The Complexities of Empathy and Biases
What makes the average person care for one issue and ignore others?
Now imagine this: you're scrolling through your feed as light from your screen paints your face in hues of blue and white. You can hear the tap-tap sound echoing with each scroll like a muffled beat accompanying the silence around you. Your fingers coolly glide over the sleek glass surface while cruelty unfolds at a rapid-fire speed somewhere far away. The stagnant air carries a whiff of burnt metal—technology ablaze—and leaves an acrid taste on your tongue.
We are born into unique situations and struggles; different hardships shape our lives. Only in the most terrible moments can we truly comprehend the horrors of these unfamiliar, faraway places. It's within the confines of our homes that the camera turns on us, and we find ourselves living through unspeakable tragedies. Global tragedies happen daily, lighting a spark within us to empathize and feel what others are going through. Yet, in our world, one that's often distorted by the viciousness stemming from social media culture wars, understanding what empathy truly means becomes somewhat of an enigma.
This is why empathy is crucial. Time does not stand still. History unfolds. Wars erupt. Bombs drop. Homes destroyed. Genocides take place, Holocausts can happen, and entire cultures can be erased.
It's a peculiar phenomenon, isn't it? Despite the physical distance, we can still feel the anguish of those far away. Yet, it's equally perplexing how these same channels of connection can also ignite unexplainable destruction within the hearts of those who hide behind their keyboards, engaging in these virtual battles.
For centuries, the ancient land of Israel has been plagued by an ongoing conflict with its Palestinian neighbors. The roots of this ongoing struggle run so deep that even the most knowledgeable historians can only scratch the surface of its complexities and nuances. From bloody battles to contentious political negotiations, the tumultuous history of this region is marked by countless layers of strife and turmoil. It's a conflict that has become woven into the very fabric of this land, leaving no corner untouched by its impact.
Due to its religious underpinnings, true reconciliation may never be achieved in this ongoing war. Both Jews and Muslims believe they have divine rights to the same land. Both sides have extensive evidence to support their claim to the disputed land and a long list of past wrongdoings committed against them. This legacy of pain and suffering dates back centuries to ancient Egyptian rulers. This core belief has sparked millennia of conflict and turmoil that seems insurmountable.
When this complex issue spills into Western countries, people choose sides and throw around slogans without fully understanding the intricacies of its history, which dates to biblical times. This undermines any chance of true comprehension. The origins of this dispute are shrouded in legend and half-truths, making it challenging to discern fact from fiction.
However, selective empathy has become the accepted norm in a world of division and selfishness, leaving us torn. Do we allow ourselves to feel for all, or do we pick and choose which causes deserve our compassion? The weight of this decision hangs heavy on our shoulders, burdening us with the moral dilemma of who deserves our empathetic hearts. This emotional turmoil, this constant battle within us, is the true cost of selective empathy.
But we must also be aware of the darker side of empathy - when it is used for cruel intentions by quickly taking sides in conflicts and using it to justify violence towards the "other." This kind of "empathetic sadism" is not limited to psychopaths but can be seen in the enjoyment some individuals find in witnessing tragedies, participating in bullying or domination, or engaging in altruistic punishment towards those deemed as enemies.
I’ve always found selective empathy troubling—showing empathy solely to individuals you think are worthy of receiving it. This approach, I believe, goes against the very nature of empathy. When we withhold empathy, we withhold understanding. We dehumanize instead of dignifying. This makes it easier to alienate, ignore, and marginalize. Empathy looks less like a virtue and more like a weapon in this scenario.
This complex issue of selective empathy raises profound questions about the nature of our empathy. Our biases, shaped by deeply ingrained prejudices, dictate who we choose to empathize with and who we demonize as the enemy. This "selective empathy" perpetuates harmful divides and obstructs true understanding and resolution.
For instance, have you ever wondered why we choose which issues stir our emotions while blatantly ignoring others? Is it just that we've come to feel more for Palestinians, all the while turning a blind eye to the multitude of human rights violations in Africa – particularly in places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where sorrow is not just felt; it's woven into the very fabric of everyday life?
If we want to harness the power of empathy, we must confront our biases. We must recognize that withholding empathy means withholding basic human dignity from those needing it most. We can only bridge divides and work toward understanding and compassion for all.
Rather than being consumed by a never-ending cycle of victimhood, Israelis and Palestinians could acknowledge each other's trauma and work toward understanding and reconciliation. Studies have shown that even simple acts of empathy, such as listening and validating someone's experiences, can help build bridges between people.