Glenn Beck: Nation Should Empathize With Black Lives Matter

TheBlaze radio host and commentator Glenn Beck said in an op-ed column for The New York Times Wednesday that he has empathy for the Black Lives Matter movement.

"Wouldn't we all benefit from trying to empathize with people we disagree with?" Beck wrote. "The only way for our society to work is for each of us to respect the views of others, and even try to understand and empathize with one another."

Beck said that movements, including the Tea Party, Occupy Wall Street, and the Bernie Sanders campaign are all similar in that they feel their opinions and concerns are not being heard.

Black Lives Matter supporters should not be defined by the actions of their movement, Beck said. "We don't agree on everything, certainly not on politics; but are we not more than politics?"

"We need to listen to one another, as human beings, and try to understand one another's pain. Empathy is not acknowledging or conceding that the pain and anger others feel is justified. Empathy is acknowledging someone else's pain and anger while feeling for them as human beings even, and maybe especially, when we don't necessarily agree or understand them," Beck said.

Beck suggested that movements should not be judged by "the worst among them. We must also stand together to confront the nefarious elements within our movements with equal fervor."

According to Beck, the country needs to follow the message of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reclaim "our shared humanity."

He predicted dire consequences for the U.S. if a move is not made toward embracing differences, in light of this year's murders, attacks, and unrest.

"If we don't, what we have seen this year will be just the beginning of the hate we are about to unleash," Beck said.

During a segment on "The Glenn Beck Radio Program," Beck addressed immigration and said he sees the reason why immigrants want to come to the U.S. He said if he was 25 and living in Mexico with a pregnant wife, he would immigrate to the U.S.

"I would say to her 'Let's go to America where we can have a good life.'"

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