Does anyone remember throughout elementary and middle school during the anti-bullying campaigns constantly hearing that we need to “put ourselves in another person’s shoes”? Then there was always that one kid who went, “what if they have huge feet” and the whole 6th grade class cracked up without understanding at all what the teacher meant by that phrase.

Even if I did not really understand it back then, now I relate it to “empathy,” another phrase that we hear everywhere, on the lips of political activists, motivational speakers, scientists, and business leaders. Empathy is emotionally understanding what another person is experiencing. There is a power in being empathetic, and I would argue that it is the most important trait that someone can possess. Empathy is about feeling what someone else is feeling, which is definitely not always easy.

I would say there is definitely a lack of empathy and understanding in our current political and social climate. With cancel culture, people are so quick to write off someone as immoral without understanding their point of view. Within a very divisive political party system, individuals refuse to listen to someone else if they are on the “opposite” side of them. Many wealthy people label those in need as lazy, undeserving of extra help. Many impoverished individuals label those that are well-off as privileged, undeserving of their wealth.

                             

Recognizing this current lack of empathy in today’s society, Jason Y. Lee, founded the YouTube Channel “Jubilee” in 2010 with the mission statement, “We believe in the power of empathy for human good.” Their human-centric videos provoke conventional thinking by exploring controversial issues and shedding light on the perspectives of varying kinds of people. For example, Middle Ground is a segment that sparks a dialogue between individuals extremely divided on an issue, such as gun control, abortion, or drugs. The people at Jubilee ask questions in order to prompt interesting discussions, allowing each side to see the perspective of the other, the goal being for them to reach a point where they can empathize with each other. Some of my favorite Middle Ground episodes are “Atheists and Christians Debate Truth and Belief,” “Men and Women See to Understand Each Other,” “Can Democrats and Republicans See Eye to Eye?,” and “Can Israelis and Palestinians See Eye to Eye?.”

                                                 

I stumbled across this channel and it immediately opened my eyes to the complexities of different issues and the varying perspectives that individuals have. After watching an episode, I am always shocked by how my preconceived beliefs on a particular issue change. Many people are afraid to listen to the other side’s point of view, believing they might be unfairly swayed by the other argument. However, by listening to these opposing viewpoints, in many cases, I strengthen my original argument as I now can account for the concerns of the other side.

So, if you find yourself on YoutTube, bored of watching Shane Dawson, David Dobrik, or Mr. Beast, hop onto Jubilee to open your eyes about real-world issues and real-world people. Only by understanding what other people in our world are experiencing can our society work together in developing new ideas and solving problems. So, expand your viewpoints, develop your empathy, and put yourself in someone else’s shoes, no matter what size they are.