion, like giving a break to a returning veteran who lost a leg, making a meal for a family whose mom is fighting cancer, taking the garbage out for an elderly neighbor, etc. I could be wrong, but I do not think the originator of the word compassion thought about in such terms as it is being used today.
Today, compassion is a political term. I am compassionate, you are not. We are good, they are bad. We care, they do not. I believe that since many people see being in the "compassionate" crowd as a positive, they will head there. What is happening when they get there though, if they are paying attention, is that the groups using the "compassion" theme are using it mostly for what it is not. The problem, and the examples are endless, is that the methods and theories being promoted tend to be the complete opposite of compassion.
You only need to look briefly at what surrounds the "compassion" theme these days. Usually, you will find money. Money certainly can be used for situations that involve real compassion, like the aforementioned. Compassion now, you are being told, is taking from your neighbor's pocketbook and giving to another neighbor for any reason they deem suitable. If you don't, you have lost your "compassion". Basically, the use and abuse of the word compassion has expanded to mean everything it is not. I am not sure this is helping out for when compassion is really needed.
Compassion versus empathy. These days, what should be an empathetic situation has now become a compassionate situation, and the problems it is perpetuating are obvious. Go to a search engine and put in define:empathy. Understanding this word can help you to make the call as to whether something deserves compassion or empathy. You will likely determine that providing for able bodied and capable people, jobless or not, is an empathetic situation and not compassion. A paraplegic that can not find a job, that is a compassionate situation.
At the same time, the group that is using the "compassion" argument sales pitch as an answer for everything has turned the other side into a bunch of haters and mean spirited people. Don't worry. Deep down they do not really mean it. It is sort of a recruiting method for them, like saying people who have accumulated money are all evil and that they must have screwed over a little guy to get it. Nothing could be further from the truth. Actually, everyone I know that are supposedly "mean and uncaring" are some of the happiest, helpful, and generous people you will ever meet. Interestingly, if you look beyond the obvious, the really angry and loud groups are often the ones labeling themselves compassionate! Go figure. The supposed angry and mean people are the ones who have a vision of America filled with productive and self-supportive individuals leading wonderful lives.
It might be worth noting that charitable giving when times are prosperous is enormously larger than in times when we are being told the world is coming to an end. I guess then, if you want to be a truly compassionate person, you should promote activities and economic theories that have actually been proven to lead to greater prosperity for people, like capitalism. I do not think taking more of a person's earnings and effort in life qualifies. As I think about it, isn't four plus months of work each year on average to pay some form of tax enough? If you have not figured it out, it will never be enough for them.
The examples of "compassion" seem fairly clear around the world. Look at what the "compassionate" people in other countries have done for its citizenry. If you were not aware, most countries are characterized by massive governments, excessively high taxes, and perpetually high unemployment. This has ultimately produced a very mediocre standard of living for its people. Isn't compassion supposed to make people's lives better? This is where most people buying into the compassion theory go wrong. They are somehow unaware, or in denial, of what their brand of "compassion" results in.
What is the norm outside of the United States? Tiny houses or apartment style living, overcrowded public transportation, small uncomfortable cars / no cars, no vacations, no savings, no luxuries, no comfortable retirement, no enjoyment, less freedom, no quality products, no incentive, and no real future to be excited about. The "compassionate" services being offered are all of poor quality, characterized by long lines, long waits, outdated methods, and bad service.
If you have not figured it out yet, life on earth is supposed to be a grand experience. Scratching your way through life is not the goal. What does America have that these countries do not? For the moment, incentive. Isn't it interesting that you cannot readily think of a single product that originated and was developed in one the socially "compassionate" countries? Do you know why? Because there is no incentive. The incredible human spirit needs incentive and hope to survive, or the spirit and motivation dies.
There has never been another country in history besides us that has done more good for people in terms of raising the standard of living of its citizens and giving people a wonderful avenue for success and achievement. What are we doing with this gift? It could be strongly argued that we are going backwards, or digressing away from what got us here. We are taking away incentive, and the examples are endless as to what this leads to.
What isn't compassion? It has been argued by many that "compassion" is not giving people the unearned. For every dire elderly person in need that deserves compassion, that is not the norm. There seems to be an entire generation of people who have given up and given in. Effort and desire are not in their vocabulary and they strive to do as little as they can. The entire "compassion" movement feeds off the main weakness, getting something for nothing. There is no free lunch as they will find out later in life.
You can make a strong argument that true compassion is kicking your kid out at 18 so they can develop into a productive member of society. You have heard the wise saying that compassion is teaching someone to fish, not giving them a fish. Compassion is certainly not killing the goose, the people and companies who create new technology, products, businesses, and jobs. These people, thankfully, give others a means to a better life, and they should not be punished for doing so. Compassion is not rewarding bad decisions in life. Compassion is not taking away incentive. Compassion is not telling someone they deserve what others have. Compassion is not using envy and jealously for your group's gain. Compassion is not selling class warfare. Compassion is not pitting man again man.
Compassion is believing in man. Compassion is providing an environment for people to be incentivized, achieve, grow, and be self-reliant. Compassion is believing and encouraging people to be a productive self-supportive individual leading their best life possible.
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