Anger resolves nothing

Why get angry? Is it because someone has a view of the world that differs from yours or mine? Someone wants you (or me) to do something ‘their way’ because it is the way they want it done and if it is not done that way I (or you) am ‘wrong’ and they get angry. Does that solve the ‘problem’? Has the issue been resolved? Has the matter been laid to rest?

Often, in anger, words are said that would be best left unsaid. Often, in anger, actions are taken that, on reflection, would be best not done. Often, in anger, behaviour is indulged in that, on reflection, would be considered unwise.

So why get angry?

As a defence, to conjure up courage – to get the adrenaline pumping – anger, if it is directed in a ‘correct’ course of action, has its uses I suppose. But, as is often the case, there are ‘spin off’ effects that are harmful. Someone who is always angry, who always expects to get things done their way because they threaten anger (and the implied violence) if it is not done as they wish, is really guilty of anti-social behaviour. And we have enough examples of that – from politicians to racists to sports men and everywhere in between. Examples of road rage and ‘one punch’ injuries and even deaths are unfortunately all too common. National anger whipped up by articulate (and not so articulate) national leaders, building upon some emotion that has gripped the nation’s interest often leads to war – Hitler in Nazi Germany; Serbia and the Balkans; George W Bush and Iraq; Israel and Gaza – to name but a few in a long and tragic list. All for what? Have any of the issues that ‘aroused’ the original high emotion or anger been resolved?

So again I pose the question, why get angry?

We are all human beings. Isn’t it much better to talk to people; to reason with them – they have their points of view, which are as valid as anyone else’s? Isn’t it much better to listen to their ‘problems’? Isn’t it much better to treat people as you would like to be treated? Remember they have hopes and aspirations just like you and I – they may be different but they are still valid. Getting angry and threatening violence, or actually taking violent action, will not remove their hopes or in any way alter their aspirations – if you can (or have) achieved yours why can’t they achieve theirs? They have their way of going about their lives which may differ from yours (or mine) – but it is their life; not mine; not yours – it is theirs.

So why get angry?