Compassion doesn't, of course, mean feeling sorry for people, or pity, which is how the word has become emasculated in a way.
Compassion is not a popular virtue. Very often when I talk to religious people, and mention how important it is that compassion is the key, that it's the sine-qua-non of religion, people look kind of balked, and stubborn sometimes, as much to say, what's the point of having religion if you can't disapprove of other people?
Compassion is the key in Islam and Buddhism and Judaism and Christianity. They are profoundly similar.
Ever since the Crusades, when Christians from western Europe were fighting holy wars against Muslims in the near east, western people have often perceived Islam as a violent and intolerant faith - even though when this prejudice took root Islam had a better record of tolerance than Christianity.
Fundamentalists are not friends of democracy. And that includes your fundamentalists in the United States.