Re: Wisdom LO957
GAWNE, SEAN (gawnesm@songs.sce.com)
Wed, 26 Apr 95 16:40:32 PST
In LO931, Paul Lindsey replied to LO890 and LO916 as follows:
> I believe the two writers are describing sympathy (I feel what you feel)
> rather than compassion. Compassion starts with a sympathetic reaction to
> another's plight or experience and, seeing the bigger picture, takes a
> supportive action. The action might be to tolerate, foregive or, more
> overtly, to interveen. Without action at some level, we are only voyeurs
> at a train wreck.
This doesn't click with me. Perhaps I am just fixated on words, but I'm
sure I'm not alone. I feel it is really important that we can
communicate clearly and it worries me when it seems that a new or
different meaning is being applied to a work. So I studied a thesaurus
and a couple dictionaries on these words, and while I can see where Paul
could develop his point of view, I don't think that such a clear
distinction between "sympathy" and "compassion" is commonplace.
Nor do I agree that action is a requisite part of compassion. On that
point Paul seems to contradict himself, for IMO "tolerance" is not at
all an overt action, and it does not support anyone. It is most easily
understood as the lack of acts of resistance or opposition.
Which doesn't mean I disagree with the point Paul is making. That quote
from a chinese general about "to know, and not act, is to not know" (I
hope I got it right) seems to apply here. Perhaps there is a better word
than "compassion" for what Paul describes. I'd suggest "charity." Unless
someone has a better choice...
Sean Gawne, gawnesm@songs.sce.com