September 14, 2020--Empathy

When it comes to running for president of the United States, being empathetic can get you quite far. Though likely not elected. Even when running against a narcissist such as Trump.

Let's think, then, about candidate Joe Biden who is about as empathetic as it gets.

The contrast between the two was on vivid display recently when a day apart they visited Kenosha, Wisconsin, because of the protesting and violence there that was a response to an African-American man being shot seven times in the back by the local police.

Without evidence that would justify this, Trump supported the police more than the victim, even going out of the way, while there to comment about another shooting--a 17-year-old self-described white supremacist "vigilante" who, without provocation, used an assault weapon to shoot and kill two unarmed protestors.

Trump did not visit Jacob Blake's family whereas Joe Biden spent time with them, spoke with Blake on the phone, and attended a church service with the family.

Politically, anyone who wants a president who can "feel one's pain" has, in Biden, someone who from his life experience has faced a lifetime of loss, and is exceptionally good at sharing what he has learned from it and is comfortable literally embracing people who are struggling with grief.

Many of Biden's supporters say they will vote for him because of what this reveals about his character.

Others, who have national security concerns, are looking for more, something additional from the former vice president. They are seeking someone who they feel will also be a formidable commander in chief. A strong leader for times of peace and a courageous and effective leader when we are directly threatened. When more than empathy is required. 

They may have questions about Biden's ability to assume that role. Recall, he was the only senior staff official during the Obama administration who did not support the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. From this example alone some are concerned that he does not have the chops to protect us from the world's bad guys. 

What he needs to do then, and soon, is include in his stump speech and in more formal settings how he would deal with ongoing threats such as those represented by Iran, Syria, and of course, best for comparison purposes, Russia and North Korea. The content needs to be tough minded and the presentation muscular. 

Joe can and should remain the empathetic Joe (as if he could change his nature) but he needs also to show his steely, self-confident side.

November 19, 2015--By the Numbers

I noted here previously that the true horror of Paris is not equal to the number killed and wounded.

Yes, 129 were killed outright and another 350 wounded, some critically. And another 224 were killed last month when ISIS brought down a Russian charter jet over the Sinai Desert.

But in other, earlier terrorist actions about as many and sometimes more were slaughtered and maimed.

Thus, in an attempt to keep emotions from overwhelming us, including policy makers, government officials, and the public, it is important to keep things in perspective. I suspect, though he wasn't overt about it, this attempt to contain heated calls to rush to declare World War III, one explanation for President Obama's tepid response is that he was trying to keep his head while others about him were losing theirs and beating the drums of war.

Me included.

Here then is the bloody scorecard--

The terrorist bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 killed 161 Americans. Ronald Reagan promptly withdrew all forces from the region. And, tellingly, was not widely criticized for doing so.

In 1998, simultaneously in Tanzania and Kenya two American embassies were bombed. 224 were killed. It was the first time al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden were brought to the public's attention.

During the peak of the Madrid morning rush hour, in March 2004, four commuter trains were hit with ten bombs by al Qaeda-inspired terrorists. 191 were killed and another 1,800 wounded.

And then of course, on September 11, 2001, four passenger jets were taken over by al Qaeda jihadists and deliberately crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and, when passengers fought back, a field in Shanksville Pennsylvania. 2,996 in the planes and workers in the buildings were killed. Another 415 first responders lost their lives.

And then there are deaths of a different sort--

22,000 die annually of drug overdoses. 32,000 die on the highways in car crashes. Another 41,000 commit suicide. 12,500 are killed with legal handgun and assault weapons.

In the latter cases there is no panic, no calls for dramatic action, and certainly no rush to either judgement or retribution. We accept these fatalities as we accept the inevitability of the sun rise and tides. As if they were natural, unremediable phenomena.