OPEN DEBATE about RIGHTEOUS ANGER

September 25, 2020

 WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGE THIS:

ANGER is the new prevailing Emotion we are feeling, not just in the U.S. but everywhere, but yeah, as one President would say "BIGLY" in the U.S.

IT has, unfortunately, made us unable or unwilling to engage in civil debate, as we are quick to lash out at views that don't perfectly align with our own, OR even when they do, if those views are not expressed in a "correct" way, we still lash out.

WE ARE FEELING RIGHTEOUS ANGER.

WE are fed up with the climate change deniers, with the anti-maskers, with Trump supporters and his minion, but we also are fed up with ANYONE who isn't completely on board with our views on just about any other topic that might arise: Black Lives Matter, criminal justice, abortion rights, LGTBQ rights, and so forth (the list of things we can feel Righteous Anger about can be endless - just pick your medicine). Being aware that those on the Right are also angry when certain topics arise.

SO - if say, ONE person expresses a particular view about the nature of anger, such as:

ANGER IS ROOTED IN FEAR 

https://dispol.blogspot.com/2020/09/anger-is-rooted-in-fear.html

THEN how dare the author even make such an argument, because, damn it! I have a right to my anger!

AND my anger is justified!

BUT, one person's opinion on the nature of anger is just THAT PERSON'S opinion, and you can easily find a contravening opinion like this one:

In the end the most powerful tool that any of us have is our own voice and our own choices and how we intend to use them. I’m fucking furious. Why shouldn’t I let the world know? If I don’t, how can I expect it to change? 

https://www.glamour.com/story/how-i-got-over-my-fear-of-being-difficult-online

DEFINITELY WORTH A READ FOLKS, but all in all, just a different opinion on the nature of "ANGER" which we should be able to agree with or disagree with, without other people getting angry with us for agreeing or not agreeing with the author.

RIGHTEOUS ANGER I THOUGHT, was more of a religious term:

What Does the Bible Mean by ‘Righteous’ Anger?


HOWEVER, it is now more widely used by all kinds of people, religious or otherwise, regardless too of political persuasion.

WE ALL FEEL IT, WE ARE ANGRY!!

But there are legitimate arguments to be made that our anger might be borne of FEAR, or that adversely, that it is NOT borne of fear, but justifiable.

SO HOW ABOUT AN OPEN DISCUSSION?

When is anger justifiable or when is it not?

Is it fair to use anger in a debate when you disagree with someone else's point of view?

Is an angry response always the best response?

OR, does anger overwhelm you?