It's not political or "liberal" in the slightest to support Black Lives Matter. Yet, many fail to see past these misinformed, arbitrary labels that conceal basic emotions of empathy and consideration towards one another. What is one's goal in abiding by labels? being associated with a political affiliation similar to their parents and grandparents and so on? One that's been passed down from generation to generation with no real logical reason?
In the same line of reasoning, it's hypocritical to deem that one can't wear a mask in public because they desire to have control over their bodies yet the same group aims to limit a woman's right to choose what to do with her own body.
This kind of logic may make total sense to some, but others can't relate: those who are totally sectioned off from the plight of others due to their uncontrollable circumstances. But they can still choose to respect others' deserved human rights and lived-in experiences. Instead some label empathy as divisive, political, and prefer to avoid it. In her pressing DNC speech, former First Lady Michelle Obama makes it clear that empathy is our "ability to walk in someone else's shoes; the recognition that someone else's experience has value, too." In this sense, empathy seems so natural too.
"Most of us practice this without a second thought. If we see someone suffering or struggling, we don't stand in judgment," Obama said. "But right now, kids in this country are seeing what happens when we stop requiring empathy of one another. They're looking around wondering if we've been lying to them this whole time about who we are and what we truly value."
The dark contrast in what we're seeing now really puts empathy to the test. The country that's now put on display is unfeeling, where people refuse to wear masks for public health, where hate takes the torch over compassion, even in these trying times. But where can we go from here?
"Going high is the only thing that works, because when we go low, when we use those same tactics of degrading and dehumanizing others, we just become part of the ugly noise that's drowning out everything else." Obama said. "We degrade ourselves. We degrade the very causes for which we fight."
For the sake of future generations, we need to see past these political borders because human rights are not political. No matter how much everyone is divided into distinct political lines, it's important that we realize that politics do not define issues that we should all care about. There is no strict dividing line, no label for caring about others. We can only be united and fight disease and injustice that is plaguing the world today together when we cross borders. When we deviate from traditional labels that we personally put in place just to divide us. When we rise above the labels and onto higher ground.
