Anger Management

A few weeks ago author Anna Quindlen wrote in NEWSWEEK about the end of the Anger Era, that she thought this ugly chapter was closing. Not quite, as evidenced by the job ending words uttered by Don Imus. But we're getting closer. We're talking about this age of hurtful languge, of anger and hopefully, thinking about ways of ending it.

The Anger Era's been around more than 5 years. We've seen parents bloody or kill other parents at their kid's athletic events, talk show hosts routinely use words to attack others who don't agree with them, road rage that can turn deadly, verbally abusive or just 'plain old mean' callers who disagree with something we air, road rage and the list goes on. Somewhere along the line, we began accepting this as normal.

When school kids act inappropriately ie: over the top angry, they're sent to a school counselor to help them learn how to manage their anger. We've even seen models, sports stars and actors sent to anger management programs for throwing phones or punches at employees, spectators or family members. Perhaps, as a nation, we need some anger management.

If you go from zero to 60 emotionally try to pause and feel the heat - feel your heart rate increase, your blood pressure soar. All this anger is not good for our health, individually and not good for our health, socially. Why are we so angry? That conversation's for another day. But today, let's all turn down the volume.

Please.
Okay?
Thanks.