Bernard Leung, Associate Professor of New Testament, discusses two common reactions to suffering. When we see others suffering, we typically react in two ways: First, like most people, we feel compassion, grieve for their misfortune, and thus care about their well-being; second, some of us can understand the suffering victim's perspective and empathize with their feelings. When the media widely reports on disasters, we naturally have the first reaction towards the victims. This compassion motivates us to care for, comfort, or provide assistance (such as donations) to the suffering victims, hoping to alleviate their suffering. However, does what we do truly help them? This is a question worth exploring. Excessive comfort may put pressure on the suffering victims; repeatedly discussing the disaster may also cause secondary harm. In these compassionate actions, we often play the role of giver, standing behind a safety boundary to extend a helping hand to the recipient, but our perspectives and positions may differ. When media coverage decreases, we gradually lose understanding of the suffering victims' demands and situations, and our attention and compassion for them gradually diminish, perhaps even leading us to judge their feelings by our own standards. ...
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