Compassion is the heartfelt understanding of the affliction of the person you are focused on and the genuine desire to comfort them.
Like many others I have been following the Jill Carroll story for months praying for her safety, and for her family.
I cannot comprehend my child in a hostile land being held, with me helpless to do anything.. except pray and make some noise.
I am also very sure that if I had a gun pointed at my head I would cooperate fully, with the terrorists.
I would also hope that I would be given a chance to regroup and recover before my character had been assassinated .
Stockholm Syndrome:
Perceived threat to your life and the belief that your captor is willing to act on that threat.
The captive’s perception of small kindnesses from the captor within a context of terror
Isolation from perspectives other than those of the captor Perceived inability to escape.
Stockholm Syndrome is a survival mechanism.
They are fighting for their lives. They deserve compassion, not ridicule.