How angry are we?
Jamie Malanowski, writing in the Washington Monthly, takes on a new book called "A Bee in the Mouth: Anger in Amercia Now," by anthropologist Peter Wood. Malanowski takes exception to Wood's thesis that we are somehow more anrgy a society than we once were, pointing out numerous examples from our history.
And he asks, "The real question, though, is, What's wrong with anger? Our civilization's moral tradition stems from laws supposedly handed down by a God who got fed up and flooded the world and set fire to cities and turned people to salt and drowned the armies of the Pharoah, and who sent as a redeemer his son, a prophet of forgiveness who nonetheless had a day when he drove the money changers out of the temple. Anger isn't foreign to us; anger is at our root -- at least when it seems legitimate."
Malanowski also observes that "We may be angrier as a society but arguably more accepting of living with people of different religions, races, sexual orientations, and so on." Interesting notion.
And if you don't like that, well, get out of my face, you blithering morons. Ahem.
WHO ARE YOU CALLING ANGRY?? I AM NOT ANGRY!!!!!
It seems like a silly argument. Anger does not solve anything its just an expression like crying or laughing.
The difference is when I laugh I get a good chemical reaction inside. When I am pissed I get a bad chemical reaction inside. Usually making a bad situation worse.
Over a long period of time my wife has taught me that sometimes when your angry just walk away. Then later on the situation is not exasperated by anger and has a better chance of being solved.
a partial list of things solved by anger;slavery,child labor,women's sufferage,the right to vote,British occupation of America in 1776,....i certainly agree, John, good humor is essential,...so is rightous indignation at injustice,not the fake anger of KMJ radio hosts,...he kicked the money-changers out,...that's the point.
Hmmm the only way I can relate is that often the anger I encounter will lead to confrontation one that simply alienates both people or groups.
Its the compromise or willing to work with and accomplish similar goals that gets results.
Any appeasers out there Angry at terrorists ? I don't believe your willingness to compromise or work to accomplish similar goals will fly. They'll cut your head off too. Apologies to Mike D.
Yeah and we are getting great results out there.(sarcasm)
Matter of fact that illustrates my point very well. We did a knee jerk reaction and they did a knee jerk reaction and everyone loses.
Anger alone never solved anything. As I said it may be a catalyst for change. For that change to be long lasting there needs to be determination and the ability to work together.
John, it is still just a bunch of mumbo jumbo that won't accomplish anything.What would have been the appropriate response to 9/11 in your opinion. Coffee and cookies with Osama and the Butcher of Baghdad ?
Catching Osama would have been a good response. Instead of getting sidetracked into invading Iraq (which had nothing to do with 9/11).
the appropriate response would have been a thorough investigation of the events of 9/11.