Compassion in Times of Crisis. The Best Expression of Intercultural Concern

Abstract

In a crisis situation, people try to tap every bit of resource available for mere survival: economic, psychological, cultural. Even when the first two run short, the last rushes to help as a last resort: the cultural heritage of every community. Cultural convictions play a greater role in human decisions and social processes than individual choices and personal preferences. Intellectuals with a sense of responsibility do a great service to humanity when they try to stimulate a community’s cultural sensitivity and strengthen its cultural convictions with regard to values that repeatedly stood with humanity in its most challenging times, and which are urgently needed in these difficult days. One such value is compassion.