A trusitic fact. Though many of us would call it a cliché but the truth remains that we cannot be hurt by something we don’t have an idea of. The thing that makes me write in support of this proverb is a product of my own house. I daily see my housemaid coming to our house at her usual timings. She does all the work that is expected out of her and seldom does she go on a leave, thinking that her salary would be deducted(though that is strictly not the case). She has often communicated her problems to me, which sometimes seem too harsh to be overlooked. All this makes me feel bad for her and there are times when I wish to have some powers so as to help her rid of all her worries and problems. And this is the moment when it really hurts to see the kind of days these people are made to face. But, the feeling of being hurt is momentary. It doesn’t last for long. The feeling of pain vanishes shortly after she is out of my sight. It is at this moment I realize that perhaps I was not hurt but a wave of emotions came over me leaving me in a state of sympathy. Yeah, this could be the right word. What I went through in that one hour was probably a mixture of pity, empathy, disgust, and wrath. For if I had to be hurt I would have to go through the same kind of condition which she went through. Then only I would be able to understand her pain, her grief.
Similarly moving from a local issue to a more global issue, I can relate myself with the agonies of people residing in the tumultuous areas of Iraq or even the miserable condition to which the women in Afghanistan are subjected at the hands of Talibaanis. But that is it. I cannot feel anything beyond this range. All I can do is make a substantive relation between the two of us. I can watch in television and can go as far as to the extent of criticizing the way things have been (mis)handled by the US govt. under the garb of United Nations.
Does that make me less human(e) or does it take me to the next level of maturity? I think I should leave this on time to answer.
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I couldn't agree more with you. We do tend to believe that we can feel others' pain and confuse it with Empathy. In reality, it is Sympathy, as you rightly said.
ReplyDeleteBut that doesn't make one less humane. May be one has moved to higher level of maturity (again, like you said) and has been able to match things which are happening in the world with what is going inside one's mind.
However, I beg to differ on one point. Even if you empathize with someone, its not necessary that that pain lingers on. This is the basic human tendency, however intense or deep the pain is, our mind tries to get out of it as soon as possible. Even if it's one's individual pain.SO whether one is momentarily hurt, or actually passing through similar conditions, one will try to get through it as soon as possible.