Anger check: how angry should we be?

[Ladyhawk]

I was just talking to a lady who made me feel a bit guilty for the amount of anger I feel toward bushbots. "They're human, too," was her reasoning.

Are we too angry? Do we need to tone down some of our more nasty rhetoric?

Thoughts?

(Sorry, I'm not feeling particularly articulate tonight. I'm loaded up on Vicodin.)

[Arkana]

1. They are a group of people that have spared no insult for us

There is no name too low, no insult too indecent, no deed too dark for the GOP. They and their voters are subhuman scum. They don't deserve our charity.

It's like Aragorn said before the Battle of Helm's Deep: "Show them no mercy...for you shall receive none!"

[maveric]

14. Think Purple Heart Band-Aids from their convention. They're human too?

I question that.

[Elwood P Dowd]

2. HItler was human, too!

And a whole lota' other humans wound up dead. :(

[lonestarnot]

3. No Hate em and all they stand for in the vilest of manner and waste no

time in saying so!

[solinvictus]

4. Civil War..

That's what it seems to be coming to. Every day here, someone starts a thread about either verbal or physical confrontations with the nutjobs out there. We seem to be in a cold civil war that's likely to turn hot. We should be pissed as hell because these people are ruining our country.

[MrModerate]

5. By Bushbots do you mean . . .

the basically non-political people who voted for him and nervously look toward the future hoping they made the right choice?

Or do you mean the apparatchiks and politicos, and their scary activist enablers?

For me that's the distinction. Most people have only so much time and expertise to interpret political input and make choices. It's grown hugely more difficult over the last 10 years or so as the RW fascists have seized more and more control of the apparatus of government.

The Internet is one way we've increased education of the electorate, but it's not really keeping up.

A run-of-the-mill goodhearted person is sorely challenged to figure out what's what.

What are we going to do about it?

[lyonn]

24. Your point about people that voted for bush

and are now hoping they did the right thing is probably quite accurate. I speak to people concerning this admin. and they are quite naive about so many things. They seem to live in the past where all should be well and that what this bunch is doing is really to unbelievable and that I may be a bit radical. They are so busy working and taking care of their families they really don't take the time or have the time to really listen or try to figure out what is really happening to this country. Again, IF we had a real media it would give both sides and not report like everything is a fact. Like the Bolton, DeLay, Rumsfeld reporting is so soft peddled. You are probably right about the internet, it doesn't reach enough people. C-span helps as much as anything.

Edit: Silly me, I almost forgot our representatives, they can help. We are hearing a precious few speak and the MSM is repeating some of it.

[nankerphelge]

6. Since weak and watery has lost the past three election cycles...

Maybe it's time to try a touch o' anger.

[Erika]

11. I have no problem with anger

Extreme stupidity can be deserving of an angry response.

[Boomer]

7. We're not angry enough

The last presidential election was stolen, and the one before that may have been too. Our political republic is dead and the country has been sold to corporate interests who are gutting it, not just skimming some profit off the top. Our economy will soon be in ruins, the world will be united against us, and there is a significant risk that our society will be ruled by religious conservatism rivalling that of the Taliban.

A truly appropriate response should be rioting in the streets. But gosh darn, that might hurt someone's feelings, so let's not.

[Fovea]

8. Here I quote one of my favorite plays,

'The Lion in Winter'

Elenor says "I could peel you like a pear, and God himself would call it justice."

And Richard says at one point. "Once when I was very young, I saw a group of soldiers take their dinner pig, and truss it, alive and kicking, on the spit. That's the sound I am going to hear you make."

Somehow, I find them very evocative of my current state of mind.

[chlamor]

9. "Anger is a virtue"-Thomas Aquinas

[Ladyhawk]

36. "Selfishness is a virtue." - Ayn Rand

You can say anything you want, but it doesn't necessarily make it true. I think anger can be used, but I wonder if I'm not needlessly whipping myself into a frenzy.

[The Whiskey Priest]

10. We should be very angry...

What is being done to the least of us is a crime. Due to fate I can care for myself, there are those that cannot. That is my charge, but, I cannot fight the whole of Federal Government and the greedy of this country. I am willing to take on one or the other..both are beyond me. I shall keep fighting until my last breath,but, I am angry.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. A whole lot more of us need to be a whole lot angrier.

Rantingly, relentlessly, volcanically angy. Mad enough to chew lug bolts. Mad enough to throw bathtubs. Hopping, screaming, frothing mad. Furious enough to throw anvils through plasma TVs every time the Chimperor's ugly mug appears. Angry enough that your blood pressure has to be measured in pounds per square inch. Mad as hell, and we're not gonna take it any more. And feeling guilty about it? Not a chance. Never.

[magellan]

13. Not angry enough, I think

If someone jumps off a roof, are the people who stood around gawking and yelling "Jump!" responsible? Perhaps not legally, but certainly morally.

The Bushbots are morally culpable for the state of this country because of the criminal government they prop up and defend. They may be human (I'd want scientific proof that they aren't actually descendants of neanderthals), but they're far from representing the best of America. I'm not inclined to view them kindly at all.

[0rganism]

15. Are we angry enough? I don't think so

Democrats and lefties in general have perfected the art of "taking it". How many times have we been cheated -- and not just by the omnipotent republican politicians, either! How much shit will we take from the lying media whores, from the unscrupulous insurance industry, from the union-busting corporatists, from the earth-raping industrialists, from the doctor-killing "pro-life" militias, from the race-baiting bigots, from the self-righteous drug warriors, before we finally do something about it?

Anger is an energy. My complaint is certainly not that we have too much of it, but that we don't even use the pathetically undersized amount we do have productively.

[BuyingThyme]

16. More anger, please.

They may be human, but they're also Satan's sheep.

As long as you're not hurting anybody, I say pile on.

[lostinacause]

17. Anger hurts everyone and makes it easier for others to

be more harmful.

[More Than A Feeling]

18. Anger isn't very effective in talking to the other side

but it is terribly therapeutic. The other day I was explaining (a little excitedly) how Bush wanted to destroy social security, when I realized how that would sound to someone who wasn't up on their shenanigans. I used to be such a nice guy.

[kentuck]

19. Perhaps we aren't angry enough....

Our nation is going down the tubes....and sooner than we think? Do you think that is reason to be angry? Or do you think perhaps we should simply tell the truth in more subdued tones?

[Solly Mack]

20. I'm not sure people are angry enough

Anger doesn't mean you sit at home alone, under the cover of darkness, and plot the demise of bushbots.

I plot their salvation(couldn't resist the word usage - I slay me)

Anyway...

I'm angry at anyone who thinks America, under the "leadership"(coughsputterspew) of Bush, is doing fine. It's anger born of frustration....but that doesn't mean I want to grab my baseball bat and walk through a GOP rally bashing heads. It doesn't mean that....

::::moment of quiet reflection::::

Ahem...

It doesn't mean that at all.

Anger has it's own place and it's own time. BTW, it's time.

[RaleighNCDUer]

21. I can't speak for others, but when someone explodes on me, my

first thought is "What did I do to deserve that?"

And that is the exact question the Bushbots need to be asking themselves.

ON EDIT

And I hope you feel better real soon.

[LoZoccolo]

22. We should learn to get what we want.

Blindly following anger will not get us that.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

25. Tell that to the NeoCons...they got what they wanted, didn't they?

[LoZoccolo]

28. OK, go run around and beat up Republicans physically.

Use a blunt object if you have a good one you'd like to use. Be sure to hit them over the head so they die. If that isn't follwing your anger, I don't know what is. Go do it, and see if it gets you what you want.

_{NOTE: This post is sarcastic.}

[lyonn]

30. Only with the help of the media

who are the corps who own the lobbyist who give our politician legislation to be made into laws. Simple. Now, how do you overcome that? Maybe our Dem representatives are finally getting tired of getting this arrogant bunch shoved down their throat where they can't speak and will realise they are seriously losing this game.

[illflem]

23. Anger benefits no one

and just demonstrates that we can also drop to the same level of humanity as the bush whores.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

26. Except the NeoCons. If we keep turning the other cheek, we will....

...lose far more than we have now.

[Cleita]

27. I would have asked her why she thinks they are human?

Sorry, you aren't feeling well. I know how unfocused the necessary painkillers make you.

Tell her if they were humans who cared about anything or anyone, then you wouldn't be so angry. Then you could give her a laundry list of the people they are hurting, the rank and file military, the elderly, the sick, the school children and many more.

[meganmonkey]

29. I think balance is key here....

We ARE angry, most of us here, on some level. The key is where we aim our anger, where we express it, and what we do with it.

It is difficult not to be angry at the people who voted for bush**. We don't understand how they could do support him, especially after the last 4 years. To some extent we can blame 'media' and 'society' and 'culture' for their ignorance and messed up priorities, but I have a hard time with that because I believe in personal responsibility. It is not easy to be fully informed, and it isn't pleasant to realize how corrupt and messed up this country is. And that is downright depressing, contributing to the anger...Yet we still seek out information and have passionate debate and try to find Truth. Why don't they? I don't know.

BUT - to some extent, they think the same way about us. They truly believe that they grasp the issues and that they are right. And despite the fact that they are running the show, politically and media-wise, they are still angry at us. So where does that leave us?

I am not one to suppress anger. Thank (god/dess) for DU! I can be as smarmy and sarcastic as I want and it isn't really personal because I am not naming names - except for the politicians and other public figures (who are fair game, IMHO). I try not to make too many broad generalizations, but that is just a personal thing and I certainly lapse from time to time here.

But outside of DU, when we are face-to-face with people, we have to think about what our goals really are. We truly believe we are right, and we want the rest of the nation to see it that way, right? Or at the very least, we want to win. We want the good bills to pass and the bad ones to fail, we want the Dems to win elections.

Which means we cannot afford to alienate people. Even if we think they are aliens (I mean the kind from outer space) because HOW IN THE HELL COULD THEY POSSIBLY THINK BUSHCO IS GOOD FOR THE USA? (Ooops, there is that anger creeping up ;) )

But I think it comes down to figuring out how to change minds. Because ultimately we have to. Fortunately the repubs are f*ing up so bad our work seems to be getting easier, at least we can weed out the people who we will never change (those who think congress was right to interfere with the Schiavo case, for example). But we have to be able to reach people, so we have to mellow out the anger in certain arenas. I don't mean to compromise positions, in any way. I am pretty far left and I make no apologies for that. But we need to be accessible, whatever that means. And being angry and heated may rally the base, but it won't change minds.

On a personal level, I find that too much anger leads to hatred and I try to avoid that. It makes my shoulders tense and my back pain flare up (I use Flexiril for that) ;)

[lyonn]

33. I like your post Megan

Anger hurts, must keep a clear head! Hate and disgust and helplessness are all harmful to oneself. This site is so good for venting, helps a little.

[meganmonkey]

34. Thanks. and one thing I forgot

that I was thinking about...

We should try to direct the anger toward the politicians and decision-makers, and use patience and education (where possible) to the bushbots. To some extent, they are being manipulated and used and lied to. It is still up to them to learn the truth of that but our anger won't help.

Okay, way past my bedtime! G'nite.

[cry baby]

31. Anger that is directed into action is real good...

anger shown to people that you want to persuade is not.

We are adults and we control where we use the anger and where we simply cannot. When with others, be persuasive. When being activist, be angry, it gives you energy.

[zann725]

32. Sounds like that "lady" was patronizing you...making you feel guilty

about your anger. Men have been doing that to Women for eons to 'keep them in their place.'

No, we do NOT need to quit speaking-out, or being outraged about a stolen election, missing Billions in war expenditures, 1500+ dead U.S. soldiers, proposed destruction of Social Security as we know it. In fact, I thought we'd barely begun...

[savannahana]

35. in certain cases, angry enough to leave DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=120x33395


and I'm truly sorry for whatever you're going through that needs the Vicodin.

[leesa]

37. Well, they are destroying our country and making us hated throughout the

world. How angry do you feel?

[BlueIris]

38. I'm still pretty goddamn angry.

I can't hate all of them--some of them are just honestly too stupid to be expected to form responsible opinions, because they haven't had access to online info, unbiased reporting or other sources to feed what could become a more responsible viewpoint. Some of them are busy, working parents, who are stuck in hellish, whirlwind schedules and just haven't had time to sit down and think through whether their "values" are doing more harm than good. Some are horribly disenfranchised with limited avenues from which to get what little advice they trust about politics and are just getting it from the worst avenues imaginable. And I'm trying to focus my hate on Bush, and elected officials supporting his agenda, not the Sheeple (more efficient.) But rich, safe, educated, semi-intelligent folks choosing to support Bush for no decent reason whatsoever? So,,,hard,,,not,,,to HATE THEM. So hard.

[Stinky The Clown]

39. How Angry? Real.Fucking.Angry

And hateful. I have never yelled and screamed as long, as loud, as frequently as I have for the past four-plus years.

I hate this cabal. I hate their enablers. I hate what they stand for. I hate what they've done. I hate what they're planning. I hate that I hate.

And for all that hate inside me, I'm Real.Fucking.Angry.

[Sapphire Blue]

40. How angry?

:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:
:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:
:nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

That's just about as articulate as I feel tonight, but that about covers it.