The role of empathy in the election

When looking to elect a leader, or more specifically, president of the United States, empathy is one of the most important traits a candidate should possess. The role of the president is to govern and lead a diverse group of individuals, each with their own unique backgrounds and to put forth and implement policies that will benefit the common good. I believe empathy is necessary for this job, because without it, we risk appointing an indifferent or even cruel individual to make decisions that will have tremendous effects on us all.

Empathy, at its core, means putting oneself in another’s shoes in order to see the world from a perspective different from one’s own. What deeply troubles me is that in this election, Donald Trump has failed to exhibit empathy. Nonetheless, he has still been successful.

Trump reveals his inability to show empathy with the disparaging and disrespectful comments he has made towards many individuals. Here, I’ll list some of those remarks. He wants to ban Muslim immigrants from entering the country. He proposes building a wall between Mexico and America to stop the influx of Mexicans, who he has categorized as rapists and criminals. Trump dismisses military heroes like Captain Khan and John McCain, both who are men of great honor. As a whole, Trump’s platform centers on the idea that America is no longer a great nation because of others: Foreigners, immigrants and refugees, to name a few.

Trump’s comments are upsetting, but they also show us who he is and the kind of president he will be. When Trump brags about sexually assaulting a woman, mocks a reporter with a disability or diminishes the sacrifices a Gold Star family has made, he demonstrates his lack of empathy for those individuals. And by failing to exhibit empathy, Trump not only demonstrates that he doesn’t understand women, people with disabilities or military families, but also shows that he doesn’t care about them. I find it extremely difficult to accept a candidate who has proven on multiple occasions that he does not care for so many Americans. I also find it troubling that so many voters support Trump, because in doing so, they prove that they also don’t care about the problems that affect people who are different than them.

I don’t believe all Trump supporters are apathetic or uncaring. I can understand that they are angry with the current direction our country is heading and think that Trump is the solution to their problems. A belligerent anti-establishment figure who affirms that anger may be appealing to some. Nevertheless, I hope that these individuals can take a moment to think about what a Trump presidency would mean for the country as a whole. I ask his supporters to think about those who are fleeing war-torn regions or those seeking a better life for their families. They come to America for safety and freedom, just as many of us would if we were in similar situations. I implore them to consider how his policies would affect people of color, immigrants, women, LGBT+ individuals and many others.

A Trump presidency makes me fear living in America. As a woman and person of color, I don’t believe Trump cares about people like me. He says that he has respect for women and that he loves minorities. But I don’t feel that his words, actions or ideas demonstrate this supposed empathy that he claims to hold.

I believe that Hillary Clinton is a more qualified candidate and a more empathetic individual. Her campaign slogan, “Stronger Together,” focuses on the idea that America is at its best when we embrace each other and work together. Clinton’s life in public service has shown that she tries to understand and care about many different people. Throughout her career, she has shown that she can work effectively with Republicans and Democrats alike. She helped to create the Children’s Health Insurance Program which provides insurance for over eight million children from low-income families and worked to address the health concerns of first responders who helped others after the 9/11 attacks. On separate occasions, Clinton has affirmed that gay rights and women’s rights are both human rights. She has proposed policies to address racial injustice, immigration reform and climate change that indicate she recognizes the problems that many Americans face. And unlike Trump, Clinton’s vision of America is one in which every individual has a place.

In this election, I hope we can rise above the growing climate of apathy and exercise empathy. Empathy is a deeply human trait that we all have the capacity for. It enables us to progress as a society and become better individuals. And while empathy alone does not qualify an individual for the presidency, its absence would be truly detrimental for the nation if we were to elect a leader who lacks this trait.