Ruminating On Compassion

A poem questioning what moves us to compassion… and what moves us to refuse it.

It often seems these days that compassion has become a purely tribal thing. If you don’t look or think like the tribe, you are somehow substandard… less than human and undeserving of basic human compassion. This poem questions what motivates compassion in us and, I hope, challenges us to expand our sense of our own tribe to include all of humanity. We are, when all is said and done, only one world for one human race.

What is compassion?
What is this illusive ideal?
Is it only for the deserving?
If it’s limited is it even real?

Why do humans feel compassion, and for whom?
Is compassion reserved only for our own tribe?

What determines withholding compassion?
Who decides only the deserving may be served?
Deciding, who condescends to choose?
Who chooses for whom compassion is deserved?

Will I be chosen?
Will you?

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

An amazing topic that will take volumes but one that is essential to all of us and the world we live in and share. Compassion is a form of love in the universality of freedom and justice,wanting to benefit others and put their welfare, well being and interest before ours to make the world a better place. I believe the founding fathers in the document of the constitution had a lot of compassion and selfless sacrifices to encompass all different groups. An excellent poem...:)....................

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you, Sami. And, I completely agree with all your points. Well said.

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome. ....:::))))

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

You ask some very profound and comlicatedquestions here.

[MomzillaNC]

Are you closer to answers? I'm not. I'm plagued by the illogic of man's inhumanity to man.

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

The world needs more compassion for sure. In reality we should feel compassion for everyone for we are all going through things in our lives.

[MomzillaNC]

Thank you. You completely get the point of the poem: It’s not real compassion if we don’t “feel compassion for everyone for we are all going through things in our lives.”

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

You are welcome and you are so right.

[MomzillaNC]

😊 😎

[jacob erin-cilberto]

exactly....who the hell got the nod to determine who deserves compassion and who does not...
these days the rich determine that only their kind get compassion....and the poverty stricken get swept under the rug.

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks. It pains me to see the way our elected leaders flagrantly enrich the rich and wage a never ending war against the poor. Acquisition of wealth by any means possible has become the proof of virtue. If you’re poor, you lack virtue, you’re lazy, you’re anti-American. If you don’t support the theocratic corporatist agenda, you are godless.

The saddest part is, that many of those poorest folks have been seduced into supporting agendas that ultimately work against their own interests. The rich not only have decided that only they deserve compassion and opportunity, they have convinced at least a third of the populace that they are merely temporarily disadvantaged billionaires. Worse, they’ve let themselves be convinced that if they only stop the “not them” they will finally be über-rich.

The illogic of it boggles the mind: That immigrant working the crap job on the crap shift for the crap pay that you’d never condescend to take anyway is still, somehow, taking jobs from you. That burger you couldn’t make at home for $5 isn’t worth an extra few pennies to give that “other” behind the counter a living wage. Those record breaking corporate profits justify their claims they must raise their prices because MORE people are spending MORE money on their services and products. Poor them. That’s where the compassion belongs. They might have to pay a few billion less to the shareholders. Yeah, let’s deregulate and subsidize the corporate bottom line.

[Damien Ridge]

I believe compassion can even go beyond just for all humans, but for our planet, and things living with us on it. That kinda sounds preachy, but myself I show compassion for animals and bugs without even having a religious or spiritual background, it's just pure compassion. You bring up many good questions and I will definitely think on them. Thanks for sharing this, it's a good topic.

[MomzillaNC]

Thanks. It doesn’t sound preachy to me. I believe the same and am trying to teach my son to believe that. I believe compassion is for all or it is meaningless.