From ancient byways to modern highways, glimpses of faith are everywhere...

Saturday, December 6, 2014

'Empathize with thy enemy': Who said that?

Oliver North   (Photo by Holtocw)
If you’re thinking that Jesus said something like it, you’re on the right track.  After all, “Love thy enemy” might certainly include a heavy dose of empathy.

However, this time around it’s Hillary Clinton who’s doing the peace talking.  What’s interesting is that those who likely identify themselves as devout Christians are condemning her words of empathy for enemies.

Here’s what Fox News host Oliver North (who,
according to Wikipedia, regularly attends church
services) had to sayIf you’re going to run for
president of the United States, you cannot talk that way about the people who intend to kill us…  This is capitulation.

Clinton’s words did not seem to imply surrendering to, yielding to, or agreeing with enemies (all of which “capitulation” connotes).  She merely advocated “trying to understand and insofar as psychologically possible, empathize with their perspective and point of view.”

Even folk wisdom states:  Know thy enemy.  Understanding and empathy are both means of better knowing who and what the opposing forces are.
  
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_North

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/12/05/clinton-says-america-should-empathize-with-its-enemies/

Copyright December 6, 2014 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved


No comments:

Post a Comment