Words Matter: Sympathy, Empathy, and Our Reactions

Effective and expiration — two different words with two different meanings that share only the letter 'E.' That was a lesson I once had to teach a call center supervisor who wasn’t well-versed in English and didn’t grasp that these words mean very different things. When English isn’t your first language, it’s understandable — but it’s still not acceptable in a customer-facing role. My first conversation with the representative was going nowhere, and it took speaking to a supervisor to resolve the issue.

Nevertheless, when native speakers make similar mistakes, it’s also frustrating — because you’d think that after a lifetime of speaking and studying English, they’d know better.

Sympathy vs. Empathy

This came to mind as I watched reactions to Charlie Kirk’s recent death. I’ve seen people misusing and conflating the words “sympathy” and “empathy.” These are two distinct concepts with entirely different meanings, and while they are often used interchangeably, they shouldn’t be.

Sympathy is when you feel sorry for someone’s loss. Empathy is when you put yourself in their shoes because you’ve experienced something similar. If you’ve never lost someone close to you, you can still express sympathy — but true empathy may not be possible.

Public Figures, Private Reactions

I don’t follow Charlie Kirk and haven’t listened to his commentary. I haven’t heard the full context of his remarks about empathy being “overused by the woke left.” Maybe he meant to critique people who say they “empathize” when they really mean “sympathize.” I can see where confusion happens when words are misunderstood.

Regardless, celebrating someone’s death says more about us than it does about them. Even if Kirk made controversial statements — such as saying that gun deaths are “worth it” in a society that values the right to bear arms — cheering his death feels more like revenge than reason.

The Hard Truth About Guns

Whether we like it or not, an armed society produces gun deaths. As long as guns are manufactured and sold, gun deaths will occur. Even in countries where obtaining a gun is difficult, shootings still happen — though at a lower rate.

Legacy and Reflection

This isn’t just about Charlie Kirk. It’s about us — how we use language, how we process grief, and how we’ll be remembered when our time comes. Words matter. Reactions matter. And if we care about our legacy, we should think carefully before hitting “post” or “publish.”

Critical thinking is one of our most valuable tools. Let’s use it — not just to judge others, but to examine ourselves.