Lack of empathy
Two recent posts, one about cultural appropriation and one about serving the medical needs of the destitute, brought one of the most worrisome things about humanity to the forefront of my mind.
Lack of empathy goes farther than just "not being a nice person". To my mind lack of empathy creates most of our social ills.
Lack of empathy allows us to blame others for their misfortune while seeing our own as "bad luck" . Lack of empathy allows us to justify wars and inhumane social policies as "costs of progress". Lack of empathy is behind most social conservative views and policies. Everyone who doesn't belong to whichever group people without empathy belong to are treated as lesser. Any misfortunes they may struggle under are seen as "their fault" in one way or another. "Sarah" who tipples a bit is ok, she just has a problem while anyone outside the chosen group is a lush who deserves all the bad things that happen to them because they chose to drink.
People are biological organisms. A truism of evolution is that the environment dictates the forms lifeforms take. People are shaped by their environments. Do you blame the panda for only eating bamboo?
Being poor is a lack of money, not an indication of moral fitness. Acting "black" and using black slang are cultural phenomenon not signs of intelligence or lack of it. Being gay or transgender or asexual are not choices, they are quirks of our physiology.I could go on for hours but my point is, cultivate empathy. Understand that others experiences are just as valid as your own, no matter how different they are. Lack of empathy and judging one another are two of the biggest roadblocks to people banding together to solve all the problems that plague us. Stop judging, start listening and know who your real enemies are.