Lyla > Status Update

mhmm !! ofc charlie 🥹 what ever you say ☺️

DUDE ME PMO 😭

I find it to be a strange mixture of beautiful and tragic that the word can feel such strong empathy for a man who didn’t believe in it. I do not cry for the fascist, I cry for a father. I cry for the daughter who watched him die, the same way I cry so often for the Palestinians that people like Charlie so loudly and proudly approve of their slaughter. I don’t cry for the fascist, I cry for the souls who look just like mine, when deprived of any political opinions, any hatred, are simply souls still being dipped in love for their family.

Empathy—has always existed. It will always exist. I find that when people are faced with tragedy, they will find a way to care. Perhaps not at first, perhaps they won’t want to care. Yet, putting yourself in the shoes of another opens doors that you never thought were there. I know that closing your eyes and attempting to see through the eyes of another gives you the ability to feel what you thought you never would. Empathy, despite Charlie’s words, exists.

I know it exists because I feel it for his family. I’ve wondered so genuinely about whether he thought of his children and the world he left for them. I weep at the idea that perhaps in his last seconds he felt some regret for the things he maybe wish he never said, or the things he spent his life doing. I wonder so deeply whether he’d cry for himself had it been someone else. Had someone else been shot, would he have wept? Would he have regurgitated his beliefs that gun violence is worth it? Would he have cried, would he have sent his condolences? I don’t believe he would, but we will never truly know, because he’s gone.

So, we feel empathy for a man that didn’t even believe in the feeling. We offer him something that he would reject. But, please don’t stop offering it. Being capable of love for even those who spread hate is something that takes so much strength, and I’m very proud of those of you who have been strong. But please, don’t shame those that aren’t capable of caring for a man that would never care for them.

‘why do you have no empathy for him?’ he didn’t even think empathy exists 😭

@siera what’s bothering me is the way so many people suddenly feel empathy… but when it’s NOT their favorite politician, they’re devoid of it 🙂‍↕️

the fact that this is actually one of the most tame things he came out with is horrific😭

@lyla that was kinda beautiful and so true 🥹

Lyla ate that shi up

@lyla you ate as usual - very well said