“Empathy is something unfair until we’re the ones who need it.” I read something along these lines a couple of days ago. I happen to read that when I was halfway through series 2 of Dissect Podcast. The superb deconstruction of Kanye West’s album, “A Dark Twisted Fantasy” by Cole Cuchna renewed my appreciation of empathy. Who would’ve thunk it? I get a lesson on empathy from a great example of music appreciation of a musician / hip hop artist.
It doesn’t take much to searching to see some of the brokenness plaguing humanity. In some ways it seems humanity is at war with itself. Nothing is new under the sun. Fixating on injustice alone will drive the best of us insane. In the darkness, besides outrage at injustice, is an instinctual search for light. All of us want justice and peace. Peace that is more than rest from violence on us and others. But a sense of wholeness.
I can’t imagine living in an Internetless era. I’m privileged to have had the Internet even at ridiculous dial-up speeds. Aaah those early days. Blessed are you if you have no clue what dial-up internet is. I love the Internet and the resource it is and can help provide. I’m also a fan of online publishing. And, like I’ve said in different ways and places, tech is, for the most part, amoral. What we do with it is what makes the difference. Dow we build or tear down.
While driving today, I overtook a man with a little girl for a passenger. I assumed it what his daughter. And then wondered if she was. The reason this is noteworthy? He was texting while driving. The little girl was not buckled and had her head out the rolled down window. I was angry and shocked at the same time. How could he be so irresponsible? In my incredulity I wondered if it would be right for me to call him out on it.
Three years ago I was robbed at gun point. One of the most dramatic stories I have to tell. Shortly before it all “went down” I had a sense something unsavoury was about to happen. Somehow that ‘knowing in my knower’ anchored me. I didn’t freak out when it was all going down. As luck would have it, the police weren’t too far, and some people managed to help apprehend one of the perpetrators. The police carted him off to their shop. His accomplices got away. Fortunately, the perp caught is the one who had my MacBook Pro.