Political liberals are “bleeding hearts” because they empathize so strongly with the sufferings of others. As Bill Clinton so succinctly phrased it, “I feel your pain.” When Republicans wanted to compete in the empathy department, they had to invent a new term called a “compassionate conservative.” I ask why conservatives have, or are perceived as having, too little empathy. Why do liberals have too much? I guess conservatives see the world as a challenging place in which there is always someone else who is ready to steal their lunch. Confronted by a potentially hostile environment, the best course is to take precautions and to ensure well-being of themselves and their families. I can be categorized as a bleeding heart liberal. Those like myself, have a more optimistic view of the world as being somewhat filled with humans and as such ultimately should have a bond in at least that. So I feel that government is a vehicle through which the the people together in a democracy can so...
I write to remember, to question, and to connect. Here you’ll find essays, stories, and fragments of life — all the ways I try to make sense of the world, one sentence at a time.