[Occupymendocino] Too Many People Can't Break Out of Their Comfort Zones of Routine to Feel Empathy

[Richard Karch]

MARK KARLIN, EDITOR OF BUZZFLASH AT TRUTHOUT
Too Many People Can't Break Out of Their Comfort Zones of Routine to Feel Empathy

For most people with means, adult life is a routine that is built to ensure a life that is lived within a comfort zone. For people without economic means - or individuals and groups struggling with issues of survival or discrimantion and political dominance - it's not a question of living in a comfort zone; it's a question of survival.

For years, BuzzFlash at Truthout has posted commentaries on how many people who live comfortable lives of routine - and have economic means - not only want to reduce or eliminate a social safety net for those who are disabled, can't find jobs, are paid less than survival wages, or in dire need of assistance for a variety of factors not of their choosing. In addition, BuzzFlash has noted, even the presence of homeless people or those in need of food in public spaces visually violates the "comfort zone" of those of economic means. As a result, many municipalities are passing laws that limit the feeding of people in public who have no permanent residences.

To some people, compassion comes as part of their behavioral and genetic makeup. To many others, compassion is a nurtured quality, requiring practice and tools to...


http://truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/too-many-people-can-t-break-out-of-their-comfort-zones-of-routine-and-feel-empathy
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