In my experience, it is the struggle to survive any hardship that results in empathetic, sympathetic, and compassionate views. Wether it be struggling with three kids, a full time job, and getting a Master's degree (I love you Mom!), or the more personal struggle with a life of self doubt.

Those that never experienced the darker, harder side of life can come to understand another's troubles, but simply cannot relate to that person in any way to be truely empathetic.

I don't hold them accountable for their lives. In an ideal world none of us would suffer at all. I do feel like they might all have some other forms of personal struggle, but they aren't familiar enough with what it feels like to really express it or deal with it, or even be aware of it.

This is why compassion is critical. Everyone everywhere is suffering something, regardless of how significant we perceive it to be. When they demonstrate a lac of empathy, we have to remember that they have their own private struggle of some kind. It might be that their "weakness" is just their limited capacity to fully relate to others who are unlike them. If we have compassion in our hearts, we can forgive their callous behaviour, and help them toward a higher understanding of the wide range of difficulties many people face.

My $0.02,

PC