ONE.

HUNDRED.

PERCENT.

BUT ... the example I usually use (because extremes are helpful in thought) is punching a Nazi and protecting a kid.

We are not obligated to suffer bad faith with a straight face. https://twitter.com/biggestjoel/status/1380411896495546369

Speaking less metaphorically, the precise idea here, exactly as it's worded, is a sentiment *everyone* can get behind, which makes it easier for racists, TERFs, corps, & politicians to hide bigotry behind the blanket idea that empathy means defensivelessness.

And it does NOT.

Jesus, for example, flipped tables for *reasons*, he was a rebel with several causes.

Things like parents punishing children, death penalty for murder, etc. are society's admissions that it understands empathy doesn't always mean good vibes.

But that's *exactly* what it means once co-opted. Then empathy means L-U-D-I-C-R-O-U-S things, like he killed 8 ppl but he was "having a bad day."

It means Officer Chauvin was "stressed," vegan prison food, not asking your colleague to resign, or protecting "bright futures."

In this conception of empathy, the goal is not to understand, but to aid and abet. And if you do not aid, you are the enemy.

Because if empathy means "good vibes only," what it really means is a lack of accountability — the very thing these groups are seeking.

People are correct when they point out many sides of a story exist, like Rowling's admission of a possible desire to be trans illuminates her anti-trans views. It doesn't detract from the analysis. Ignoring it does. (Excellent thread by @KEBrightbill) https://twitter.com/KEBrightbill/status/1341482988345896962?s=20

Sometimes we *do* have time do things that make us uncomfortable. Maybe (stay with me...) maybe ... a cold-blooded killer with a deep intent to murder *isn't* actually the best way to characterize Kyle Rittenhouse. I'm not a mind reader, but maybe, possibly ... not.

Feel that? Feel the air leaving the room?

I do.

And it's that natural resistance to empathy that's so hard to overcome. He killed people, I don't need to think about what makes up his person.

But I do, don't I? Yeah, you do.

Maybe I feel sad, bc I know the industries who spent billions making that boy, feeding him lies which were reinforced by his friends & family. The politicians, news, think tanks. All designed to push him to an outcome they advocate for & pretend they didn't when he believes them.

I know that while he will be the one to pay a price and he must, he's simply not the only one accountable, and many of them will *never* pay a price.

And I know ppl like Rittenhouse usually do get this intense amount of empathy, while others don't, so the resistance is grounded.

But if we push through, we can do things a different way.

And it's a way that allows us to see others complexly while not requiring us to sacrifice our values. It's justice and mercy, it's understanding not excusing, it's not just good vibes but deeply necessary.

Put a different way: It's empathy.

Stay soft, stay curious, and use it both as a sword and a shield.

We already had a word for it, but don't ever allow bad faith actors to corrupt it, making empathy mean not standing up for what's right.

Cuz it actually ... never means that.