JK Rowling nails the problem with Teabaggers:

[Are_grits_groceries]

JK Rowling gave the commencement address at Harvard in 2008. In this speech she had two main themes which were failure and imagination. Particularly when talking about imagination, she described what the ability to imagine does and the kind of people it creates. She speaks a great deal about empathy.

As I listened to it, it was as if she was describing what many lack these days especially Teabaggers although this lack is not exclusive to them. The entire speech is well worth hearing. It is amusing, thought provoking, and something that I hope all the students will remember. We all would do well to heed it.

The part on imagination begins about halfway through part 2. When I saw it was 3 parts, I assumed I could skip a lot. When I began listening, I wanted to hear it all. I was glad I heard the entire message.

Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/v/L445BmUEXH4
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/v/9kh_tSiqL1U
Part 3 - http://www.youtube.com/v/LqGotirF20w

[Jade Fox]

1. imagination directly related to empathy?

Interesting....... Makes sense to me.

I can't watch the vids cause I'm at work, but I will later.

[roguevalley]

4. If you cannot think outside of your body, to see another person's

point of view or imagine their circumstances, you can't feel for them.

[Laura902]

2. Wonderful speech, I cried when she spoke about the man whose family was killed n/t

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. I now know how she was able to

describe such horrifying creatures in her books. They really aren't that imaginary unfortunately.

[KonaKane]

5. B-b-b-but Beckkk says that empathy is an invention of the nazis!

You know, all that empathy they had for the people they were herding onto cattle cars bound for a death camp.....