...Is compassion real? In the passage “On Compassion”, Barbara Lazear Ascher recalls a couple of brief encounters with homeless people in New York City. And after she shares her story about the homeless people with the audience, then she informs her view on compassion. She explains how people help others just to feel better about themselves. She asks the audience, where is the real compassion? Author states that people with empathy can show real compassion, because empathy comes when people really understand and can share the feelings of another person. Ascher continues with her contention by giving examples on how people can misinterpret sympathy by empathy. According to Ascher in some situations people tend to help others just to satisfy...
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...Greed, the Opposite of Compassion Greed is shown as the opposite of compassion in both A Christmas Carol and Wuthering Heights. Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley are characters in A Christmas Carol that showcase the harm of greedy living without compassion. The rest of the characters, such as the Cratchits or Fred, contrast the miserly moneylenders. Heathcliff and Hindley Earnshaw are characters in Wuthering Heights who cause so much pain to others and themselves due to their obsession of ownership and revenge. Cathy serves as foil characters, showing how loyalty and compassion can lead to a happier existence. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has two main types of characters: the compassionate and the greedy. Ebenezer Scrooge has a lot of contrast between the people who are willing to feel pity towards him (his ex-fiancé, his nephew, his clerk) and those who coldly dismiss him as he does them (fellow business people, his servants, the pawn shop owner). The entire supernatural ordeal that Scrooge goes through is meant to show him the error of his greedy ways and teach him the importance of compassion. Scrooge starts in the story with a personality so cold, it freezes his features. His dispassionate nature forbids any kindness, whether it be giving it, like towards his clerk, or receiving it, such as his nephew’s invitation. Yet, Scrooge’s compassion almost suddenly appears when he sees his past (27). It is not like he never knew such things growing up; he was taught through...
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...Introduction “At a time when bullying is rampant, it makes more sense to build on the positive by instilling compassion and dealing with kids’ questions about the unfamiliar, rather than simply outlawing behaviours,” author Tim Huff. Tim Huff is the creator of a storybook and discussion guide, titled The Cardboard Shack Under the Bridge, that focuses on teaching elementary school students compassion for people who are homeless. The focus of the material is to encourage children to understand the people and stories behind homelessness in a hope to instil compassion, rather than judgement or fear. Furthermore, the hope of the program is that it encourages children to care deeply for their communities. We created an hour and a half interactive lesson for a Grade 1/2 class at Briar Hill Elementary School with the hope that it would give the children a new perspective on people who do not have homes to live in. The lesson started with us reading the story, The Cardboard Shack Under The Bridge, by Tim Huff, and asking the students many meaningful questions on their interpretations of the pictures and what it means to be homeless. They then rotated around four centres where they got to engage in activities that helped them develop empathy for people who are homeless. Rationale: A classroom that is built around democratic principles will look very different than the average classroom. Often teachers will take on more of the role of dictator than democratic leader which leads...
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...willing to give of themselves. C. Purpose/Preview: By the end of this discussion I hope to have: 1. Presented a picture of poverty, a way we can fight it, and hope of victory. [Transition: But first, let define poverty.] II. Need A. Court fees and fines that fund crime victims have fallen off B. Around the world, 30% of children suffer from malnutrition, 19% have no access to clean water, 17% will never attend school, and worst of all, 30,000 children under five die each day (UNICEF, 2006). C. A deeper definition 1. Compassion International take the definition of poverty a step further, “Poverty is much more than a lack of money or material possessions—at its core, poverty is a lack of options. It is a mindset of utter hopelessness that overwhelms its victims with difficult circumstances and tells them to give up. Those suffering from poverty can teach us what true joy really is…and how one can find this joy in the most unlikely of places (Compassion, 2007).” D. Poverty is a continuous cycle and its effects are endless. Poverty is closely associated with: 1. High crime rate, low literacy, increased suicides, starvation, lower life expectancy, and increase in political violence (Wikipedia, 2007). E. America is not exempt from poverty. 1. In 2005, 37 million Americans were living below the poverty line. An estimated 12.4 million children...
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... Abstract Our world is still dominated by all kinds of social conflicts, despite our outstanding material, scientific and technological advancements. Human beings, too often lack in their conduct the essential attributes that separate us from other animals. A sense of decency, moral, logic, the feelings of love and compassion for others in our various forms of interaction with one another. Too often these noble expressions of our common humanity are not respected, even in areas where they are deemed to be essential. Nursing, from its foundation and elevation by pioneers such as Florence Nightingale has always relied upon the idea of compassion as its core essence. Later on, other nursing theorists like Sister Simone Roach made it a key component of the development of her own version of caring as a theory on which nursing is based. The concept analysis developed by Avant and Walker (2011). Concept analysis in strategies for theory construction in nursing pp.157-176 provides tools that can be used to demonstrate the importance of compassion when it comes to its application for relevant and competent nursing practice. Compassion: A Concept Analysis From its inception to today’s practice the essence of nursing has not changed, despite its ever growing scope and field of action. According the international council of nurses(ICN) ‘’Nursing” encompass autonomous and collaborative care of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in...
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...things. First we must have an effective system as far as healthcare, schooling and any government assistance. Secondly, equality within the classes. Lastly compassion for all people. These factors can bring greatness to any country seeking the title. In the United States the system of healthcare, schooling and assistance is far from perfect. Healthcare coverage is a mandatory assistance to help with medical billing in the event of illness or examination. Although appreciated by a single mother like myself, the working class and above is obligated to pay the tax for not only for my benefit, they also have the extra expense of paying towards their own health care coverage. Schooling is another mandatory part of U.S. citizenship designed to educate and prepare children and teens for emerging adulthood. Most of the main courses taken in school are completely irrelevant to the needs of the students. If all schools followed the approach of the Montessori schooling system, then all student will be able to work at their own pace and recognize their true potential as individuals. As far as all other assistance is concerned, we need to come together as a whole and take better care of all citizens in their time of need rather than people who work the least to gain the most benefit....
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...the Indian poor people's more darker way of making money for survival. At birth, a few of the kids the family has are crippled on purpose to evoke the feeling of compassion for a poor crippled child and it's protecting sibling, in order to get money. The people who have earnings just above survival level, fear that they, one day, might have to force the same destiny on some of their children, but until then it must remain a hidden fear and not something that is supposed to be seen on display every day on the street. At some point one can easily agree with them, but on the other hand there's a lot of irony in play. People know that it easily could be them in that situation, but still cannot even look at them. The entire idea that something like that could happen is abholing but unfortunately also common in India. In fact there are worse things taking place as for example: child “production” & trafficing. A lot of movies about india also have this subject in common, The over population of children. You always see children running around in flocs and asking for money/food & sometimes even autographs(slumdog millionaire). The autograph's could easily be sold for money or collected on. It does happen from time to time though that people (Also a lot of tourists) find compassion in these children, as in the text “chokra” that the quotation is from. It does not seem like the children cares about the compassion they get, more than the money they it gets them. In the movie “a slumdog millionaire”...
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...Elyse DeLaney Professor Kate Kelly Religious Studies October 28, 2012 Two Birds with One Stone: An Essay of War and Compassion in Three Vonnegut Novels It is only the dead who have seen the end of war. -Plato Vonnegut prides himself on writing novels with science fiction elements and three of his novels, Player Piano (PP), God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater (GB), and Hocus Pocus (HP) are prime examples of war and compassion. Vonnegut’s critique of war reveals that he considers compassion to be the most sacred aspect of human life. In Player Piano, the novel’s protagonist, Dr. Paul Proteus (PP 23) is forced to choose between the successes of his company or become the leader of a rebellion against the machine society. People are slowly, but surely, being replaced by machines and artificial “workers,” such as automated tellers at banks and self-checkouts at groceries. Vonnegut uses this movement of mechanization in the 1950’s and responds to the dehumanization in this novel. Machines and computers have eliminated the need for industrial laborers after the Second Industrial Revolution and society is then split into two unequal classes: manager and engineers of the machines and the rest of the population that live without happiness or dignity. The two unequal classes is just one example of war in Player Piano. The two populations live in segregation, with the north side of the river saved for the upper class and the south side of the river, or Homestead, are where...
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...All good relationships have a measure of compassion between the players. In these stories, the authors depend on compassion, and the lack of it, to enrich the lives of their characters. Edward P. Jones wrote about a woman in his short story First Day who remembers with great detail her first day of school. The story only covers one day out of her life, but the moments of that day are laced with all the days prior, all the people in her life and all the events, real and imagined, that got her to that first day of school. That morning before school, the mother is doing her daughter’s hair. The simple act of doing her child’s hair is steeped with the anticipation and history they share, the continued hope of the mother for the child’s success, and the child’s new level of maturity. They struggle to get the hair perfect and eventually are satisfied with their efforts. As the mother and daughter walk into school, into the auditorium to register, the girl/narrator notices another young student. “The girl’s hair is arrayed in curls, but some of them are beginning to droop and this makes me happy.” The narrator’s mother is illiterate, hard working, and single for all practical purposes. Their lives are not perfect, and yet her hair is. The tender act of a mother helping her daughter prepare for school is a symbol of the teamwork that will make that child a success in school. It is not the failing curls of the other child that has made her happy, it is knowing that her mother took the...
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...the many different “hats” nurses wear. I have been able to see how nurses have the power to make differences in the lives of others. I feel as if community nurses have an enormous number of chances to do this. Because community nurse have more direct contact with individuals, groups, families, etc, there are more chances to make a difference. Before I became a nursing student, I was always a strong believer in showing compassion and love for others. I have always felt that by going the extra mile to show someone how much you care, you can help them more than anything money can buy. Now that I am near the beginning of my own nursing career, I am a much stronger believer in this personal theory of mine. Too often, I think we as health care professionals concentrate on what we can earn for ourselves rather than what we can do for others. We tend to get lost in the money, the protocols, and the advancement of our careers. When in all reality, what really matters is not how much money we make or what job we land, it is the number of lives we touch. Love and compassion for what we do is what really makes the difference, because if we are compassionate about what we do and how we do it, we will be compassionate for the ones we care for. As I said before, I feel as if community nurses have...
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...created awareness amongst the population but also improve the health of certain sections of different communities. One of such policies is the ‘Vision 2020- focusing on the future of district nurses.’ This essay will focus on one aspect of this policy, (Compassion in relation to End of Life Care) and analyse how it influences current and future practice. It will critically analyse the economic, political and philosophical underpinnings of the policy, and appraise the ethical and moral implication for practice whilst drawing on appropriate principles, theories and frameworks. A conclusion will be drawn which will justify the formation of the policy. Vision 2020 emerged as consequence of health care establishments frugal activities. In certain cases patient were routinely neglected by Trust pre-occupied with cutting cost, that they lost sight of the fundamental responsibility to provide compassionate care. The policy published in January 2013 has 6 main aspects of fundamental care, which are, compassion, care, competence, courage, commitments, and communication. Compassion within the end of life care involves the use of the Liverpool care pathway (LCP) as incorporated in the Gold Standard Framework for end of life care. Compassion is defined as a way of living with an awareness of one’s relationship to deal with others (Reach 1992, p 58, cited in Wilmot (2003) It is particularly distinguished from related qualities such as sympathy, empathy, Kindness, and caring by the intention...
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...Compassion is sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others. However, there are innumerable people who are mercilessness and don’t know how to commiserate for others. There are myriad of authors who try to teach us to show compassion towards others. They make a valuable point to remember to keep an open mind and not be judgmental when showing compassion in, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee, and Mark Twain in, The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn. The authors use compassion in different ways by using compassion in different plots and presenting their opinion of compassion throughout their novels. We often find ourselves chasing after the ‘American Dream’, and lose our morals by doing so, such as compassion. Compassion comes from the heart, because compassion is supposed to be an emotion felt within ourselves. Our society has been caviling others about the clothes they wear, how much they weigh, how much money you...
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...through his hangs, Amir realizes he isn’t running the kite for personal gain as he once did, but for a “tiny...lopsided smile” from Sohrab (370). By taking Hassan's place as the runner, Amir proves that he had become a giving, loyal, and caring person. Amir only continues this by mirroring Hassan's words—“for you, a thousand times over” (67). Originally spoken as a sign of subservience and loyalty from servant to master, by speaking those words to Sohrab—a Hazara boy—Amir truly lets go of the remaining hatred in his heart. Growth of the heart, growth of the spirit, his growth from selfish, scared child to a loving, faithful old man. In William Faulkner’s speech, he says that man will prevail “because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance” (Faulkner). He continues on to say that it is “the writer's, duty is to write about these things” and “ his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart.” By writing about these such...
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...Life changed for Dorothy Samson in an Indian orphanage. Seeing the incredible needs of the children there, the Colorado resident knew she could make a difference. So started a journey that led her to Compassion International and its unique child sponsorship program. Now, after just five years working with the ministry, 25 children count on Samson for prayers, letters and support. “They crawl up into my lap; they call me ‘Auntie Dorothy,'” Samson said. “They are my children.” Although Samson never had children of her own, that didn’t stop her from sharing her love and compassion with little ones. “I always wanted to have 12 children with an abundance of boys,” Samson said. From her home in Grand Junction, Samson began her Compassion sponsorship experience in 1999 with four children from India and one from Haiti. That number soon grew to 13 children, and she got that abundance of boys. Later, when she learned that there was a need for sponsors for African children, she didn’t hesitate to take on even more. “Compassion told me that there was a lack of sponsors for African children because of the HIV/AIDS problem,” Samson said. “I can understand people wanting to invest their money in children who are certain to grow up to be healthy, productive adults. But all children are precious, even those who might be HIV-positive. They aren’t responsible for having the disease – they are innocent victims, and they, too, deserve the opportunity to have a happy childhood and...
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...can possess’’ Bentham and Aristotle believes that happiness is the ultimate goal of morality, he also believes that pain and pleasure are the determining factors of human behavior.In life everyone experience, pain and pleasure in some point in their lives. Pain makes us stronger, while pleasure gives us reason to exist comfortably. Schweitzer believes that in preserving life and sharing the sorrows of others, we will experience a kind of joy that is missing from the lives of thoes who has lost the capacity for compassion. Unlike Aristotle and Bentham he doesn’t believe believe happiness is the highest human good. Schweitzer believes that we all had an elementary level of compassion but, as time goes on if the compassion doesn’t grow with you it’s all lost and soon after a lot of people become that way. So by leaving the ones with compassion wondering if they should become like the others. Instead of the compassionate ones trying to be like the ones that have no compassion at all, they should lead by example. Maybe we would be in a better place and be able to co exist in some type of formal manner. Kant says that only acts motivated by good will have true moral worth. If you do something from the kindness of your heart rather then doing it to receive praise is the only good will that is out there. He went against Aristotle happiness...
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