“The evolutionary roots of altruism are complex.” That is a statement from a New York Times article today about our urge to help and how it is an innate tendency even before we start learning the rules of polite behavior from our parents. According to the story, 18 month old babies will immediately help an unrelated adult who is struggling to open a door or picking up a dropped clothespin. According to a Dr. Michael Tomasello, who wrote “Why We Cooperate,” helping is not enhanced by rewards and it seems to occur across cultures that have different timing in teaching social rules. He believes helping is a natural inclination not imposed by parents or culture.

In “The Age of Empathy,” author Franz de Waal, a primatologist, believes that aggression is often overrated as a human motivation and that we are programmed to reach out and “empathy is an automated response over which we have limited control.” Only psychopaths are immune to another’s situation.

To be empathetic is to be able to notice the subtle verbal and non-verbal cues someone gives off to let you know what they need or want. People who are empathetic receive both physical and emotional benefits from their sensitivity.  Empathy is the building block for compassion – another characteristic of behaving altruistically.  Behaving altruistically has a positive effect on your self-esteem.  When you act with compassion toward others you can experience a “helpers high.”

In an age where people anxiously watch as the wars and violence in the world seem to spiral out of control and some people seem to be focused only on their own self interests, it’s good to know that one of our basic instincts is that of empathy. Now if we could all just get back in touch with those roots.

I believe in karma and what you “put out there, you get back, tenfold.”  I think this applies to more than just our actions….I think the intention behind what we say has power as well.  So, when I read about the most recent radical right bumper sticker I was shocked. 

From the Progress Report:  RADICAL RIGHT — NEW RIGHT-WING CRAZE PRAYS THAT OBAMA’S ‘DAYS BE FEW’: The newest far-right craze is an anti-Obama slogan making its way onto t-shirts, bumper stickers, mugs, and even teddy bears and baby bibs: “Pray for Obama: Psalm 109:8,” which reads, “Let his days be few; and let another take his office.” It’s unclear whether the intent is to hope for an end to Obama’s time in office — or an end to his life. But the sentiment of the rest of psalm suggests the latter: “Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.” Diana Butler Bass at Beliefnet explains that Psalm 109 is one of the “imprecatory” prayers, “a lament in the form of petition to destroy one’s enemies.” While perhaps intended to be a joke, she notes that the psalm actually “entreats God to destroy the president.” CafePress.com and Zazzle.com, which had been selling “Pray for Obama” items, took them down. Yesterday, however, a Cafe Press representative told The Progress Report that the site was reinstating the merchandise because it deemed it “fair political commentary.” Cafe Press is now asking users to vote on whether the merchandise should continue to be sold. On Tuesday, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow spoke with “Patience With God” author Frank Schaeffer, who said that while the psalm was “frightening” in a secular context, it’s even “more threatening” in a biblical context.

I know there are many people that don’t like our President, but this is not the first time I have heard of slogans and rhetoric that have been openly threatening to him and his family.  What ever happened to “you reap what you sew?’  Or, the power of positive thought?  Some may say that “wishing his days are few” isn’t threatening, but what about the intent behind it?  Intent means more than words.

I may not be thrilled with the economy, the wars, the growing deficit, and the current state of healthcare insurance,  but the last thing I wish is for someone, anyone for that matter, is to wish “his days be few.”

Oh, and just to end this on a funny note for the holidays…..

Why won’t President Obama be having turkey for Thanksgiving?

Vice-President Biden will be out of town!  (now that’s the kind of political humor that makes me laugh and no, the intention is not to turn Biden into a turkey!)