More than just walking a mile in the shoes of another, the concept of empathy as developed by Rogers was about being in the moment with another person. Understanding needs, desires and motivations because you can experience them, too. It didn't matter if you disagreed with the person (or even that you shared his or her desires), having that empathic experience let you see life from another perspective.
Understanding the needs of another in such a complete way allowed you to interact more fully, and most honestly, with other human beings.
Empathy was a core component of Person-Centered Psychology, an approach to mental health counseling that Rogers developed. He didn't limit it to therapy, though. He believed the core concepts--including empathy--could be used in a variety of environments, including politics.
He was probably right. His paradigm depends upon one thing, however, that doesn't often occur in politics:
True diplomacy and altruism.
But, greed and the hunger for power that seems inherent in politics--and in life-- get in the way too often.
I was reminded of Rogers while watching The Ant Bully. In the animated flick, Lucas is a timid and small child who gets bullied. A lot, mostly by kids who are bigger, louder and more powerful than he. In order to feel more powerful, Lucas turns to bullying things even smaller: ants.
He torments them daily, flooding their anthill and disrupting their colony.
His actions are legendary within the ant colony, so much so the ants create a name specifically for him: The Destroyer.
Lucas the Destroyer is kidnapped by the ants one evening, and reduced in size. (How that happens is rather silly, but a necessary plot device to allow the film to continue.) He is put on trial for his crimes against the colony, and sentenced to live among the ants so that he may learn more about them. He does, while the ants also learn more about humans. They learn to work as a team to overcome difficulties, and learn to trust each other.
They also learn their respective needs are not mutually exclusive; both ants and humans can live in harmony, if they so choose.
The Ant Bully isn't necessarily innovative in style or animation. The voices used for the characters aren't terribly distinctive--even though mega-stars were used--and didn't serve as a distraction. Nope, there is nothing that distinctive about The Ant Bully to separate it from all the other animated flicks of 2006.
Except the message.
Empathy, understanding and peace.
I hope 2007 is that kinda year for you, and for me.
1 comment:
Well said blog buddy! Happy New Year! Varmint! :)
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