Anger redux
Wow, I just finished a nice long post on anger and once again, my post gets lost because of freakin' browser problems. What an ironic twist.
Anyway, what I was discussing was the subject of anger. A friend of mine recently wrote about me, saying that my anger at the problem of homelessness in PDX caused me to move to the city. I agree with this and I thank my friend for pointing this out. This revelation has caused me to notice some common threads in my life.
For example, a long time ago I was in a punk rock band and wrote a song called "Following." The chorus of the song contained the line: "Anger defines my life." Although that was the expression of a piss-and-vinegar punk rock kid at the time, it was also a prophetic statement. Anger really has defined my life, but not blind emotional rage. Rather, it is a conviction inside me that prevents me from merely looking aside at injustice. Some people see other people hurting and want to comfort them, to heal their wounds. I want to do this, too. But more than that I want to attack and destroy the things that oppress them and cause them harm.
I think that this is a gift that has been given to me. Like any gift it can be misused. When I watch too many political movies and read too many slightly biased news websites :), the anger can turn to rage and effectiveness is quickly thwarted. But it can also be focused and used, and I hope to continue to do so. I have come to grips with the idea that this is who I am.
Speaking of anger,Sleater-Kinney is playing tonight and tomorrow night at the Crystal Ballroom and I'd love to go. A little known fact is that the aformentioned punk band was once on the same record label as S-K back around '95, so I feel some sort of distant kinship. Plus, they're fantastic, and I've heard that their new record is their best yet. If you have a chance to see or listen I highly recommend it.
Anyway, what I was discussing was the subject of anger. A friend of mine recently wrote about me, saying that my anger at the problem of homelessness in PDX caused me to move to the city. I agree with this and I thank my friend for pointing this out. This revelation has caused me to notice some common threads in my life.
For example, a long time ago I was in a punk rock band and wrote a song called "Following." The chorus of the song contained the line: "Anger defines my life." Although that was the expression of a piss-and-vinegar punk rock kid at the time, it was also a prophetic statement. Anger really has defined my life, but not blind emotional rage. Rather, it is a conviction inside me that prevents me from merely looking aside at injustice. Some people see other people hurting and want to comfort them, to heal their wounds. I want to do this, too. But more than that I want to attack and destroy the things that oppress them and cause them harm.
I think that this is a gift that has been given to me. Like any gift it can be misused. When I watch too many political movies and read too many slightly biased news websites :), the anger can turn to rage and effectiveness is quickly thwarted. But it can also be focused and used, and I hope to continue to do so. I have come to grips with the idea that this is who I am.
Speaking of anger,Sleater-Kinney is playing tonight and tomorrow night at the Crystal Ballroom and I'd love to go. A little known fact is that the aformentioned punk band was once on the same record label as S-K back around '95, so I feel some sort of distant kinship. Plus, they're fantastic, and I've heard that their new record is their best yet. If you have a chance to see or listen I highly recommend it.