Far From Weakness: Empathy Is Our Country’s Biggest Strength

To the Christian right, empathy is a “sin.”

That’s the central argument of this recent article from The Guardian. Through actions and words, Christian nationalists and their supporters have made empathy their number-one enemy. To them, “toxic” or “suicidal empathy” supports “satanic, destructive ideas” that lead to crime in major U.S. cities and the acceptance of immigrants, abortion, and LGBTQ+ rights.

This twisted logic—that empathy will destroy Western civilization—has led to the inhumane treatment of immigrants like Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk, who was recently kidnapped by ICE and taken to an immigration jail in Louisiana. Or Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man illegally deported to El Salvador. This dangerous worldview has caused thousands of federal employees to lose their jobs, a ban on trans soldiers in our military, the elimination of “DEI” programs, and now threatens birthright citizens’ rights.

For them, the cruelty is the goal. And that’s exactly why we must resist.

Americans have fought against injustice before, and we can do it again. During Trump’s inauguration in January, Martin Luther King Jr.’s family spoke about the importance of coming together. As Martin Luther King III stated, “We must work together to create the America that America ought to be for all of its citizens.” This year, LGBTQ+ organizers are protesting for Pride Month to defend trans rights, marriage equality, and adoption rights. Just last week, Senator Van Hollen (MD) was finally able to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, reassuring his family and the entire world he was okay.

Compassion is alive; it’s visible in the protestors marching against the Trump administration’s unconstitutional actions, the letters and calls flooding congressional offices, the boycotts of companies that have eliminated DEI programs, the mutual aid efforts of local communities, and so much more.

Secular Week of Action starts April 25th. This is a time when our community can come together and lead with compassion when far-right Christian nationalists will not. Empathy is not a weakness; it’s our country’s biggest strength.

In the face of cruelty and injustice, only empathy will carry us forward.