Rage /noun ˈrāj a: violent and uncontrolled anger b: a fit of violent wrath c: violent action (as of wind or sea).
And yes, we have plenty of it.
It seems to be coursing through our collective veins. We have been exposed to raging Americans in news stories, social media postings and we may have witnessed such conduct in our own lives.
There is a common observation that because of the days in which we live, this is the worst period when it comes to rage. I do not agree. As with most afflictions we assume that we may not be the first, but we’re certainly the worst. Humanity has been afflicted with rage since Cain beat his brother Abel to death out of a fit of jealousy. I mean there were only four people in the world, and one already killed another. We lost 25% of the world’s population to rage.
Rage is found all around us.
But why?
American rage is driven by intense political polarization, economic pressures (inflation/stagnant wages), and social media algorithms that thrive on fear and anger. An "us versus them" mentality, fueled by distrust in government and cultural divides, has created a widespread, often addictive cycle of grievance and outrage, says Mother Jones.
Is that right?
Perhaps, American rage is the result of certain people in our population who can't control their emotions. They will suppress, ignore and even deny events or issues that rile up anger. That anger will grow until a release is needed and BOOM!!! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, rage.
Let's take a look at the definition of terms.
"American rage is driven by intense political polarization."
There is no doubt that our socio-political chasm has grown over the years. But partisanship is not new. We've had great political divides throughout our nearly 250 year history as a nation. However we have never had such a technological environment. The combination of reach, frequency, non-verifiable truthful messaging and anonymity has enflamed simmering embers of distrust in government, blame of government and, yes, verbal and physical violence against government. In addition that partisanship is no longer just fundamental disagreements but has evolved into an ongoing war against a sworn enemy where assured destruction is the objective. Too much? Just wear a MAGA hat, well, anywhere.
"...driven by economic pressures..."
You have a family to support, you've got bills to pay, the kids need shoes and the repo man is knocking on your door. I'd consider that "economic pressure".
It is a widely accepted that the leading cause for divorce is not adultery but finances. Combine the strain of meeting obligations while your marriage or relationship is under severe duress and that's a level of pressure that's off the charts. Unfortunately we have to acknowledge these conditions can lead to domestic violence and more. The question is, is "economic pressure"an explanation or an excuse? It is illogical that one can rage against those who are so close, who are loved or who are children. It's not the economy. It's the character and integrity of the individual. If it were a chronic condition then everyone who has "economic pressure" would lash out with rage. Sorry, this is all on you and not economics.
"...social media algorithms that thrive on fear and anger.."
I can't believe what social media has become. Yes, I'm an old man but I ain't that old.
Social media has morphed from a place to connect with high school friends, share pictures of food and show videos of your vacation.
It's now the place where you can see reels of bloody fights, soft core porn, tragic deadly mishaps and worse.
It's also the place where identity theft, online bullying, "cancelling" and the sites for personal attacks under the protection of the aforementioned anonymity. The infliction of damage is profound, including legal action against Meta (facebook and more) finding them responsible for facilitating such violations.
Social media has become the common platform for such vitriolic and brazen political speech and imagery. A litany of hateful memes, including well produced reels advancing offensive and incendiary messaging, dominate certain platforms. But it's what follows that is concerning. The commentary is rife with even more poisonous exchanges that apparently are fueled with rage. The personal attacks sometimes coupled with threats of violence is omnipresent. One could consider this a cathartic release or a twisted validation to escalate beyond the written word. If it leads to perpetrating violence, again, the fault is not the social media posts. It's the individual who is to blame. Clearly he/she has issues ranging from a lack of discipline to compromised mental health which are all components of rage.
The potential for rage is in us all. The expression of rage is controlled by the majority.
The manifestation of such rage can be found in virtually all aspects of our society in varying degrees.
We seem to have an affinity for road rage in America and here at home. Protesters against President Trump personify internal rage oftentimes becoming animated in words and actions. The riots surrounding the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd highlighted the expression of rage but also exposed many as simple criminals perpetrating violence and the robbery of innocents. A local high school sports official is attacked by a rage induced parent after a ball game. And more and more examples.
Whenever an individual is discovered acting violently or inappropriately their first line of defense is to blame others.
This simply not true.
It's a parallel to one saying, "You made me feel bad. You made me angry."
No, you allowed yourself to feel badly. You allowed yourself to become angry.
Rage in America and here at home will never stop because just so many believe they have no responsibility for their actions.
If we finally assign meaningful consequences for rage-induced actions maybe, just maybe, the loss of freedom, property or finances will compel those perpetrators to stop thereby promoting an improved community and a safer environment for all.
Rick Hamada can be reached at rickhamada@aol.com.
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