Woke is not synonymous with “more empathetic.” That is in error. Woke is “more empathetic” towards their selected marginalized populations but are “less empathetic” towards any groups they accuse of hate and oppression by not being among the rarified and marginalized.

Woke fancies itself the curator of empathy. Woke believes itself a monopoly on empathy. And that is absolutely in error.

The error is simple although not superficial, and that error is demanding what is important to woke is the only path to empathy. And that’s patently untrue and ironically very unempathetic.

As a test of empathy, answer “yes” if the person deserves empathy and “no” if the person doesn’t deserve empathy.

  • The person goes to church every Sunday with his heteronormative same race married parents. The family has a cocker spaniel named “Skippy.”
  • The person denounces limiting species fluid whales who are unsure of their identify, confused by if they are a squid or a mammal because they just feel like a squid in a whale’s body.
  • The person enjoyed both “What Is A Woman?” and “Am I Racist?” The person attended the movie with handsome musician Kid Rock.
  • The person was holding out on voting until hearing from Taylor Swift.
  • The person spent any part of early childhood dodging a hooked coat hanger, solidifying their prenatal worldview.
  • The person thinks capitalism means selfish, greedy, and racist. The person thinks socialism means nice, understanding, and all about fair human rights. When we all know capitalism and socialism are economic systems and not social systems.
  • The person does not like Disney’s Star Wars.
  • The person watches Disney’s Star Wars because of its diversity, inclusion, and representation. And they know with their very core Star Wars fans are toxic basement dwelling review bombing incels who ruined the best Star Wars show ever: The Acolyte.
  • The person does not use TikTok.
  • The person would cease to exist if TikTok ceases to exist.

How did you do? How many of these people deserve empathy? The answer is all of them. Did you get a different tally less than all of them?

Hmmmm……..

Here are three takeaways for consideration:

  • True empathy is offered universally by inclusion of all.
  • People don’t have to care about what you care about.
  • It’s really okay to disagree with someone without marginalizing them as an intolerant, bigoted creature of lesser societal value.

When woke proudly proclaims that being woke is being “more empathetic” this is woke totally missing the point. The goal is understanding each other regardless of core ideologies. That’s what empathy is and empathy is by premise and product naturally equal.

In the final analysis, “more empathetic” and “less empathetic” are empathetically false statements. You don’t have to be woke to care.

Now let’s hug it out. Consensually, of course.