Burningbird: How can we not be angry?

July 09, 2002

How can we not be angry?

Today was not supposed to be an 'angry' day. I thought we'd covered the subject and were ready to move on. But then I checked the news. I read that the "earth is dying" (mentioned in prevous weblog posting).

And then I read:

Bush rejected comparisons between the transactions that masked losses at Harken Energy Corp. and those of executives and accountants at such companies as Enron and WorldCom that have resulted in billions of dollars in red ink.

His own case, Bush said, "was an honest disagreement about accounting procedures."

And then I read:

"I actually didn't read the whole story," he said. "But people shouldn't speculate about the desire of the government to have a regime change. And there's different ways to do it."

And I'm angry all over again. Tell me: how does one respond to reports such as these with love or compassion?

I am angry, and through this anger, I am determined to ensure by any legal means necessary that Bush is not re-elected and that he and his cohorts are kicked out of the White House. And through this anger, I plan on doing everything I can until that time to ensure that Bush's hypocritical and idiotic acts are exposed for what they are.

I am mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore. And if my honest emotion is a reason for shaking your head in pity of my lack of control and inability to redirect said emotion into a more positive center, well then, you can just kiss my grits.

Posted by Bb at July 09, 2002 10:58 AM

Comments

Hi Shelley
don't know if you read my quote from the Dalai Lama but if he can resist getting angry when you think of all the Chinese have done to his country then....

I always try to remember a quote from Ghandi "If you are right you have no reason to get angry and if you are wrong then you have no right to get angry"

PS I am one of the angriest people I know so I don't always remember this stuff!

Posted by: The Obvious? on July 9, 2002 11:14 AM

I've always liked the Dalai Lama - his sense of humor, his gentleness, his wisdom. And I admire him for his openness regarding the Chinese. But then I look, and I still see Tibet occupied by the Chinese.

Sorry, much as I would like to emulate both Ghandi and the Dalai Lama (two people I admire), my anger (or rightious indignation if you will), is still there, and I still feel compelled to change things.

Euan, you never struck me as an 'angry' person - you always seem so mellow and thoughtful in your postings.

Posted by: Bb aka Shelley aka Weblog Bosswoman on July 9, 2002 11:27 AM

You'd be surprised, Bb. The bit about depression being anger turned inwards (which I injected into the convo; you were wondering about that) could be large portions of my life story. I still have a hell of a mean streak when it comes to a couple ex-coworkers.

I have come around to thinking of the whole anger thing as a buzz saw. Great tool for some people -- dangerous implement of destruction (of self and/or others) in the hands of others.

Posted by: Dorothea Salo on July 9, 2002 11:58 AM

Only if they're unsalted. Butter's okay, but no salt.

Afraid of the hypertension, dontcha know? :^)

God bless you Shelley. You've taken an enormous burden on yourself. You've got a big heart, but I'm not sure it's big enough for everything you think you have to do. But God bless you anyway.

I'm not being flippant or arrogant, or passively-aggressive. No pity either. I guess what I'm feeling might be called compassion. Do what you feel you must. Follow your heart. That's all you need to do. Everything else will follow.

I guess I'd better get some actual work done around here today. Chop wood, carry water. Nothing ever changes.

Heh. =:^)

Posted by: dave rogers on July 9, 2002 12:45 PM

I guess I'm "mellow and thoughtful" most of the time but when I flip I flip!

Posted by: The Obvious? on July 9, 2002 01:11 PM

Shelley, you're not the only one. Read the Gore Vidal interview in L.A. Weekly: http://laweekly.com/ink/02/33/features-cooper.php

Posted by: Sheila on July 9, 2002 01:12 PM

Anger can have its positive uses sometimes, but not often.

I reckon the thing to remember with politicians is that there is always an alternative, and it is often worse. If George Bush is as bad as you say, yes he should go on trial, and if any nation can put their chief executive on trial, you Americans can. But in the meantime, you have to decide whether he is worse than, say, Jacques Chirac [also suspected of white-collar crime] or the host of other grubby types who slide into politics worldwide. Don't just get involved in politics because you hate a particular corrupto. Get involved to make it better day to day, helping select decent leaders at local level. No reform that pinned its hopes on one Mr Clean coming to mop out the Augean Stables ever got anywhere. Ordinary voters need to clean up their own act first.

Posted by: Mark on July 9, 2002 02:22 PM

Dave, thanks for your note. I'm not really taking on a burden. I'm not out to change the world - just that within my sphere of influence. If that's not enough, at least I won't die someday with a "life regret" that I did nothing.

Mark, you have excellent points. If I seem as if I'm focusing purely on eliminating Dubya, that's primarily because I see that he has such a stronghold - Gore Vidal's scoffing at the numbers aside. This effort is in addition to my usual political activites and responsibilities, not in replacement of same.

Posted by: Bb aka Shelley aka Weblog Bosswoman on July 9, 2002 03:45 PM

I'm glad you specified 'legal means', Bb. I've often wondered recently if Ashcroft's Hashashin could blacklist or detain me without charge if I were to transit through Fortress America sometime for suggesting (in a strictly picaresque way, of course) his removal by other means.

Also : Is it 'legal' in America to call for armed revolution? Just curious.

Posted by: stavrosthewonderchicken on July 9, 2002 09:18 PM