Angry Fellows

[H2O Man]

38. Good question.

All of us experience anger from time to time, in various aspects of our lives. It would be silly to deny that reality. And you are talking about in a specific aspect -- today's political reality, where a flaming ass-wipe is president, and mentally-dead republicans are supporting him, even though a majority of they recognize he is toxic. So we'll focus on that.

I believe Trump et al represent an extremely serious threat to our constitutional democracy (imperfect as it is). I'm convinced he poses a severe danger to my children's future, and to all the younger generations, both here and abroad. And I think that a lot of people believe the same basic thing. Right? So the question confronting us is what, if anything, are we going to do?

Every person has to answer that on an individual level. And that must, by definition, include what they will attempt both internally and externally. This is based upon an analysis of both what is important to them, and their beliefs about what capacities they have. And what they are willing to invest in the larger group process of confronting the illegal, unethical, and immoral nature of the Trump administration, and all of its cruelties.

To invest -- be it time, money, effort, etc -- means to transfer from one area of our lives to another, like writing a check from our bank account. It involves assessing how much we are each willing to give. It involves sacrifice. And when we consider it in that context, we come to a question: Do we merely want to continue a divisive conflict, or do we want to transform our society? While they both can be said to represent "change," one is short-sighted, while the other is far more comprehensive.

When you look at "politics" right now, be it in DC, on tv, or even an internet forum such as this -- it is easy to feel angry, for one is exposing one's self to anger. But most of that anger has zero potential for transforming the current dynamics into something better. Look at about 50% of OP/threads on this forum. People are clutching old hostilities, as if they were gold. Hence, there is absolutely no potential for them to make any progress -- as individuals, hence agents of change in society -- until they are willing to sacrifice that thing they so love and value: their anger.

This is, as you know, a concept central to Haudenosaunee thought: as groups and as individuals, we must access the Power of the Good Mind to achieve meaningful changes in society. You can't transform an angry society by remaining angry.

Finally, before I talk so much that you wish you hadn't asked, it generally works best as a conscious group effort. Only a few individuals do it on their own.