No, it's about culture and proximity. There is a huge hunger problem in America. I give to my local food bank. It's not because I'm pro my state and anti all the others.

We are talking about Russian literature because it is part of our culture, unlike Afghani literature.

Attempts at weaponizing compassion are disgusting.

Exactly. This is the absolute core of the issue.

"On France’s BFM TV, journalist Phillipe Corbé stated this about Ukraine: “We’re not talking here about Syrians fleeing the bombing of the Syrian regime backed by Putin. We’re talking about Europeans leaving in cars that look like ours to save their lives."

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/02/civili...

So proximity and culture. I instantly place myself and my family in those cars fleeing Ukraine, I relate easier because it's familiar. My human empathy and compassion is not evil, and your attempts to weaponize it are gross and deny human nature and realities of the human experience.

I also watch more movies in English in settings I am familiar with or better know the context of (Western history versus eastern).

I also wear clothes I am culturally comfortable with. Am I racist for not giving all clothes equal wearing?

Because I had a diversity of ethnic foods around, I am comfortable and enjoy eating them. My family from the midwest who had no exposure mostly don't relate to them. I am not less racist, nor are they more, it's just a proximity and culture thing.

I am very fond of Greek and Roman history, yet have no Greek or Roman ancestry, because I am much more familiar with greek and roman history and culture than say Persian. It's not race, it's proximity and culture. Not that I wouldn't love more Parthian Empire stories.

This is wrong in so many levels.

What does eating Thai food have to do with anything? I sense you tried to make an analogy, but it's so obtuse I honestly can't imagine what you were thinking.

Are you honestly saying that empathy is dependent on culture or nationality? That is some pre-enlightenment thinking right there. I thought we civilized westerners had evolved towards universal empathy, all humankind is equal and all that.

You conspicuously left out one thing. It's a biggie. Proximity and culture and RACE.

I recommend you read the article I linked. If you're okay with the statements such as "they are not like the [savage middle easterners], they are blue-eyed like us", then it is an honor to be antagonized by you. I would be disgusted to have someone who thinks that agree with me.

I notice you don't mention conflicts in Ethiopia, Eritrea, or Sudan that have accumulated 300,000–500,000 fatalities. I notice you don't mention the ongoing conflict in Myanmar. I can only assume it's because of racism against black Africans and Asians.

It's clear to me lbrito is mentioning them tacitly, as part of those horrifying conflicts that don't cause outrage in the West because "they are not like us". You are making lbrito's point, really.