Sunday, March 17, 2013

Limits of sympathy

Andy Borowitz:

The decision of Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) to support same-sex marriage after learning that his son was gay has inspired hundreds of other Republican lawmakers to stop speaking to their children immediately, G.O.P. leaders confirmed today.
(For the humor-impaired, yes, this is satire. You never heard of Borowitz, huh?)

I want to ask something more serious. Why is it that Republicans are so incapable of sympathizing with people who are different or in need, right up to the point at which someone in their family has a need?

It seems to me that they have a fundamentally tribal and defective moral sense that can't recognize others as deserving their human sympathy.

Update (3/25):  But girls should still submit to barefootedtude and pregnancy...

6 comments:

Zero said...

Likewise why is it that liberal are so quick to judge and assume a certain group has a certain opinion or ideal? No one can answer your question on Republicans because it is just a compression of biased opinion. No matter what anyone says...unless it is against the right...you will dismiss it. You'll find this to be a common thinking trait in liberal circles.

lovable liberal said...

Quick to judge?

How long should we liberals wait before we notice that Republicans have sudden conversions to gay rights at the exact moment they discover that someone they care about is gay?

When can we reach a conclusion that conservatives feel no empathy for Hispanic citizens, for their striving and their hard work, just because they happen to be from the same countries as illegals? For that matter, how often do we have to listen to people who call themselves patriots advocate letting border-crossers die in the desert?

When can we call Republicans empty of human kindness when their constant refrain on the economy is the privileging of established wealth over everyone else, when they exaggerate their role in a healthy economy because they like the face in the mirror better than all the rest of us, when they frankly don't give a damn about anything but themselves?

I find a common thread of Republicanism and American conservatism is the undervaluing of others, and I think it's a severe moral defect.

Anonymous said...

I like how you make Portman a Republican when it fits your Republican bashing agenda. Portman is as much a Republican as Bloomberg is. There are MANY like Portman in the new GOP. Lindsey Grahamnesty, John McCainmutiny, Susan Colitis, Olympia Snowjob and Scott Brownstain are some notables that compare with Portman as frauds within the GOP.

lovable liberal said...

No true Scotsman...

I especially like this: No true Scotsman is ... an ad hoc attempt to retain an unreasoned assertion.

I didn't make Portman a Republican. He's a fricking Republican U.S. Senator.

Anonymous said...

He's a RINO shit-for-brains.

lovable liberal said...

'Fess up. You're one of the nutcase teabaggers who's boycotting Fox "News" because it's too liberal. You can say it, we know.