General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA conversation and a question.
So my son has a friend that identifies as Republican and in our discussion something came up that seems to be a bit of a theme in my conversations with other Republicans.
I brought up the subject of compassion and how I believe we, both as individuals and through our elected leaders, should strive to help all people, even if we know resources are limited and we may not be able to do all we want. His response was similar to other Republicans I've talked to in that he said he really didn't care (his words) about people not in his orbit. He would help those he knew, and might even help someone who he didn't know but asked directly for help. But anyone else - nope, not his problem.
(There was also a brief side conversation about religious views about compassion which I had to abandon because I really started to get pissed off.)
Again, it's a theme I've noticed and can even recount a similar historical event. Teddy Roosevelt was all gung-ho during WWI and, political necessities aside, didn't seem to realize the personal toll it took on families who lost loved ones. He was all about how war forges great men, etc, etc. Until, that is, he lost his own son, Quentin. Then grief took over and his health declined rapidly and he was sure to have what would be today called depression.
I know I've read about similar things, where Republicans don't care about anything until it happens to them. It's like they have no imagination or empathy unless they have a direct experience.
And in the words of one person I loathe, that's SAD.
If there are any mental health professionals reading this, is there ANYTHING that could be said to alter this view during a conversation? The current crisis (and yes, I believe it is a crisis), is a symptom and the underlying pathology stems from a very large segment of the population, enabling the elected. (I should state here that I also believe there is a bigger, mostly unspoken fight between the ultra rich and everyone else, and it MAY be that fueling the left/right divide is a way to distract from this. EW knows this.)
Anyway, thanks for reading and letting me rant!
flying_wahini
(6,529 posts)/morality.
I also mention always that Republicans are a LOT more interested in how well their 501k is doing than their own administration. This is because they cant defend tRump on ANYthing else.
The religion for Repugs is Money. Not Christianity.
They have such little regard for our country and our constitution that they WILL and DO look they other way every chance they get.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,280 posts)According to Haidt and some other sociologists, there's a spectrum of beliefs:
Care: cherishing and protecting others; opposite of harm
Fairness or proportionality: rendering justice according to shared rules; opposite of cheating
Loyalty or ingroup: standing with your group, family, nation; opposite of betrayal
Authority or respect: submitting to tradition and legitimate authority; opposite of subversion
Sanctity or purity: abhorrence for disgusting things, foods, actions; opposite of degradation
Their research indicates that liberals tend to stress care and fairness in making political decisions, while conservatives are more concerned with loyalty, authority and purity. Everyone probably thinks all of these concepts are important to some extent, but the distinction between liberals and conservatives is shown in the relative weight given to them.
https://moralfoundations.org/
NRaleighLiberal
(59,940 posts)brain wiring is different between liberals and conservatives.
my view is that it is a nature/nurture blend, with exposure to propaganda (media, church, etc) playing a role.
Arkansas Granny
(31,483 posts)They tout personal responsibility, bootstraps, yada yada, yada, until they suffer some setbacks. Then it's different and they'll take advantage of any help available without a second thought.
ismnotwasm
(41,921 posts)Theyre in-laws actually. Im not sure they actually identify as Republican, for them its mostly about the second amendment, State rights and Trans folks in bathrooms. Im also not sure they actually vote.
She volunteers for the food bank, makes things for cancer patients, he does a Christmas toy run with his Biker club. Hes helped when his local community flooded with lifting sandbags along the river. Helps out at the local museum. Collects antiques. Not religious at all.
If it wasnt for the bigotry and racism one would call them good people.
Theyve changed a tad over the years, as their business puts them in contact with a lot of different people, but at this point their bigotry and lack of compassion for people too different than them is a clear choice. Calling it mental illness takes away this point.
Once youve othered entire groups of people to the point of taking away their humanity, its always sad, and its always a problem.
Backseat Driver
(4,339 posts)It's monkey money business and not personal. It comes from lack of respect and fear of change that would knock them off their pedestals of power.
There's no talking or persuading most of the Party-above-Country faithful; they've been brainwashed by their favorite news media, FAUX SNOOZE, or their church, or their portfolios that continue to spread seeds of self-interest that rational persons of non-fundamentalist faith would quickly see don't match with WWJS, which is why side issues of morality, ethics, and religious conviction won't persuade them to search their hearts and turn against corruption and evil.
Some action, however small and even non-monetary, that shows we have empathy and "good" thinking is to practice kindness and gratitude to those that seek answers, assistance, and support as well as fair discipline when accountability is at stake according to the rule of law, including working to change whatever may be unfair about previous legislation, code and legal precedent.
Also that while we should be encouraged to forgive, it does not mean we should forget those that cannot be persuaded. How and why disrespect and outright hate takes over their minds, I cannot fathom either - hence, SMH Syndrome. Perhaps it's a not so simple case of laziness that allows others to dictate what is right, but from a greatly exaggerated position that everyone's entitled to seek their right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness; all that top 1% have, value, and fear is money and the lack thereof. We all have the roller coaster of life with which to contend. They seem to think that hoarding it will result in happiness.
Sorry you cannot reach the friend of your son; peers have powerful influence. Continue as a loving mom to warn him to guard his spirit and his values; don't preach, guide - modeling our own empathy, thoughts, and actions are more powerful!