When empathy collides with anger it becomes a powerful, raging force, and not for the better. It's partial. It separates people into "us vs. them." This type of empathy still makes distinctions willingly seeing anyone not of our favored group as the enemy. We turn away from acts of violence that we would otherwise disapprove of.
This experience of empathy lacks understanding. Where understanding is present it disregards it in favor of our preferred narratives. When we are operating in this way we might find certain acts of violence acceptable, unless it is aimed at us. A mutually beneficial society that promotes human flourishing will not occur.
Empathy is a human emotion, but it's not compassion. Empathy is not a great moral guide if we are still in love with Madame Guillotine. We are allowed to defend ourselves, That is ethically acceptable. We should be operating from a principle of non-aggression first and foremost. This is the solid foundation that compassion can be built upon.
What we need in our lives is compassion rather than mere empathy. Empathy is necessary and we all know stories about people who have little to none. Fortunately, the majority of us do have empathy. We genuinely care about other people. We just care about us more. Eventually, we add others into our regard in increasing circles of awareness, although we have hard limits to how wide we let these circles grow. Human beings are conditional beings. Unconditional love and compassion can only be approximated at best. Although, we can and should stretch ourselves as far as possible toward this goal.
Compassion is a skill. It doesn't come as easily as many might think that it does. It has to be practiced. We have to be willing to see that there is no real separation between ourselves and others. We don't have to be martyrs, and we need to be compassionate for the suffering of others. Including our enemies, perhaps, especially our enemies. The door to reconciliation and mutual regard can only remain wide open when we look out at the other with the eyes of a heart that is overflowing with lovingkindness. When we do true compassion will follow.
