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We Need More Empathy!

I don’t like what I am seeing in the world right now. It has always been depressing to read the news but with social media always in my face, I feel even more sad about the state of humanity. Is it that more bad things are happening or am I just reading more about them?

Furthermore, it is not just the depressing headlines across the world that have me down but my encounters with the public in my daily life. Every, single, day, I put my blinker on to show my need to change lanes, only to find the car behind me speed up so I can’t get over.  Everyday I nearly get run over as I walk my dog because people can’t stop at a stop light (really what is the rush?).  Every time I go to the grocery store I nearly get run over in the parking lot because people can’t stop for a pedestrian trying to get into a store. WTH people? Why are you rushing so much?  

Everywhere I turn it seems like people are focused on themselves. It is like the world has turned into one gigantic ME-party. Where in the world did EMPATHY go? That, is what I want to know! What happened to caring about other people? Is it just too hard?

I am reading the news and we have a presidential candidate that wants to register all Muslims in this country, um hello, remember the mustached guy who did that and killed 6 million people? Remember what the US did to the Japanese Americans in World War 2?  The irony is that people agreed they would never let those autrocities happen again but here we are in 2015 and people are discussing lists. History is repeating itself once again!

I'm reading articles with disbelief. Women's Rights that were fought so hard for being taken away?  Why? Fear?  I can not believe the overall lack of empathy I'm seeing in the world! You have people who want to ban Syrians, these poor, poor people who had to flee their war torn country and you don't want to give them a place to stay after all of their suffering?

You’ve got crazy people who just pick up guns and shoot innocent people because our Senators don’t want to offend the NRA or the constitution. Where in the constitution does it say innocent people have to be worried about getting shot when they go to school, work, church or even the movies? Nevermind that after each occurrance we are basically saying their actions are okay because we refuse to change laws.

You have terrorists acting in the name of their god killing, raping and otherwise, using all kinds of horror in the name of their savior. You want to kick people out of this country because you don’t have the balls to make laws about how people enter this country. Never mind that they contribute to our society in a variety of jobs. So they came here illegally...who wouldn't want to come here...it's great! Penalize them and tax them. They are here, deal with it and change the laws going forward. To all of these people who have issues with immigrants I ask that you take a look at where you and your ancestors came from because I am pretty sure you weren’t the first Americans in this country, remember the Native Americans?

There have been countless wars and yet today, in 2015, it is apparent, we have learned absolutely nothing about how to treat one another. A war finishes and we all say we are never going to do that again but as time passes we forget. For once and for all, I ask people to get this fact through their thick skulls…We are all different. Yep, every, single, one of us is different. We practice different religions or no religion. We love different people. We have different backgrounds. We live in different countries. We have different ideologies.   We are different but you know what we all have in common? We are people. You, I, Them, we, all of us are humans. We are people of earth.

I know it is hard but learn to love the differences. We may never all agree or believe in the same thing but it is our duty as people, as citizens of earth to have EMPATHY, COMPASSION, and UNDERSTANDING for one another.

So my Christmas wish (yes, you may not believe in Christmas) as we enter 2016 is that everyone show each other a little bit of EMPATHY. You may not believe in Christmas but understand that I do and respect that (just as I respect what you do and practice). You know what? When you are good, kind, understanding of people, good comes your way. Instead of saying "that is never going to work" try coming up with another solution or another possibility. This is a good country, a country that is made up of many types of people and who for the most part are accepting of one another.  Just because a few aren’t and they are in power running for president, doesn't mean you have to follow.

Just in case you need the reminder, it is not okay to put people in categories because not all people fit in one category. As you head into this holiday season, ask yourself how you can have some empathy. I guarantee you will feel good about yourself when you start putting other people’s needs ahead of your own.

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