I don't have a nipple ring, or any body adornment or add-on whatsoever unless you count contact lenses. I mean, I'm 51 years old, embarrassingly white, straight, northern European ... you get the picture.

Yet I empathize far more with Mandi Hamlin vs. the TSA than I do self-styled "liberal Republican" William Saletan is his blog, "Human Nature," in which he he reveals little empathy for same.

Jeff Schult

<link>

I was just stating elsewhere that some have little to no capacity for empathy and grow quite intolerant because of it. Sometimes these folks don't even realize how intolerant they are if they are surrounded by like minded (and looking) folks. It's nice to be reminded that there are still plenty of folks who can and DO empathize with others. That kind of thinking bridges gaps. Thinking like Saletan's just perpetuates them.