compassion.

my reading group is learning about slavery.  we read a children's book today about the man who mailed himself to the north to escape slavery.  in it, the author mentions that the man's children and wife were sold and the man never saw them again. 

one of my students got teary eyed and said "that's so unfair. it's so sad."

how many 7 year olds do you know who have such compassion they not only relate to a situation but FEEL it?

i wonder how different the world might be if we could all care like that.