Editor's Notes

I have a Sirius satellite radio and am able to indulge my addiction to National Public Radio (NPR), with three NPR stations available to me. On an afternoon, when all that was being broadcast were repeats of shows I had already heard, I stumbled upon the World Radio Network (WRN). It airs news programs from around the world, in English.

This discovery occurred during the recent upset between Georgia and Russia. I heard many European newscasters and political pundits question American attitudes and say that Americans have a very narrow view of the world. I soon felt I was eavesdropping on conversations I was not meant to hear and often found myself getting angry. And yet I kept listening, as any good eavesdropper would do.

Some believe that empathy is required for individuals to develop both compassion and wisdom in this life. Others have said that the lack of empathy is the source of all war. And in order to be empathetic, we need to be able to see situations from another’s vantage point.

I cringe whenever someone tells me that their dog "is fine" being kept in the house (or crate) twelve hours without getting a break to go outside. The dog may not be having accidents, but I doubt that from the dog’s perspective that they are "fine". Similarly, an owner that complains their cat has accidents outside his or her litter box needs to wonder what it is like to be forced to use a week’s worth of soiled litter. Empathy can be taught, but like other skills, requires practice; our companion animals provide us ample opportunities for such practice.

WRN has made me aware of many events that are going on in the world that are not mentioned by Brian Williams during the NBC Nightly News. I am also learning what many Asians and Europeans are thinking about those events, and also events going on in this country.

Being empathetic does not require you to agree with the differing viewpoint; just try to understand it. We need to adopt another dog. I have lots of practicing to do.

Cindy