One can certainly question the wisdom of picking a topic which the majority feel rather confident in and than question it. However, it is good to know where people stand on such topics, it gives an idea of the person. Despite the title this is not as extreme as some may be expecting. But I feel discussion and debate just may arise.

Compassion. Without a doubt one of the most recoginzed traits of the Light Jedi. Often said to be the defining trait of Light Jedi, but I highly disagree. So I offer my view, my stance on why compassion is a misconcpetion of the Light Jedi, not a trait to be nutured. And of course, leave it for discussion. =)

Compassion: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. Com*pas"sion\, n. [F., fr. L. compassio, fr. compati to have compassion; com- + pati to bear, suffer. See Patient.] Literally, suffering with another; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration.

Now, I know many people love the "that is not how I view compassion" game. However words are, for humans, the major communication medium. Especially online, we have nothing but our words. Thus, I submit that compassion is as the text definition says. And this is what the Light Jedi in general (not directly suggesting the Force Academy as I have not gone through any teachings here) encourage.

That aside I feel that compassion should be placed with the rest of emotions. Anger, Saddness, Hate, Joy, Love, all just as capable as the next at clouding one's judgment. Good intentions can pave the road to hell. If we act solely on compassion and it leads to ruin, we cannot just focus on the fact that we intended to do good. Both intention and results matter.

A Jedi is objective. I feel most will agree to this. They are kind, they seek to help others. More than that they seek to help others help themselves. Teach a man to fish, and all that. We would all agree that reacting to a situation based upon our feelings is rarely the best solution. You see injustice, allowing anger to cloud your judgment is ill-advised. And yet we encourage it with compassion.

As one would recklessly enter a situation because of anger. So to will one recklessly enter a situation because of compassion. It plays off our emotions, it uses our heart to override logic.

A Jedi seeks to do good, to help in the world (even is that is merely your own world, aka family, friends, neighborhood). Yet that must be for the greater good, the bigger picture, the growth of all parties involved. Compassion sees the small problem, not the grand solution. It is an emotional response to suffering.

I ask; Should a Jedi help because they feel bad for someone? Or should a Jedi help because it is simply the proper thing to do? People feel if you remove compassion no one would help any one. I ask you, is the Jedi Path so petty? Are Light Jedi so blind to the world that we would not help simply because we do not have an emotional response to one's pain? Light Jedi help even when they really do not want to. They do so not off guilt, compassion, or empathy. They do it for duty, that is the path and life they have chosen for themselves.

Light Jedi feel emotion. We cannot just cut that out of us. Nor should we try to. It adds spice to life. However, as Light Jedi we must be calm, objective, focused on the greater good. Emotions tend to interfere with that dynamic. And thus we feel, but do not simply react. We judge, observe, and logically reason. Compassion is a misconception, it is not the defining factor of the Jedi. In fact I would say we are Light Jedi despite feeling compassion. The same way I say we are Light Jedi despite feeling angry at times.

In conclusion, compassion is a natural feeling. It is a human reaction like all of our other feelings and emotions. And while no one would say these are bad or evil. We can say that they often cloud the mind and lead to the wrong solution. It is when we are calm, at peace, thinking clearly, logically, that we find the best solution for all parties involved. You will feel compassion as you would anger, pain, happiness, and sorrow. The key for us Light Jedi is to recoginze our feelings and act properly regardless of them. Sometimes they support our logical, objective decisions. And sometimes they are screaming against them. We just need to act as Jedi regardless.