Lack of Empathy from Liberals

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I just finished a book which I don't want to name. It was by a really good parent and about parenting children with neurodifferences. It had great information and ideas in and and it came recommended to me by close friends who I love and respect and who are also exceptional parents. So I really don't have anything to say about the content of the book or the need for the book. 

It was the tone. It was clear from many references this person was a certain type, an NPR listener, someone who used to drink diet coke, fluent in a million cliches, etc. This type could be narrowed to white liberal, but lets just stick with liberal for the moment. One major beef liberals (which I consider myself in the completely impoverished terms we have for ourselves in this country) have with conservatives, is how narrow-minded they are and how they refuse to see various perspectives and have empathy for people who are different than themselves. Liberals typically wear the love of difference on their chests as a badge. 

But this author is shockingly ignorant and narrowminded. Most of the book she talks as if everyone reading the book will have only one child (like she does) and spend their lives spending money on life coaches, therapists, and various self-care experts. In the end, her lack of consideration for others and different perspectives, leaves me feeling shame about my parenting which is the very thing she is arguing against. The book includes little phrases like "pro tips" when she is not a professional by any stretch, much of her ideas come from her own experience and often includes the BBC program she watched or a story she heard on NPR. Yes, sadly, that puts her ahead of many americans in literacy, but it does not mean she is a professional! 

So, unfortunately, I wasn't able to hear very much of what she was saying, as helpful as it was and as much as it is born out of terrific parenting and a hard journey to embrace her own child's differences. The tone and tone-deafness and constant cliche and tribe signaling drowned out the benefit of reading. I was listening to it and in order to make it through, I finally just cranked it up to 2.5 speed (I regularly listen on 1.5-2 so not that much of a stretch). 

So, if you are a writer of a certain tribe, please make an effort to actually be open to other perspectives, considerate of them. And please try not to use cliches ... once in a while is fun and funny, but piling them into every sentence will make your book feel like one long instagram post. 

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