Dean Koontz, in his book The Good Guy, offers this interesting dialogue about anger:
Tim: “So you were watching these angry people on the talk show.”
Linda: “And suddenly I realized, under a lot of chronic anger is a sewer of self-pity.”
T: “Was there a sewer of self-pity under your anger?”
L: I hadn’t thought so. But when I recognized it , I saw it in myself, and it sickened me.”
T: “Sounds like a moment.”
L: It was a moment. Those people loved their anger, they were always going to be angry, and when they died, their last words would be some self-pitying drivel. I was suddenly scared I might end up like them.”
T: “You could never end up like that.”
L: “Oh, yeah, I could’ve. I was on my way. But I gave up anger cold turkey.”
T: “You can do that?”
L: “Adults can do that. Perpetual adolescents can’t.”
One could certainly state that these are times of considerable “anger”.
- There are daily revelations of how far our nation’s leaders have strayed from basic values.
- Every major Faith group has divisions in which considerable anger is generated as they all wrestle with the impact of modern civilization. Christians, Jews and Muslims all have “in-fighting” as they strive to claim the “right”. Even the Buddhists show similar divisions.
- The problems with our economy reveal the growing gaps between the “haves” and the “have nots” – gaps that are even worse than the 1920s just before the Great Depression. The quarterly reports of profits by the major oil companies, when the price of gasoline has soared, add to the anger.
- The list could continue – local communities, states, industry, etc. All struggle in these times and many feel helpless to change.
Koontz’ “Linda” is correct. Under a lot of chronic anger is a sewer of self-pity. It is so easy to place the blame on “them”. It keeps us as victims.
- If our leaders have strayed from basic American values, why do so few vote? Why do so few bother to keep abreast of the information available?
- It is difficult for religious folks with a 5th or 6th grade education in/about their faith to be open to change.
- How long did we think the economy could continue with our consumerism at full steam? Did we really believe we could fight terrorism by buying more?
- Driving 8 cylinder SUVs, when we have known for more than 30 years we have an addiction to oil, has been our choices.
We have major issues to consider and work at in these next months and years – Major Issues! None of them has a chance of resolution if we remain “victims”. Neither McCain nor Obama nor Paul nor any other presidential candidate can “solve” the issues without us – each of us! Nor can the interpretation of Scripture [the Koran, the Torah or the Bible] be resolved by assuming there is “one” correct translation or interpretation. Nor can the crisis in paying for the care of the sick be resolved if each of us proceeds as if “full care” is a ‘right’ and not a ‘privilege’.
Our congregations, synagogues and mosques must become places where persons are assisted in their movement away from “victim” status. Our clergy must reclaim their roles as prophets and teachers so that persons may access a vital faith.
Let’s all work to give up our anger “cold turkey”. We can help each other be the adult that can do it.
