Empathy and Humanity Is Not A Political Opinion 

By: Aneesha Mahapatra

Somewhere along the way, we started treating empathy like it’s a political opinion. We live in a world that’s majorly defined by sides: left or right, this or that, for or against. But the truth is, life and morality don’t work like that. You can hold empathy for more than one group of people, question the people in power causing world problems without being labeled, and want peace without aligning with every political or religious stance. Humanity doesn’t need to fit into a specific category, it just needs to exist.

You can be pro-Palestine and still love and support your Jewish friends. Being pro-Palestine doesn’t mean you’re antisemitic, it means you’re anti-oppression and anti-violence for every innocent human being. It means you’re heartbroken and frustrated by what’s happening to people who are tortured and murdered for being a part of a different culture or religion. It means siding with your Jewish brothers and sisters when they receive hate speech or are also getting killed for their faith.

Zionism, at its core, is a political ideology centered on the establishment and defense of Israel as a state, but it’s not okay to ignore what that has meant for Palestinians. Their land has been taken from people who have lived there for generations. There are entire communities displaced, and ongoing slaughter of innocent civilians. In many ways, it mirrors what happened in America when European settlers took land from Native Americans through violence, forced removal, and broken promises. Both show that taking land in the name of power or entitlement always ends up hurting innocent people.

Judaism is a faith that is deeply rooted in the values of love, morality, and justice. Zionism and Judaism aren’t the same, and many Jewish people around the world openly reject Zionism because they believe in peace and equality for all, including Palestinians. Many Jewish people around the world, including people in Israel, openly condemn what’s happening in Gaza and advocate for peace and equality. Being against a government’s actions isn’t being against its people.

The same exists in American politics. You can be Republican or conservative and still disagree with what certain “leaders” represent - Meaning you can be Republican and still disagree with what Trump represents. You can still have conservative views, but call out hate, corruption, or abuse of power.

Voting for someone once doesn’t mean you owe them your devotion or loyalty. Being Republican doesn’t automatically mean you’re a Trump supporter, and being Democrat doesn’t mean you automatically agree with everything your party does. But when you vote for a leader whose words and actions promote hate, racism, or discrimination, you’re still giving power to those values. Political beliefs should never come before basic morals.

If a Democratic candidate turned out to be the worst person, a liberal voter would probably vote differently, not because they “switched parties,” but because they chose humanity. Conservatives should also recognize when a Republican candidate such as Trump doesn't represent their values or their vision for the country. Trump has a long record of harmful rhetoric toward minority groups, women, and immigrants and has repeatedly focused on promoting white supremacy throughout the country. He is also a convicted felon, sexual abuser, and outward racist, and that should never be a type of person someone should idolize. Supporting that kind of behavior directly or indirectly harms the people around you, especially those from marginalized communities. It’s not a political opinion, it’s about morals and the difference between right or wrong.

Pride shouldn’t keep you loyal to someone who doesn’t deserve it. Growth means knowing when to let go, when to stand up, and recognizing when someone no longer represents your values and having the courage to choose what’s right over what’s familiar or comfortable. And if you fully believe and praise Trump for every hate he has spewed, then you are just a bad and privileged person who only cares about themselves at that point.

This all circles back to humanity. There are innocent Israelis who don’t support their government’s actions and mourn for Palestinians. There are Jewish people who are vocal about wanting freedom and safety for everyone. There are Muslims, Christians, atheists, and everyone in between who simply want peace and to live peacefully amongst one another. This is also relevant for American citizens who want peace and freedom for the people of this country and are actively standing up against their country’s leader when they know that person is in the wrong.

Just because you align with a certain political party doesn’t mean you owe loyalty to a candidate who spreads hate or causes harm. There’s enough evidence to know when someone’s words and actions go against basic decency. The same compassion you show for innocent people abroad should also exist at home.

Choosing humanity isn’t about sides. It means caring about and standing up for people against hate and oppression in all forms, no matter their race, religion, or political background. It means you are empathetic towards every innocent person and not just having selective empathy. You can love your country and still call out injustice. You can support your faith and still question the people in power. You can vote differently next time because you’ve learned better.

Choosing humanity doesn’t make you uneducated, stupid or weak, it actually makes you brave and shows that your years of learning history in school or online has worked. Real change doesn’t come from pride or politics, it comes from empathy for EVERYONE not just people who look like you or are from the same background as you. At the end of the day, we all bleed the same color.

PSA: In case you need a reminder where I stand:

It will always be Free Palestine, Free Congo, Free Sudan, Free Ukraine, Free Haiti, and all of the other countries and people fighting against oppression. Free the innocent hostages from both Israel and Palestine and f*ck Donald Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Hamas.