Why is it so difficult for so many people to have compassion for faceless and nameless suffering? I mean, most people will help someone in front of them, or can feel bad for Captain Sullenberg who has taken a 40% pay cut and has lost his retirement. But they cannot pay attention to all of the good people losing their jobs and who are now teetering on the brink of oblivion.
In this same vein, on a more personal note, my mother’s brother has always been a strong fiscal conservative and republican. He and Mom have argued for years about politics. Six or so years ago, they were arguing about the the Patriot Act. He could not win the arguement with Mom, and in the end could only sputter an “oh you and your Constitution”. To which my mother, speechless in abject astonishment, was only able to muster an “it’s your Constitution too”. Which I am certain, fell on deaf ears.