When the fangs come out

In the last few weeks, I have been reminded of something. I have a very unenlightened reaction to certain stimuli. Of particular note, my reaction to a male attacking a female is barbaric.

And so, I am writing to my brothers.

Perhaps your reactions are different than mine.  Let me put it simply.  I am far from a violent man.  However, a male that raises his hand to a female is not a man; he is something to be knocked down.  If a male would dare to force himself upon a female, he has turned against himself and against us all.

I am very capable of embracing vengeance.  I am very capable of giving in to anger.  I am very capable of turning a blind eye to vigilante justice.  I am very capable of considering horrible treatment of other human beings.  A male attacking a female causes all of these effects.

We need to remember what we are. When a predator appears, we don't invite it in. We stand between it and what we hold dear.  We stand up so that others have the courage to.  We stand up so that those that can't are protected.  We stand because it is what we are.


Perhaps my views are antiquated.  I accept that and embrace them.  I know very well my sisters are not waiting for some "white knight".  I have no desire to be anyone's "white knight".  I want us all to be better.  I want us to weed out those that make us lesser.  I want to live in a world where I can call all men my brothers.

About anger...

Those that do know me might be surprised to even see mention of anger.  Long ago, I came to the conclusion that anger was simply a destructive force and that it should be ignored.  Although some would argue that this is easier said than done, in my case it truly wasn't.

I've had very little to be angry about over the last 30 years or so.  I can recall nearly all of the moments I was ever angry.  My memory has never been that good, the moments have been that rare.

Perhaps, I should clarify.  In my view anger is the emotion best linked to lashing out.  It is not simply frustration.  When I speak of being angry, I am referring to times when I wanted to cause harm to another human being or at least wished them harm.  I guess others would use the word "rage" instead.  I think of it as the desire to cause destruction... throwing things, actual physical violence, or simply yelling at someone.  The driving force behind "losing one's temper".  This just shouldn't happen very often in the average life, and in my life it hasn't.  I have been quite calm when resigning.  I have been sad during break-ups, I have been disappointed in my fellow humans.  The last time I recall being angry was at a party roughly 10 years ago and at the time, the emotion shocked me.  I knew I was quite capable of physical violence and that a simple insult had caused the desire to do so.

I really don't know if the emotional response occurs and I repress it, or if it simply doesn't occur.  I do think the latter.  I do think that the moments of anger have been striking and rare.  I think that learning to repress them would require more experience with them.

I am trying to open up more.  I am trying to let what is felt be expressed.  If anger comes of this, so be it.  I actually doubt it will.