<<what would have helped them sustain their empires, honor or compassion?>>
Isn't that what I said, that compassion sustains and honor builds. Each of these men was honorable by the codes of his people, and each explemplified what it meant to be a Mongol, Greek, Cossak, or Chinaese.
<<and if that hooey makes you feel better about adopting an "I've got mine, who cares about anyone else" philosophy, so be it.>>
I don't have that philosophy, I give money to my father to help take care of my retarded sister, and I am putting aside funds to build a home for my aging mother. I donate profusely to liver disease research, and veterans assistance.
I do this for the same reason Walter Payton suddenly began donated to liver disease research, it is in my best interest. I feel good when I do it, but my motive is to better my own life. I help take care of my sister because she is family.
I may not be particularly old, but I have lived through more than my share of experiances that age the soul and harden the heart. I have not stopped caring for others, but I have gained the wisdom for why I do it.
And, in my working with not for profit boards and financial elite, I've found they are altruistic for the same reasons. Either they want to feel good, or they want to promote a cause the affects their life.
I help build houses for Habitat because it is fun. I pay a kid from the other side of town to come mow my lawn, because he needs the money more than local kids do, and the annual bus pass I buy him saves his folks money during the school year.
But you're almost right. I don't have an "I've got mine, who cares about anyone else attitude". I do have a "I earned mine, I will help you earn yours, if I like you" attitude. |
