Super Hero
Again, we are faced with more tragedy; empathetic statements are flooding the airwaves while power patiently sits waiting for the empathy noise to grow faint.
On Friday evenings, the NPR NewsHour, hosted by Judy Woodruff, reads five stories about people who have died during the pandemic. None of these people are large public figures, yet their stories are amazing. In little and big ways they touched their families and communities meaningfully. Sam Sanders has a radio show called “It’s Been A Minute.” At the end of his show, he plays recordings of people telling him of the most positive thing that happened to them in the past week. These people are thankful for a broad array of reasons, but it is the depth of their gratitude that grips the heart. I think of myself as an empathetic person and hearing these stories touches me deeply. My frustration is I don’t know what to do with that empathy other than feeling it. One’s ability to be empathetic, to understand, to feel the pain, to understand a differing view is a valuable skill. It is a necessary skill for selling and for building relationships. However, as a skill for change and execution of change, it is bludgeoned by the brute force of political power.
Another shooting, this time in Atlanta, and this time its people of Asian descent that are slaughtered. More telling and disturbing, all but one are women. There is sadness and empathy all around as we try to sort it all out. Sadly, nothing will be done about this in a meaningful way in spite of all the verbal empathy. It is the political power that carries the day. Power does not want anything done. Power looks for a way to maintain power. Power is not looking or suggesting a solution. Consider Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) at the border, he is neither empathetic nor a problem solver he is a power grabber. He articulates just enough falsehoods and innuendo to poison the conversation. The misuse of power keeps us in the shadows. My empathy my understanding of the heartache and pain of individuals is a challenge because it doesn’t lead to a solution. It is just a feeling. I don’t know what to do with my empathy. I vote in a way that appears to be solution-driven; I contribute in a way that expresses empathy but it is no match for power. Power is what keeps us from making real progress. The jobs associated with power are so desirable that holding on to them takes all the power of the individual sitting in the seat.
Power has no real empathy; it voices empathy but not it is not transactional. Power doesn’t care that Asians were shot; power doesn’t care about black lives; power only cares about staying in power. I love a superhero – they are not only empathetic but they have the power to create change. Their feelings and empathy become actionable. A superhero expresses ideals and empathy and then dispatches those that would block the path to an equitable solution. Their simplicity of purpose and belief attracts us and gives us hope —- a willing suspension of disbelief.
There seems to be a glimmer of hope that those holding the most power at the moment may indeed be transactionally empathetic, but it is an uphill battle and the headwinds against change are formidable.