Barbara Ascher, in her essay, "On Compassion" she states that compassion is a something that humans must learn, not genetically obtained. I support the claim that all humans must learn to be compassionate, because I was not born with it, I was taught as I grew up, and I decide whether I apply it to my life. Personally my father, works for an organization that helps those in need. He creates opportunity for people to have a second chance. Throughout history, many people have showed compassion, one main figure being Gandhi. The love he showed for all of the people of India, and tolerating all their beliefs to fight for a greater good. His compassion has left a mark on Indian culture. Also in literature there are examples of compassion shown in many works, an example is Robin Hood. A fictional character that steals from the rich, and gives to the poor keeping none for himself, he like Gandhi looks for a way to help the who have less.
Personal experiences are the most important because they are the ones you can relate back to yourself. My father, who has worked eighteen years helping poor and disaster affected people, continues to show compassion every day. While living with him, his morals and principles rub off on me and I try to continue to apply them in my life with the people around me. I was not born nice or generous, but I was shown to be nice and generous towards others, and it is my decision to react those principles. But personal experiences are not the only variables that contribute to our lives.
In the 1893, an Indian nationalist named Mohandas Gandhi started a civil rights movement, so that the citizens of South Africa could have the rights they needed. Later this same action was brought to India where he fought for the rights of Indian citizens. He showed compassion for all Indians beliefs whether they were Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jewish or Atheist. Through his compassion he achieved civil liberty for Indian citizens.