When is Anger Justified and Proper?

WHEN IS ANGER JUSTIFIED AND PROPER?

ZENAIDA SALCEDO CABANGON

Lopez National Comprehensive High School

Lopez, Quezo

The growing complexities of life requires the proper weighing of the pros and cons to free oneself from problems. Life is competitive and so difficult that it needs pointers to the right direction so that fruitful results be obtained. “The heavy crosses which many us carry are the crosses of our own making.”

Yes, the weaknesses of humanity if controlled or prevented will make man stronger in his struggle for beneficial existence – one of these is ANGER.

ANGER refers to a strong passion or emotion of displeasure usually excited by a sense of injury condition. It inflicts pain and disturbs health condition. Theirritated and excited man is never health nor prosperous. In any day, while we are working, the first act that could couse failure, generally speaking, is ANGER.

Anger, observations reveal, binds the mind’s reasoning power and frustrates the calm deliberation of good judgment. These result from passion and emotion of displeasure. Indeed, one never gets angry unless an injury was done, or believe it was done. But not all anger is wrong as there are some which are “justified and proper.”

Biblical stories tell us that the Lord himself in chastising the money lenders in the House of God, walked without fear in the midst of the improper even more compelling than the use of bullets, upset their tables.

Likewise, when the Lord imposed a high penalty on an offender the feeling of the soldier was hurt. The Scriptures in describing His actuation, state: “If I have evil, give testimony of the evil, but if well, why strikest thou me?”

Self-defense, defense of the country, and God are good causes to apply a justified anger. Take the case of war for peace and war for defense. They had been possible out of a motive. The Filipino’s campaign for independence actually brought havoc to the Filipinos, but despite of the losses of lives and properties, the Filipinos who fought in the war were not persecuted nor condemned because they should and expressed their anger for a cause – Philippine Independence.

The same is true when thousands of Filipinos gathered at EDSA and comprised the human barricades to protest the rule of Ferdinand Marcos. The strength of the Filipino character manifest this bloodless revolution. The same sentiment and similar aspirations drove these people to show openly their anger toward the Marcos regime. Such a gesture of the Filipinos proved very remarkable and very significant. Their sense of unity was greatly felt that then President Marcos, despite of his opportunity and power, remained unmoved and never took any step that would endanger the Filipinos and the country as a whole. The higher ups, through they felt insulted by the actions made by the Filipinos, were unable to exact the punishment expected. Such an anger proved to be justified and proper. Thus, through the EDSA Revolt the Filipinos realized the importance of unity and brotherhood which in return made them more freedom – loving and responsible.

Anger brings out tremendous damaging effects in life and property. Police blotters and daily papers and prove these. Fire, for instance, caused by arson, originates from anger. The desire to make revenge drives one to ignite fire in one’s properties. Even crimes like murder and homicide are also motivated by anger. Numerous cases have shown people put to jail because of anger. Likewise, many lives have been wasted all because of anger.

Remember, Getulio Vargas, “Strong Man” and President of Brazil for 24 long years, underwent a crucial struggle following the people’s weakening popular support, against his combined political opponents, the military and businessmen, and was forced to shoot himself. This was a suicide that shocked the world. It was due to strong passion of anger.

A young lady after having been scolded by her parents, committed suicide due to madness or anger; an employer reprimanded his employees due to anger; a man burned his 6 sleeping children and wife and property because of anger. The past world was destroyed by blood due to anger of God upon sinners. The present could be destroyed by means of flood of fire, known as the hydrogen or cobalt bomb by the unscrupulous itchy hands of sinners, possibly due to anger.

Without sense of firmeness and determination, people become too weak to control their outburts, thus they are turned down and suddenly become weary. They lose their equilibrium and finally come in conflict even with their nearest neighbors and friend.

Anger can be controlled and subdued. Infact, God wants us to temper our actuations by saying, “Be angry and sin not.” Let not the sin go down upon your anger. Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. Revenge is mine”

When anger is truly unavoidable, apply tact and intelligence. When reasoning does not help, never rise force, threat, or anger. Instead, be calm, wait and listen for anything that may spring up to your advantage. Shattered nerves…………… Cast them away. They weaken the heart, the mind and the whole of you.

Jefferson further advises that whenever we are angry, counth ten, if more angry, count one hundred, and if very angry, “Swear.” Pull yourself away from the place where anger is caused or keep yourself at rest, and this will give you some “relief.” Seneca also advised that “the best remedy for anger is delay.” A cooling period is necessary.

Anger can therefore serve as an instrument that will give life its utmost advantage. According to an experiment of DR. G.E. Hall., prominent scientist of Toronto, Canada, anger stimulates the nerve fiber. It oozes a sercretion, called “acetylcholine” which, in excess, is a “poison” that causes indigestion, ulcer, and disease of the heart. Acetylcholine poisons the body and results in low spirits and misery. So, when you’re angry you will surely hurt yourself, not your intended adversary.

Kind looks, kind words, kind acts, and warm handshakes are means of graces to men who are in trouble and are fighting their unseen battles. “Kind words, Pascal said, produce their own image in men’s souls; They soothe and quiet and comfort the hearer; they shame him out of its soul, morose, and unkind feeling.”

Why feel angry and suffer the consequences when its easier to stay calm, and deliberate? Remember Syrus, “Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.”

Bibliography

Davis, Keith, Ph.D., Human Behavior At Work (New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co.) c 1884

Devito, Joseph A., Human Communication (United States: Addison Wesley Pub. Inc.) c 1997

Paredes, Cirilio J., The Way of Life (Manila: Philipine Book Co.) c 1989

Walter, Kenneth D., Employees’ Right to Blow The Whistle Harvard Business Review, July – August 1985

Whyte, William Jr., H., The Organization Man (New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc.) c 1982