Not every expression of outrage is equivalent, but there is plenty of anger fueling the souls of men and women around the world. From the streets of London, Hama, and Tel Aviv; to the floors of Congress and Wall Street; to households and board rooms from the United States to Greece, Italy, and elsewhere--people are pissed.
Some of these expressions of anger are motivated by a deep, indignant desire to change corrupt governments, institutions, and societies; others are simply base and destructive criminal outbursts. Yet the question remains: Why all this anger?
In his studies of animals, Konrad Lorenz wrote not only about the famous "flight or fight" response (when an animal is confronted by an adversary or opponent); he also described the link between frustration and aggression (when an animal is faced with adversity or challenge). Today, we human animals are acting out in very similar ways.
People the world over are frustrated and enraged by the geo-political and economic uncertainties all around us; by the horrific challenges of war, poverty, hunger, and changing climates; by new technologies that promise salvation but (too often) add only more confusion and complexity to our lives. The center is not holding. We are being tossed, turned, and tormented by a new world order that we don't fully fathom because it is still going through its own birth pangs. And we are not happy about it.
Welcome to the new millennium. Stick close to your family and friends, because it's going to be one hell of a ride.
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