TED Community » Aydelette Kelsey

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A reply on Conversation: How can creatives use new technologies to increase empathy across cultural and geographic distances?

Nov 18 2011: I think the notion of crippling levels of empathy is a valid one. Although it isn't a problem for our society it may be a problem for individuals who would change things - thus high suicide rates among veterans, high numbers of people taking anti-depressants. On the other hand the revival of Ayn Rand is a frightening one since she despised the notion of empathy and glorified the self-sufficient few. I heard a woman call into an NPR show saying that she and her family are healthy, live healthy life styles, work to keep healthy. She honestly wanted to float the question: why should I pay for health insurance for people who cannot say the same. I loved that woman for at least admitting she feels the question and for her happy innocence - may it last. Compassion admits that anything can happen to anyone, that tragedy is not a punishment, not a sign of some moral failure, that we are unequipped to judge although we may be equipped to help. Empowering compassion what we want.