Walk a mile in Omar’s shoes
Homicide, the most egregious moral infraction possible, becomes common place in war. It seems to me that we take such homicides in war all too lightly.
When we see a mother weeping over the death of her child, caused by a suicide bomber, we feel immediate sympathy; often we will come to tears. But we do not easily feel sympathy for the mother who may be weeping over the death of her child—the bomber.
To understand the bomber we must use empathy. We attempt, through imagination and reason, to create an analogy that will allow us to understand why another behaves as s/he does. Empathy is a character trait that can be cultivated by habit and will. Sympathy is somewhat of an automatic emotional response.
The lack of understanding between our foe and our self can transform an argument or misunderstanding into a war of mass homicide. Using a quote from “To Kill A Mockingbird: “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.
Empathy can prevent war and it can help win a war. Empathy can help us understand our political opponent so that we can reason together. Empathy is a rational means for reaching a solution to our problem.
Questions for discussion
Do we always want to prevent war or to understand our political opponent?
Do we want to win a war badly enough to empathize with our foe?
Do we want to use reason when fighting is so much more fun?
Walk a mile in Omar's shoes
Walk a mile in Omar's shoes
I empathize with a person not to give approval or to condone the actions of that person, but to create a means whereby their actions have meaning to me. When their actions become meaningful to me I can thus walk in their shoes and perhaps through such empathy I will be able to act in a way that will improve the situation in which both that person and I am involved.
Empathy is the first step to comprehending and thus to solving situations in which I find my self. Ignorance is generally not bliss; ignorance is not the path to peace, harmony, or freedom.
Empathy is the first step to comprehending and thus to solving situations in which I find my self. Ignorance is generally not bliss; ignorance is not the path to peace, harmony, or freedom.
Walk a mile in Omar's shoes
almostfamous;614803 wrote: Is Omar a RL person? ..just trying to comprehend something
I do not know anyone named Omar.
I do not know anyone named Omar.
Walk a mile in Omar's shoes
Last night whilst in a thrift shop, a young man decided he didn't like me.
Without any provocation he began to stare at me with a look that said "I will tear your throat out with my bare teeth."
Yes, I know. Lovely neighborhood I live in.
I smiled at him and said "How ya doin." and reached into a golf bag for a 5 iron, gauged the club, gently practiced my swing....
While he cursed under his breath then walked around to my right side.
I pivoted my stance so he was again on my left and smiled.
He said, "You've ruined my f'ing civilization." To which I replied, "Oh."
(Quick comeback there, you see.
)
Empathize.
The boy must be mentally disturbed or perhaps on crack or quite possibly think I'm Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez. Sad.
I throw the 5 iron across my shoulder and head to the men's department.
He follows. Same disturbing stare.
I place the 5 iron at the front of the store and leave the shop.
How was peace kept in that situation?
I didn't attack him.
Had he touched me? Why, you know I'd have been going for a hole in one.
Empathy in this situation was useless.
As, sadly but all too often it is in bigger scenarios.
Without any provocation he began to stare at me with a look that said "I will tear your throat out with my bare teeth."
Yes, I know. Lovely neighborhood I live in.
I smiled at him and said "How ya doin." and reached into a golf bag for a 5 iron, gauged the club, gently practiced my swing....
While he cursed under his breath then walked around to my right side.
I pivoted my stance so he was again on my left and smiled.
He said, "You've ruined my f'ing civilization." To which I replied, "Oh."
(Quick comeback there, you see.
)Empathize.
The boy must be mentally disturbed or perhaps on crack or quite possibly think I'm Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez. Sad.
I throw the 5 iron across my shoulder and head to the men's department.
He follows. Same disturbing stare.
I place the 5 iron at the front of the store and leave the shop.
How was peace kept in that situation?
I didn't attack him.
Had he touched me? Why, you know I'd have been going for a hole in one.
Empathy in this situation was useless.
As, sadly but all too often it is in bigger scenarios.
Walk a mile in Omar's shoes
Actually I do feel empathy and sorrow for the those I fought against in my war. Most of them (the enemy) were not there by choice and I was in a way (since I volunteered for military service). When one is actually in combat there is no time for empathy and it is the last thing in one's mind. There can be mercy if circumstances permit, empathy comes later. I think suicide bombers are usually dupes used by others and I do feel empathy for them as well as their victims. War should be a last resort because of it's consequences and it is usally those doing the fighting who are the most reluctant to go to war (trust me on this). Sometimes there is no alternative to war when reason doesn't work and sometimes there is a rush to war. War is not inherently good or evil like most things in life it is neutral until used for some purpose. War is not fun, it is bloody, dirty, violent and traumatizing. Only someone who has not been there could think such a thing.
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.
Walk a mile in Omar's shoes
JacksDad;615597 wrote: Last night whilst in a thrift shop, a young man decided he didn't like me.
Without any provocation he began to stare at me with a look that said "I will tear your throat out with my bare teeth."
Yes, I know. Lovely neighborhood I live in.
I smiled at him and said "How ya doin." and reached into a golf bag for a 5 iron, gauged the club, gently practiced my swing....
While he cursed under his breath then walked around to my right side.
I pivoted my stance so he was again on my left and smiled.
He said, "You've ruined my f'ing civilization." To which I replied, "Oh."
(Quick comeback there, you see.)
Empathize.
The boy must be mentally disturbed or perhaps on crack or quite possibly think I'm Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez. Sad.
I throw the 5 iron across my shoulder and head to the men's department.
He follows. Same disturbing stare.
I place the 5 iron at the front of the store and leave the shop.
How was peace kept in that situation?
I didn't attack him.
Had he touched me? Why, you know I'd have been going for a hole in one.
Empathy in this situation was useless.
As, sadly but all too often it is in bigger scenarios.
While empathy cannot work in an immediate problem and requires much time and effort before the problem, empathy is a character trait for all seasons. It needs to become a habit, just like good posture, if we try it it will slowly have effect.
Without any provocation he began to stare at me with a look that said "I will tear your throat out with my bare teeth."
Yes, I know. Lovely neighborhood I live in.
I smiled at him and said "How ya doin." and reached into a golf bag for a 5 iron, gauged the club, gently practiced my swing....
While he cursed under his breath then walked around to my right side.
I pivoted my stance so he was again on my left and smiled.
He said, "You've ruined my f'ing civilization." To which I replied, "Oh."
(Quick comeback there, you see.
)Empathize.
The boy must be mentally disturbed or perhaps on crack or quite possibly think I'm Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez. Sad.
I throw the 5 iron across my shoulder and head to the men's department.
He follows. Same disturbing stare.
I place the 5 iron at the front of the store and leave the shop.
How was peace kept in that situation?
I didn't attack him.
Had he touched me? Why, you know I'd have been going for a hole in one.
Empathy in this situation was useless.
As, sadly but all too often it is in bigger scenarios.
While empathy cannot work in an immediate problem and requires much time and effort before the problem, empathy is a character trait for all seasons. It needs to become a habit, just like good posture, if we try it it will slowly have effect.
Walk a mile in Omar's shoes
zinkyusa;615634 wrote: Actually I do feel empathy and sorrow for the those I fought against in my war. Most of them (the enemy) were not there by choice and I was in a way (since I volunteered for military service). When one is actually in combat there is no time for empathy and it is the last thing in one's mind. There can be mercy if circumstances permit, empathy comes later. I think suicide bombers are usually dupes used by others and I do feel empathy for them as well as their victims. War should be a last resort because of it's consequences and it is usally those doing the fighting who are the most reluctant to go to war (trust me on this). Sometimes there is no alternative to war when reason doesn't work and sometimes there is a rush to war. War is not inherently good or evil like most things in life it is neutral until used for some purpose. War is not fun, it is bloody, dirty, violent and traumatizing. Only someone who has not been there could think such a thing.
I suspect most young people have been seduced by the society into thinking of war as a glorious enterprise. Society does such things to their young. If a person had to be forty years old to be in the army there would be no war.
I suspect most young people have been seduced by the society into thinking of war as a glorious enterprise. Society does such things to their young. If a person had to be forty years old to be in the army there would be no war.
Walk a mile in Omar's shoes
coberst;615818 wrote: I suspect most young people have been seduced by the society into thinking of war as a glorious enterprise. Society does such things to their young. If a person had to be forty years old to be in the army there would be no war.
Unfortunately that has been true throughout history. How else can a nation entice it's cannon fodder?
Unfortunately that has been true throughout history. How else can a nation entice it's cannon fodder?
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, then used against you.
Walk a mile in Omar's shoes
JacksDad;615597 wrote: Last night whilst in a thrift shop, a young man decided he didn't like me.
Without any provocation he began to stare at me with a look that said "I will tear your throat out with my bare teeth."
Yes, I know. Lovely neighborhood I live in.
I smiled at him and said "How ya doin." and reached into a golf bag for a 5 iron, gauged the club, gently practiced my swing....
While he cursed under his breath then walked around to my right side.
I pivoted my stance so he was again on my left and smiled.
He said, "You've ruined my f'ing civilization." To which I replied, "Oh."
(Quick comeback there, you see.)
Empathize.
The boy must be mentally disturbed or perhaps on crack or quite possibly think I'm Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez. Sad.
I throw the 5 iron across my shoulder and head to the men's department.
He follows. Same disturbing stare.
I place the 5 iron at the front of the store and leave the shop.
How was peace kept in that situation?
I didn't attack him.
Had he touched me? Why, you know I'd have been going for a hole in one.
Empathy in this situation was useless.
As, sadly but all too often it is in bigger scenarios.
How was peace kept in that situation?
You had enough empathy to realise where the guy was coming from and enough self confidence to not feel intimidated and handled the situation well. Had you been aggressive in return there would have been a fight.
Empathy in this situation was useless.
I would suggest it was your empathy that prevented things getting worse and you handled it well. If the only option yo give yourself is violence that is what you get.
How often have you seen aggressive situations in a bar or elsewhere being defused by one or the other parties involved having the empathy to say something to defuse the situation and give both a way out of a confrontation. I've had plenty of people try and provoke a fight but it is my decision whether I give them what they want. It's not cowardice I just prefer not to fight-doesn't mean I can't if I have to. I'm sure every bloke on this forum has been in a situation where a fight could happen but didn't because they had enough empathy to understand where the protagonist was coming from and act accordingly.
Doesn't help with total nutters though I will concede.
posted by far rider
And what if after you reason, and determine you have some empathy he still insists on cutting your head off?
Will you empathize him your head?
No fight, but make sure you fight the right person and in such a way you don't bring all the bystanders that really don't want to get involved but will if they get injured as a consequence of what you do.
Without any provocation he began to stare at me with a look that said "I will tear your throat out with my bare teeth."
Yes, I know. Lovely neighborhood I live in.
I smiled at him and said "How ya doin." and reached into a golf bag for a 5 iron, gauged the club, gently practiced my swing....
While he cursed under his breath then walked around to my right side.
I pivoted my stance so he was again on my left and smiled.
He said, "You've ruined my f'ing civilization." To which I replied, "Oh."
(Quick comeback there, you see.
)Empathize.
The boy must be mentally disturbed or perhaps on crack or quite possibly think I'm Admiral Casto Méndez Núñez. Sad.
I throw the 5 iron across my shoulder and head to the men's department.
He follows. Same disturbing stare.
I place the 5 iron at the front of the store and leave the shop.
How was peace kept in that situation?
I didn't attack him.
Had he touched me? Why, you know I'd have been going for a hole in one.
Empathy in this situation was useless.
As, sadly but all too often it is in bigger scenarios.
How was peace kept in that situation?
You had enough empathy to realise where the guy was coming from and enough self confidence to not feel intimidated and handled the situation well. Had you been aggressive in return there would have been a fight.
Empathy in this situation was useless.
I would suggest it was your empathy that prevented things getting worse and you handled it well. If the only option yo give yourself is violence that is what you get.
How often have you seen aggressive situations in a bar or elsewhere being defused by one or the other parties involved having the empathy to say something to defuse the situation and give both a way out of a confrontation. I've had plenty of people try and provoke a fight but it is my decision whether I give them what they want. It's not cowardice I just prefer not to fight-doesn't mean I can't if I have to. I'm sure every bloke on this forum has been in a situation where a fight could happen but didn't because they had enough empathy to understand where the protagonist was coming from and act accordingly.
Doesn't help with total nutters though I will concede.
posted by far rider
And what if after you reason, and determine you have some empathy he still insists on cutting your head off?
Will you empathize him your head?
No fight, but make sure you fight the right person and in such a way you don't bring all the bystanders that really don't want to get involved but will if they get injured as a consequence of what you do.