ANGER
The now daily images of angry citizens that flow across my 40-inch flat screen digitally enhanced TV has driven home the fact that anger teaches us something about who we are.
Through the veil of Constitutional Rights, America now vents its frustration, fears and all too often, its falsehoods, with fanaticism that dances on the fringe of insanity. Consumed by the fires of perception we seem to have forgotten the simple lessons that give birth to civility. There is a fair amount of theatrics in the performances of our enraged citizens as if life has taken the form of a low-budget reality show. It’s as if he who shouts the loudest and says the most absurd thing becomes eligible for cash and prizes. The winner is seen the next morning making the rounds of what now passes for news programs.
It appears that we have become addicted to bad behavior. The majority of us now live in fear of life. What will become of us, how will we survive this crisis? Meanwhile the “Bottom-feeding Pundits” play to our fears and incite us to dig deeper into our despair. Least you forget how bad things are, they constantly take polls and quote statistics, proving that they are justified in continuing to scare the hell out of us.
Are we not aware that all this anger and fear is damaging our very souls? Are we so lost that we cannot understand that a world filled with doubt, fear and anger will ultimately destroy its own future? Where is the dignity in screaming over the voices of others to state your disapproval but have no alternative options? I was taught by the generation before me that if one loses their dignity, they lose the essence of their soul. What are we now teaching the children who will come behind us? Will they have any need to use words like character, dignity, courage and morality? Judging by the way we are responding to the first real crisis of this generations’ era, it’s time to pause and consider the words and deeds that will mark us and determine the future of this great country.
Chill people, ratchet down the hostility. To hell with perception, grasp reality and let’s come up with some solutions.
Thank you for this! I know I said I felt rage watching all the insanity unfold on TV and now in schools. I am still angry at the way pundits and politicians are stoking the fire – either through action or inaction! – but I am trying to find hope too. Haven’t quite found it yet, but you remind me to keep looking. : )