Is Compassion the New Change?

[OneGrassRoot]

It seems "compassion" may be the campaign buzzword for 2012, according to Chris Cillizza.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/fast-fix-compassion-as-the-2012-buzz-word-video/2011/04/18/AFGmcizD_blog.html

I confess that I haven't been listening much to President Obama, nor any others lately. I'm busy trying to create a space where we can come together to change things ourselves, in a variety of ways, based on the principles of Compassion, Cooperation, Integrity and Respect.

I can't do this on my own. I need your help.

We have to embrace the traditional progressive ideals -- and believe that we can do it. Not because President Obama or another leader encourages us to and it makes us feel good in the moment, but because WE KNOW WE MUST, AND THAT IT'S WITHIN OUR POWER TO DO SO.

Please don't let politics once again poison words. The right-wing has poisoned such words as compassion and empathy for decades, demeaning our humanity. Please don't let a dissatisfaction with Democratic politics turn us away from the words "hope", "compassion" and others.

LET'S OWN THEM.

If you agree, I ask you to join us at Wishadoo!, where we're putting Compassion, Empathy, Integrity and Cooperation INTO ACTION.

[phleshdef]

1. With all the Ayn Rand bullshit this current conservative movement is pushing, I'm really glad...

...this President is talking about compassion. And I don't care if its just a campaign gimmick or its something he really means or if its a little bit of both. Its a concept that is the direct antithesis of the mindset being feverishly pushed by the right at this moment.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Exactly. Thank you! :) n/t

[BanzaiBonnie]

3. It's a wonderful website OGR

Look what One Grass Root can do. Let's each be a grass root. Together, we don't have to wait for anyone to SAVE us.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. *like*

;)

:loveya:

[OneGrassRoot]

5. Check this out:

Note the nod to Wishadoo! I love being there with the Dalai Lama!

:loveya:

Culture of Empathy Newspaper


edit link

[BanzaiBonnie]

6. Let's put Compassion back into fashion

giving this a bump and inviting you to come on over. Yes you.

[Mnemosyne]

7. 5th rec! Here's to compassion becoming the new norm. N/t

[BrendaBrick]

8. "Be The Change You Wish To See In The World" - Mahatma Gandhi

Refreshing post!!!! K&R

[kimmerspixelated]

9. Exactly Right!

Create change! Be the change!

[Kind of Blue]

10. Oh, Please Let It Be So!

We need to drive this home over and over again.

KnR!

[japple]

11. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.
There will be an answer, let it be.
Let it be, let it be,
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

[BOG PERSON]

12. compassion is an emotion like wrath or pity

how can you develop a political practice out of an emotion? it's just kind of a creepy thing to do.

[Celebration]

13. If you are talking about Obama

He is not just the political leader of our country, but the actual elected head of the country. It is very appropriate for him to encourage compassion among our citizens. It isn't a political practice at all. The fact that Democrats seem to have more compassion than Republicans, as a general rule, is just something we have noticed. ;) But compassion needs to be encouraged among all people, not just Democrats.

[OneGrassRoot]

14. Compassion, Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Cooperation....

How can we NOT focus on incorporating these traits into every aspect of our lives, including politics?

Granted, I'm skeptical that many in the public eye truly mean it; the actions are what matter and their actions don't indicate a lot of integrity, compassion, etc., etc.

But to veer so far from them being the goal, the ideal, is what is creepy, in my humble opinion.

:hi:

[Kind of Blue]

16. Interesting. Seems to me that many

political practices developed from the idea of compassion and so much written about it. One that comes to mind is "Compassion: The Culture and Politics of an Emotion.
Write up: "Compassion is not a simple sentiment, especially in the modern world. Today the term invokes ideas of individual and collective obligation to respond actively to suffering; compassion becomes a complex response involving the state, the military, economic factors, and of course ethical and moral issues. InCompassion, ten scholars draw on literature, psychoanalysis, and social history to provide an archive of cases and genealogies of compassion. Together these essays demonstrate how 'being compassionate' is shaped by historical specificity and social training, and how the idea of compassion takes place in scenes that are anxious, volatile, surprising, and even contradictory."

The very things Democrats fight for are born out of compassion from slavery, to child labor laws, women's rights, et cetera. The very thing historically that Republicans pushed against and lost. Their politics is governed by a lack of compassion.

[OneGrassRoot]

20. Oopsie....

I previously posted in wrong place.

Well said, KoB.

:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

15. CAMPAIGN FOR COMPASSION

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/wishadoo-campaign-for-compassion/

:hi:

:patriot:

[OneGrassRoot]

19. Well said, Kind of Blue

"Their politics is governed by a lack of compassion."

Sad, but true.

:thumbsup:

:hi:

[Kind of Blue]

17. Kicking. n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

18. so very true-

K&R

'No Man is an Island'
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John Donne

[BrendaBrick]

21. WOW! Goosebumps...

...for both the poem and your signature note too!
Beautiful!

[OneGrassRoot]

24. I second this. :) n/t

[BrendaBrick]

22. Victory! U S Institute of Peace Funded!

cross-referencing another post dated 4-15-2011:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x898982

FYI.

[OneGrassRoot]

23. Thank you!!! :) n/t

[BrendaBrick]

25. The choice between fear and love as per comedian Bill Hicks (1961-1994):

(From the ASAH Forum):

"The world is like a ride in an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. The ride goes up and down, around and around, it has thrills and chills, and it's very brightly colored, and it's very loud, and it's fun for a while. "Many people have been on the ride a long time, and they begin to wonder, "Hey, is this real, or is this just a ride?" And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and say, "Hey, don't worry; don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride." And we … kill those people. "Shut him up! I've got a lot invested in this ride, shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry, look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real." It's just a ride. But we always kill the good guys who try and tell us that, you ever notice that? And let the demons run amok … But it doesn't matter, because it's just a ride. And we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings of money. Just a simple choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love instead see all of us as one. Here's what we can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. Take all that money we spend on weapons and defenses each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would pay for many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace."

(He said that, by the way, in the early/mid-90's)

The choice between fear and love. Yep!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1RQmnSJoRg

It's just a ride......

[OneGrassRoot]

26. My previous sig graphic:

Thanks for sharing!


:hi:

:thumbsup:

:hug:

[BrendaBrick]

27. Yep-per!

Here's something I thought of awhile back.....while really "on the edge":

LOVES
SOLVE

Went to the Postmaster General some time ago to try and maybe have this become a part of their "Love" series stamps to help spread the word....no reply :-(