We need to confront this nation's "compassion deficit"

[expatriot]

It obviously begins with Bush but it infects so many Americans... much of this crisis has been compounded by this defict of compassion and the majority of Americans' surplus of compassion is strained to cope with the compassion deficit of others.

How can we go about affecting a change in this area?

[undergroundpanther]

1. First of all

Get rid of the idea thata certain way to be, a certain social status a symbolic one up, means a person is a better person.Get rid of ALL social rank when it concerns preople who are NOT authoritarian,narcissistic or sociopathic..

Get rid of the idea that fatness equals unworthy,of compassion
that poor or homeless equals unworthy,of compassion
that disabled equals unworthy,of compassion
that not "making it"by your own bootstraps equals unworthy,of compassion
that the wrong consenting sexual orientation equals unworthy,of compassion
That the wrong skin tone equals unworthy,of compassion
that being different than the"mainstream equals unworthy,of compassion
that being angry equals unworthy,of compassion
Expressing your feelings equals unworthy,of compassion

being vunerable equals unworthy,of compassion
being in pain equals unworthy,of compassion
needing attention equals unworthy,of compassion
wanting acceptance equals unworthy,of compassion
not being"attractive" equals unworthy,of compassion
Not being the Achiever equals unworthy,of compassion
Not having ambition equals unworthy,of compassion
Not wanting what everyone else says you should want equals unworthy,of compassion....
Not being popular equals unworthy,of compassion
Feeling alone in the world and afraid equals unworthy,of compassion
Not having answers equals unworthy,of compassion
Not being a hero equals unworthy,of compassion


As far as I can tell who is not worthy of compassion are people that refuse to HAVE compassion and do not care about others.

[applegrove]

2. It is not a compassion deficit. It is a adult deficit. Rove & the boys

have taught millions that they had no responsibilities and it was fine to attack others. Adults have compassion and take responsibility for their actions..and adults could not live any other way. Take an adult and turn them into an adolescent and they miss out on the best things in life like community, affection, responsibility, etc. So they end as bitter and angry and vindictive and perpetually in need of a 'fix' by trownsing someone that they turn into predators.

If you are not a responsible and empathetic adults - you have no joy at the little things.

[wli]

3. Soviet-style denazification.

The Soviets, when reforming East Germany, removed Nazis from vantage points of physical, political, and economic power by decree.

When dealing with elements of society whose purpose is to commit crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the like, such as the Republican Party or the Nazi Party, such measures are thoroughly necessary. It's in no small part due to the laxness of the US on Nazi supporters stateside and the importation of Nazi war criminals such as Reinhard Gehlen that the phenomena observed during WWII have recurred.