Maybe a Silver Lining?

[TBA]

I had a conversation with my sister about her daughter. Beautiful child, adopted into a loving home, well provided for and basically a good kid but she seems to lack empathy. She has never known hardship and has little patience for, or understanding of, those less fortunate. I shared with my sister that one day she will experience something bad (as we all do) and through the experience she may learn compassion for others.

And then it dawned on me. As I read the recent posts concerning the Republican debates I am alarmed by the lack of compassion the right-wing types seem to have for their fellow man. Maybe the only “cure” for our great country will be in our becoming a more understanding, empathic society. And maybe the only way to learn empathy is through hardship.

If Republican policies gain more of a foothold (and I think the Presidency is a real possibility), we can expect more joblessness, more without healthcare etc.. We can pretty much anticipate a dismantling of the social safety net on many levels and more of our citizens if all political stripes will suffer.

I don't want to live through more national pain and hardship (had enough personal stuff thank you) but if it comes, and frankly it seems more inevitable every day, it might be the impetus for our rebirth. Like my niece who will never learn empathy without it, maybe we need a national kick in the ass (and the Republicans seem eager to provide it).

I'm too old the think I'll live to see the other side of this mess. But I hope for my children and grandchildren that if we have to descend into depression and darkness that on the other side will be a more evolved, more conscious America. I just don't see it happening any other way.

[gateley]

1. I've long thought we will ultimately need to fail before we

can begin to really get things right again. That's why I voted for Perot -- I was willing (like it was up to me :eyes:) to have the rug pulled out from under us and start almost at the beginning.

But, the older I've gotten, I know that even if that were to happen, eventually we'd end up in this mess again. It seems to be cyclical and I'm just sad that I'm witnessing it happening now. :(

[elleng]

2. While you may be correct about the origins of this awful stuff,

I'm not optimistic enough to think that 'simple' misery would cause significant change. I think the awful ones have to be shamed into shutting up, perhaps by their 'elders.' There are, in fact, 'good' republicans, and I think they have to step up. I haven't followed ron paul's reaction to the audience reaction yesterday, but if I find he hasn't 'admonished' them, I think I'll write to him. Not a constituent, but one of those things I think we all should do. WE the People CANNOT allow our society to go down the drain, empathy and policy-wise, without speaking up.

Thanks for your thoughts.