Does Compassion Matter?

I’ve seen discussion of using words such as *compassion* in vegan dialogues. I am not seeking a debate and not intending to dispute anyone’s views on this, we all do what we believe is right. However, I’ve thought about this a bit…isn’t that what we are calling on? Our inherent nature? The average person’s sense of right and wrong? Some inherent *goodness* that we all assume most other people carry? If you simply don’t *care* then you probably don’t give a shit about “justice” either so that seems ineffective.

Trying to reduce oppression, exploitation, suffering, and violence depends upon both the *recognition* of these issues of and the *desire* to ease it, requiring at least some ability for compassion, IMO. If you don’t care to ease the suffering of others you will continue. Period. That is why sickos abuse animals and children in their basements and backyards – they have no sense of right and wrong and/or utterly lack compassion.

Yes, it is true, I could HATE children and not go around punching them in the face because I recognize the wrongness of doing so (an inadequate summary of the rationale for the lack of need for these words but you get my point). However, the true sociopaths among us could very well *punch that baby* without remorse, so I actually do want people to be decent, *compassionate* people. I actually just want them to be the people they say they already are. The people they believe they are.

I’d love to live in a society where we do things because we do hold an actual sense - not only of justice and equality - but that behaving along those lines of “justice” MATTERS even when others aren’t watching, e.g. compassion and love.

You can have a sense something is *wrong* and just not give a shit, which is not the world I seek.

Give a shit.
It IS the right thing to do.
It IS justice.
But it is also a character-defining true expression of love, respect, and compassion for others, including other humans.

Go vegan.