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We start our lives as the whole of the universe. Reality is completely comprised of our perceptions and any “outside” object that is blocked from our senses puffs out of existence. Eventually, we learn object permanence, and we recognized that things outside us actually do exist on their own, but we are still the centre of the universe. Then our universe grows a little bit and we can relate to those closest to us and we start to look out for our tiny group. And here, unfortunately, is were too many of us stop.
Empathy is hard. Damn hard. We may well have an innate ability for it, but it is only through a great deal of instruction, practice, and nurturing that empathy can develop and extend beyond our immediate circles. The ability to understand your fellow humans, to see how we’re connected, to look beyond one’s own limited perspective – these are skills that require much honing. They need to be taught.
Here is a short documentary on an empathy class in Japan. It is amazing. These 4th graders display moments of clarity, responsibility, and understanding that outshine many adults in the world. This is an immensely important project, one that needs to be adopted by schools around the world. Grab some tissues, this one is full of all kinds of strong emotions.
From Sociological Images Micheal Lozano –
[…] Japanese fast-food has found a way to bypass the cultural stigmas that impede their profits. One food chain noticed many women would not buy their biggest-sized burgers. The culprit was ochobo, a Japanese custom that prevents women from opening their mouth widely in public. Small mouths are considered beautiful and opening them widely is considered “ugly” and “rude.” The restaurant concluded that it would get into the business of “freeing women from the spell of ‘ochobo.’”
Face Veil, so liberating! much burger! noms tasty!
Of course, the irony is that the burger chain’s “solution” isn’t actually liberating women. By hiding the deviation behind a paper mask, it is actually reinforcing Ochobo. After all, the social reality remains — it is not acceptable for Japanese women to display an open mouth in public.
I wonder if they have any religious prognosticators in Japan telling the people that abortionists, feminists, homosexuals and secular society was the reason for their natural disaster?
Apparently 9/11 was the result of god’s anger if you listen to certain prominent members of the US religious community.
Yes, with sure faced certainty these two ratbags are commenting solemnly on the will of god and what the ‘rampant secularization’ has caused in the USA. I’m betting such religious mendacity would not see the light of day in Japan, as belief in the supernatural is squarely in the private realm in the island nation. The earthquakes and tsunami in Japan are being dealt with in a rational cogent manner, no supernatural boogy-man involved or necessary.
Not a single mention of the US or the west in this article. Perhaps a testament to Washington’s waning influence on global affairs?
“Japan has refused to apologise to Beijing for detaining a Chinese boat captain in disputed waters after Tokyo gave ground and released him.
China’s foreign ministry said it was angry at the detention of the captain, arrested by Japan over two weeks ago after his trawler collided with two Japanese patrol boats in waters near islands that both sides claim.
The ministry demanded an apology and compensation and said China’s claim to the islands, which it calls the Diaoyu and Japan calls the Senkaku, was “indisputable”.
These are the words of countries that are not really in the mood for compromise. This small conflict is a microcosm of the generally unsettled relations between Japan and China.
“Everybody knows that China is not a democratic country, but [the latest demand] will make that explicit,” Okada, who is now secretary-general of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, was quoted as saying.
Zhan Qixiong, a fishing trawler captain, flew out of Japan to the coastal Chinese city of Fuzhou on Saturday after being set free on Friday.
The release follows the detention of four Japanese nationals on suspicion of violating Chinese law regarding the protection of military facilities earlier this week.”
The tensions in the region are growing and we in the West, crippled by our imperial wars have lost much of the ability to influence other nations in the world. This is not necessarily a bad thing, just a new development that must be rather troublesome and unsettling for Western leaders.
“The dispute has underscored the brittleness of ties long troubled by Chinese memories of Japanese wartime occupation and territorial disputes over parts of the East China Sea that could hold rich reserves of gas.”
Once energy resources are involved, it is a guaranteed game changer. I’m very curious to see how this plays out as potential conflict involving the major powers of the region could ensue.
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