Up close and personal
How we can close the gap between hate and empathy
In the United States, it’s easy (and even applauded in some contexts) to hate a group of people such as Democrats, Republicans, immigrants, Muslims, LGTBQ, and the list keeps going.
The reasons for our hate may vary, but one commonality is usually our distance from that group.
“People are hard to hate close up,” is the assertion Brené Brown makes in her latest book, Braving the Wilderness. Her advice? “Move in.”
Get to personally know a lesbian. Befriend a republican. Understand what it’s like for a Muslim to live and work in the States.
I used to only believe a single story about immigrants: they steal jobs and evade income tax. But then I became friends with a few people who recently immigrated to the U.S. and my perspective completely changed. They’re generous, loving, and responsible — even when it’s at great personal cost.
I realize now how privileged we are to have them living in our country and how fortunate I am to have them as friends.
Is there a group of people you find difficult to love? Move in closer. Befriend one or two people from that group.
Empathy means getting personal.
