[FreeReign]

For example a person who has dropped a cinder block on their toes has a great deal of empathy for those who have a cinder block landing on their toe in the present...no?

And you acuse me of mixing apples with oranges? Trying to somehow equate the physical pain of a minor injury in terms of being able to relate to the psychological pain of having a family member brutally murdered?

You're being obtuse. Are you purposely trying to avoid the point. A similar example could be made for emotional pain as for physical pain. Do I really need to make that illustration?

One doesn't have to feel physical or emotional pain for the moment to actually be able to understand it and empathize with it.

From experiences we all draw on in life, it's intellectually lazy not to be able to identify with the pain that a Saddam victim must feel and the joy a Saddam victim must feel when Saddam is finally executed.

I celebrate too along with them

[SoldierDad]

Empathy and sympathy are not equivalent feelings, and as stated before, if you've never experienced the loss of a family member through a brutal murder you CANNOT feel empathy for someone who has. Take a little time to look up the difference between the two and then try to have a reasoned debate on this issue.

If you've experienced the brutal murder of a loved one, then you can have empathy for the Iraqi's who've suffered under Saddam. If not, then you can sympathize with their pain only. And, no I'm not being obtuse, just realistic in using the appropriate vernacular.