“I find it difficult to feel responsible for the suffering of others.”

 On first reading this sentence, I thought it might be a comment from some hard-hearted curmudgeon—something like “Why should I feel responsible for the suffering of others, if I didn’t cause it.”

But then I read the rest of the quote: “That's why I find war so hard to bear. It's the same with animals: I feel the less harm I do, the lighter my heart. I love a light heart. And when I know I'm causing suffering, I feel the heaviness of it. It's a physical pain. So it's self-interest that I don't want to cause harm.”

So obviously the intended meaning was the opposite of my first-glance interpretation.  I wonder if the author—Alice Walker, an intelligent and successful writer—did that intentionally. In any case, it’s a good example of how careful we have to be with or sentences (in both reading and writing), and how easily they can be misinterpreted.

Anyone like to take a crack at rewriting the sentence so that it’s clear, and still effective?

If so, let us (and other blog readers) know.  

Thanks,

Dave and Lane

P.S.—The quote was lifted from a recent AWAD entry by Anu Garg.