Be empathetic to each other

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The commentary ‘No empathy, no justice’ by Dr Michael Abrahams in The Gleaner of June 13 is highly instructive. What it is saying is that everyone in a society is connected. We all depend on common services, such as education, health, electricity, water, good roads, etc. We all need good teachers, health workers, garbage collectors, civil service workers, security workers and the police, and so on. Without all these services and workers, the nation would come to a halt.

Dr Abraham’s sentiments on empathy suggests that people do not cooperate effectively to keep each other alive through the inducement of money or by coercion. Money is never enough and, as an end in itself, it breeds corruption. Very strict workplaces and the law may gain some compliance, but are inadequate, by themselves, to motivate people to work together. This is positivity.

Persons need to feel that they are positively regarded, valued and appreciated as human beings, regardless of their class, colour, wealth, religion or politics. Their efforts need to be commended. If we all help each other to grow, learn and prosper, our nation would be one of the greatest. Undergirding all of this is the matter of empathy. We each need to care for each other as human beings, even if we disagree. If we ‘pluck out’ one another’s eye in revenge we will all end up blind.

Positivity and empathy mean putting oneself in the other person’s place with compassion, affirming the inherent worth and dignity of each person, and giving the respect due. This is the glue that holds the society together. Thus, it is not only ‘no empathy no justice’, but also ‘no empathy no nation’.

Our brains can be programmed to produce destructive anger or mental despondency. Yet through the empathy, compassion, care and positive role modelling of others, most humans can come to think, reason and love to the extent of being able to control negative emotions and actions.

Within our institutions; among frontline workers; among our leaders of State, Church, commerce and our communities, we have the human ability to find the answers and develop suitable strategies and actions. Can we commit to displaying more empathy? Let each of us begin with our individual connections.

E. ANTHONY ALLEN

Kingston