I attended the California Republican Party
convention and interviewed attendees about the importance of Empathy.
See what they had to say.
Edwin Rutsch
I'm here at the California Republican Party
Convention in Santa Clara and want to interview
attendees about the importance of empathy in their lives. So far I've
been very well received. I was given a press pass and introduced
to several young Republicans. Let see what happens?
Nick Bradvica
What's our personal metaphor of Empathy?
seeing your face in any face and all
faces
Lived with a progressive family in
Germany
there's always a opinion
all decisions are with consequences
Father and mother would always say 'be
thankful for what you have'
not everyone is graced with food,
democracy
Diane Lenning
How did empathy become important?
walking in someone else's shoes
you don't know what it's like until
you've experienced it
was ill and people can be mean when
you're sick
people have misconceptions
important to look at why peoples actions
are what they are
something may be going on in their life
that we may not understand
many of us are raised differently than
others
Sounds like empathy is important to you?
yes it is
it's an important characteristic that we
all need
Cathy Carlson
empathy can be manipulated
Michael Grant
Your personal metaphor of Empathy?
a dove
father raised doves
he's Jamaican and has a lot of hobbies
doves are harmless, but they know how to
defend themselves in a meaning full way
they look out for each other
growing up in the city we had to look out
for each other
Full Interviews
Michael Grant
Introduction
From LA, South Central
School at UC Davis
Got into politics - to effect
legislation
Works in press relations for Republican
State party
What are your most important values?
religion and family
family is a larger view - anyone can
join family
religion is driving factor
father is a pastor
individual responsibly, help others,
whom much is given, much is required
live by the rules of the bible
put myself in peoples shoes of others so I can
understand them
How did you develop those values?
father is a pastor - learned religion
since childhood
personal story - religion became active
as 4 years old prayed to God for
father to survive cancer
prayed that father would live to come
to high school graduation
father came to graduation - he cried
How did empathy become important?
bible is clear about understanding
others
everyone has been helped along the way
the golden rule, do unto others as you
would have them do unto you
sound rudimentary but we tend to forget
I don't forget them - they are good
guidelines to live your life
Your personal metaphor of Empathy?
a dove
father raised doves
he's Jamaican and has a lot of hobbies
doves are harmless, but they know how to
defend themselves in a meaning full way
they look out for each other
growing up in the city we had to lookout
for each other
Other comments?
empathy is important before you take
actions
Empathy and sympathy are different
sympathy - can be remorseful
empathy - having similar experiences
empathy is a strong word and stronger
emotion
you should be empathetic
Makes you a better leader
Obama has talked about empathy, what do
you think about that?
he is an excellent speaker
using the word empathy is going to help
you connect with your audience
making that connection is essential at
any level
Nick Bradvica
Introduction
freshman at USC
live in Carlsbad
study Political Science and creative
writing
want to be a writer
What are your most important values?
Equality
if people in society are equal, it is
happier
protections against discrimination
Were did value come from?
comes from parents
Dad always stressed it
traditional values
believe in God, all created equal under
his eyes
everyone deserves respect
and treat people like we would like to
be treated
I follow that
Empathy?
seeing others and knowing you could be
them
grateful for what I have and been given
don't want to be looked down upon
I treat everyone they way they want to
be treated
a humans we have the ability for
empathy - sympathy
we have pity - Aristotle says we have
pity
we all have feelings - we all get sad,
happy lonely, etc
it's not just waling a mile in someone's
shoes but the entire course
Your personal metaphor of Empathy?
seeing your face in any face and all
faces
Lived with a progressive family in
Germany
there's always a opinion
all decisions are with consequences
Father and mother would always say 'be
thankful for what you have'
not everyone is graced with food,
democracy
Obama has talked about empathy, what do
you think about that?
he doesn't write his own speeches
Obama is intelligent
he is empathic
have family members who are
democrats/republicans
he's a nice guy
How would you deepen the capacity of
empathy?
vote for what is best for the general
well being
better parenting
Anything else you'd like to say?
you ask big questions
treat others like you would like to be
treated
nonviolence
I'm Christian - what we do for other's
we do for ourselves
Diane Lenning
Introduction
retired educator
taught in Orange count
running for state superintendent of
public instruction
What are your most important values?
truth, integrity, honesty
stick to your values
teacher talked about white lies
be truthful but not hurt peoples
feelings
How did empathy become important?
walking in someone else's shoes
you don't know what it's like until
you've experienced it
was ill and people can be mean when
you're sick
people have misconceptions
important to look at why peoples actions
are what they are
something may be going on in their life
that we may not understand
many of us are raised differently than
others
I learned later in life on what empathy
was
Any lessons you learned about empathy?
as a child, a woman who attended our
church had a goiter
people are handicapped - we need to
empathize with them
eye contact is important for connecting
I tell my students - beauty comes from
inside you
Sounds like empathy is important to you?
yes it is
it's an important characteristic that we
all need
Your personal metaphor of Empathy?
feeling the heartbeat of someone
metaphor for truth? - a shining light -
the statute of Liberty's torch.
The problems with empathy - what do you
have to watch out for?
can be used to manipulate - students try
to get out of work for example
look for genuineness
Cathy Carlson
Part 1
Introduction
identify as a conservative
not a Rino (Republican In Name Only)
fiscal conservative
education advocate - education chair in
Thousand Oaks
What are your most important values?
truth is important to me
parents have their rights taken away
How did you develop those values?
we empathize
We're not happy about illegal aliens
coming over and breaking our laws
however, children of them have rights
the Educrats are more concerned about
themselves and union rights
Tired of republicans being called racist
husband and friends are immigrants
education is the key
What does empathy mean to you?
if you can empathize with someone
group dynamics and empathy
mimic each other with body language
goals for a group as a leader
Eisenhower said you make a decision and
try to get people to agree with you
Is empathy an important value to you?
yes, but it can be manipulated
went to a Shaklee event that verged on
cultism
OJ Simpson trial - jury was manipulated
Truth and empathy?
we are emotional animals -
empathy is feeling
truth is objective -however truth can be
subjective depending on your perspective
clinically means you're not autistic -
autistic have difficulty with empathy
Part 2
Are democrats empathetic?
doesn't matter
it's a human condition
people can be manipulated because they
let their emotions override
that's how Obama became elected -
people didn't realize he's a Chicago politician
what is a Chicago politician
Obama talks continuously about empathy?
really? very interesting.
like a cult leader
You don't trust him?
no, he studies Saul Kolinsky in Chicago
communist labor organizer
used manipulation
he wants people to develop empathy so
they can be manipulated
What's an honest empathy then?
Like at the movies
You empathize - like Avatar - the plight
of the Blue People
Stockholm Symptom - kidnapped empathize
with kidnappers
A spiritual empathy is honest -
Hitler had people empathize with him. -
blame it on the Jews
What can we do to build a culture of
empathy?
the nuclear family needs to get stronger
character education in school is not the
way to do it.
