<underfire> on compassion

[Allan Siegel]

Every religion seems to have its own definition of compassion; what  
is compassion anyway? Is it a sentiment or an action or both; is it  
an intervention? A state of mind maybe?

If we see innocents being maimed or murdered is it enough ‘to feel  
compassion’ for their suffering? Is this sufficient? Or is there  
another course of action more worthy of the idea of compassion? Was  
self-immolation by the Buddhist monk during the Vietnam War an act of  
compassion?

It is such a noble concept. Compassion. Bush talked of a  
‘compassionate conservatism.’ It seems that in the real world,  
political leaders and spiritual leaders – who talk endlessly about  
compassion - whose task it is to give substance to this concept have  
gotten side-tracked. Why is that?

In a moral universe in which compassion is so central a theme there  
seems to be so many violations even dismissals of its relevence.  
Thus, within this amoral environment, contrary to popular rhetoric,  
peace can be merely just another pit-stop on an extension of the  
globalization superhighway. A a momentary layover on the autostrada  
that connects one conflict to another.

Compassion devoid of action is gratuitous. Where do compassion and  
responsibility intersect?

a.s.
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