Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton recently penned an op-ed discussing her infamous 'basket of deplorables' comment from 2016 and her evolving views on empathy towards individuals who support former President Trump.
In her op-ed titled 'To err is human, to empathize is superhuman,' Clinton acknowledged her struggle to empathize with what she described as 'radicalized individuals.' She reflected on her past statement where she referred to some of Trump's supporters as 'the basket of deplorables,' citing their alignment with racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and Islamophobia.
While Clinton initially apologized for her choice of words in 2016, she now believes that the term 'deplorable' may have been too lenient in describing the hate and extremism exhibited by certain Trump supporters, especially in light of events like the Charlottesville rally and the January 6 insurrection.
Clinton shared her experience of meeting Shannon Foley, a former White supremacist who now works to deprogram individuals leaving hate groups. She praised Foley's empathetic approach and pondered whether such compassion could help heal societal divisions and extremism.
Despite maintaining that some individuals may be 'irredeemable,' Clinton expressed a desire to see goodness in everyone and offer a chance at redemption, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding.
Reflecting on her original comments, Clinton admitted to the 'gross generalization' of labeling half of Trump's supporters as 'deplorables.' However, she continued to criticize Trump for his alleged association with the 'alt-right' movement and White supremacists.
Clinton's op-ed underscores her call for a more empathetic approach towards individuals with differing beliefs and backgrounds, highlighting the need for healing and unity in a divided society.
