Not every bird is a swan, and not every person is capable of compassion

Last Friday, the author witnessed a bullying incident involving a girl being pressured to eat grass by a group of peers. After intervening, the author discussed the aggression in children with a friend, a former soldier. They debated whether children's behavior stems from anger or a natural inclination to cause distress. The friend suggested that empathy can be trained through reciprocal experiences, proposing that bullies should face similar treatment to understand the impact of their actions. The conversation highlighted the complexities of teaching empathy and the varying capacities for compassion among individuals.