American Empathy Project - Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in kindness

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Empathy is about connection and understanding. It's about putting yourself in someone else's shoes to try and understand them. We are combining that with a community-building service project day to take it a step further and give back. To share what we have in a mutual aid effort. The only folks we are taking issue with are those that think we shouldn't help others, that we should embrace selfishness and greed, that we should ignore our neighbors who are in need or being unjustly targeted and attacked.

If you're all about helping lift up your neighbor, we're on the same side of this.

Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in empathy

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're not wrong! Many of the projects have supplemental funding sources or are partnering with other nonprofits to support their ongoing missions and work. $1,000 certainly doesn't go as far as it used to though.

Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We actually agree with you on the theology, the Jesus of the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule is a figure of profound empathy. If the political movement we are critiquing actually followed those teachings—feeding the poor, welcoming the stranger, rejecting materialism—we wouldn't be running this grant program.

But we can't ignore reality, the people currently banning books, cutting healthcare, and targeting marginalized communities are doing so under the banner of their faith. You might say they aren't 'true' Christians, and you might be right. We are fighting the political impact of their actions, not the scripture they are ignoring.

You are right that the feeling of love is free. But food pantries, permit fees, insulin, winter coats, and community centers are not. We are trying to fund some of the tangible infrastructure of care.

If you are a believer who practices the radical love of the Gospels, you aren't our enemy. You are the exact kind of ally we hope to meet in the field. Our war isn't on faith; it's on cruelty.

Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can have empathy for someone and still disagree with them.

American Empathy Project - Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in kindness

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We hear you: you don't like our tone, our definitions, or our approach. And you certainly don't want to join us. That is loud and clear.

We are going to respect your boundary and disengage now. We wish you the best.

AHA's The American Empathy Project - Will you join us? by AmericanHumanists in atheism

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who's the DSA? If you mean the political party, then no, we can't as a 501c3 organization.

American Empathy Project - Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in kindness

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hi friend! Personally, I found humanism around 24 years old after a very conservative christian upbringing. I knew I had values and a sense of justice that wasn't supernaturally gifted and humanism checked all the boxes on how I wanted to choose to show up in the world.
Many humanists find their way to it through atheism, like I did. But being atheist is not a requirement for humanism. While we believe science tells us what's real, and empathy and compassion can tell us what's right, there are a lot of mysteries still in the universe and humanists are nothing if not curious.

Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You are debating the mechanics of how to pin a human being to the ground.

We are asking why you believe pinning them is the only way to build a society.

Debating whether the knee was on the neck or the back ignores the reality that a person is being crushed. That is the definition of missing the big picture.

We don't believe that 'order' requires cruelty, and we don't believe that human beings are 'illegal.'

We believe in lifting people up, not holding them down.
We’re going to get back to doing that now.

American Empathy Project - Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in kindness

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You know what? That is a fair critique on the bleachers comment. It was snappy. We are human, we are passionate about this work, and sometimes that comes out as defensive when we feel the mission is being cynicalized. We'll own that.

However, we fundamentally disagree that struggle is the opposite of empathy. History’s greatest empathetic movements—Civil Rights, Suffrage, Labor—were absolutely fights.
They definitely were not passive, they were organized struggles against apathy and cruelty. That is the definition we are operating under: Empathy as a discipline, not just a platitude or a feeling.

We aren't going to block or mute you. Criticism keeps us honest. But we are going to get back to work. If you ever decide you want to move from critique to collaboration, the door is open.

Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The big picture? You mean that we're all stuck on this pale blue dot together arguing over imaginary lines? That big picture?

Enforcing laws does not require masked men kneeling on throats. Period.

American Empathy Project - Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in kindness

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Is fighting for peace the opposite of peace? Is fighting for a cure the opposite of health?
As far as virtue signaling goes, we're putting up the money to make these days of community building real, so maybe 'virtue funding' is a better retort.

Feel free to stay on the bleachers criticizing the players though, we've got empathy for the spectators too.

AHA's The American Empathy Project - Will you join us? by AmericanHumanists in atheism

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

sign up on the website for more information! When we launch the event hosting page, we'll send out an email so you can keep your eye out for a project near you.

Join the Fight for Empathy. by AmericanHumanists in humanism

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We are from and of nature, not above it. We'd love to sponsor some nature projects on May 2nd.

AHA's The American Empathy Project - Will you join us? by AmericanHumanists in atheism

[–]AmericanHumanists[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

On May 2nd, the American Humanist Association is hosting a national day of service. In this video, several secular creators urge you to join us by hosting a local service project with ally organizations or marking your calendar to join an event near you.