Posted on 12/04/2014 12:27:53 PM PST by C19fan
Its difficult to know where to start with this nonsense from a recent speech given by Hillary Clinton, in which the presumed Democratic front-runner finally defines what she sees as smart power, and what she claims is a 21st-century approach to diplomacy. In large part, the former Secretary of State says it means psychoanalyzing enemies to understand them better, which is exactly what nations have been doing for centuries, if not millenia. Thats why, for instance, our nations turned out experts in Sovietology like Condoleezza Rice, so that they could rise to positions of policymaking importance and apply their insights into the internal culture of our enemies for our best strategic advantage.
Hillary goes one step farther by claiming that we must empathize with our enemies in order to define the problems:
(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...
That only applies with relations with normal human beings.
Koranimals are... well, not. Beheadings?
In 2014?
Is there even an absurd discussion possible about such a primitive barbaric enemy?
At least the latest crop of criminal, clueless politicians is consistent.
There is a similar movement domestically, guaranteed to get worse.
You might have nailed it... That probably IS what she means.
Psychoanalysts are also human, and limited by their own world view and biases. This is the academic/modernist view of all human interactions - that they can be distilled down (by them) into understandable (to them) constructs. The reality is that not everyone thinks the same, and some people have a world view that is so different than ours, that it is literally dangerous to think you can ‘figure them out’. It is also arrogant to think so, but that is the trademark of the ubiquitous kind narcissists that populate government and academics these days.
To sympathize means you understand how another feels.
To empathize means you feel the same way.
“Empathy is the ability to mutually experience the thoughts, emotions, and direct experience of others. It goes beyond sympathy, which is a feeling of care and understanding for the suffering of others. Both words have similar usage but differ in their emotional meaning.”
Great pic, LOL
It also means knowing that you actually answer the phone at 3AM and take action and not make apologies for imaginary videos
Smart power means empathizing with your enemies
After they’re dead.
Neville Chamberlain tried that- it didn’t work.
We can start with defeating as many Democrats and other liberals as possible.
"Ceterum censeo 0bama esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
A key identifier for clinical sociopathy is lack of empathy... but what difference, at this point, does it make?
That does not mean that you should sympathize with that view point but you should understand it.
That way when Iran says they want to wipe Israel off the map you don't think that they are just talking to hear their head roar, they want to wipe Israel off the map.
You can then respond accordingly.
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