There are many forces at work in the world. Today I am thinking of the forces of empathy and selfishness. Empathy(thinking of others), well think of a puppy, hit by a car and lying beside the road whimpering. Do you feel its pain? Of so, that is empathy, to feel the pain of other things and people.
Consider the opposite of empathy. A home invasion, shooting the family dog, threatening the lives of people and going beyond even that threat. There are inhuman humans out there with absolutely no empathy.
Selfishness(thinking of self) is self evident. It begins with the wailing infant, crying for food and attention. It progresses through life with the words "I". "me". "mine" and so on. It is the force that made America great. Why seek freedom? Why start a business? What about love? All involving self.
And now comes the question, aren't empathy and selfishness polar opposites? No, empathy, feeling the pain of others is nothing more your own self interest at work. That suffering really would not be pleasant would it. In this world the forces of empathy and selfishness are one and the same and they can be both a force for good or evil.
"Eat or be eaten", "survival of the fittest", "love of family", "vote on Tuesday", "etc"all motivated by self. It is a force like the sun, all powerful. The key is harnessing that force for the good of humanity. We, I and you(I can feel it)will benefit.
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