Is society becoming more aggressive and angry?
Is there a gap growing between people who declare “do something” (which really mean they’ve become frustrated and want to be part of the process in changing a situation) and those with deeper understandings and more sophisticated viewpoints?
Are we stereotyping those with large platforms, large pulpits, podcasts, Ivy League educations and more prominent social positions as deity incarnates?
Does the “do something” crowd, which many times I fall into, not always understand how law works or how long rule of law takes for justice to be realized or social change to occur? Probably.
But the truth is as frustration can often turn into anger, so too can acknowledgment and inclusion help diffuse it.
We’ve all become frustrated with processes in our own lives or that of socio-political or economic nature. Our world’s increasing complexity and reliance on the interdependence of food, clothing, music, medicine and more is evident. Let us acknowledge the fact.
It’s evident in a free thinking society that those who feel left behind, not heard, or unable to change or adapt to personal or global situations, frustration can quickly grow into anger.
An angry society, willingly or unwillingly ( I tend to feel mostly people don’t even know what they're truly angry about) can be misused or misdirected —or worse, weaponized by those who would manipulate your pain for personal gain; money, power and elite positioning in life.
Aggression is reversible.
In observation, a general public gets more frustrated by watching nearly daily toxic news cycles, as they do they shout out DO SOMETHING in some form or metaphor in hope that people will hear them.
Yes, perhaps everyone needs to become more involved and diversify sources of information and grow by investing in their own educational processes. But the counter to the combination of a manipulated media coupled by a less informed public understanding of politics, world cultures, and everyday sensibilities has become increasingly condescending —if not condemning.
It feels good when we're “in-the-know” and part of a solution, or at least part of a shared opinion but the point is elitism in areas of life that include technology, money, or higher education doesn’t necessarily mean better answers or deeper or more compassionate thinkers.
No one person or group has all answers or solutions anyway. That’s why acknowledgment, civility, empathy, and coming together is vital.
So where do we go from here or get there from here if we are to create and cultivate a more united and enlightened society?
There’s no wrong answer.
We have lots of ideas already:
H.H. The Dalai Lama suggests compassion and warmheartedness.
Theoretical physicist Steven Hawking told us empathy could course-correct aggression in society.
Bill Clinton said in an interview that civility is needed.
Dr. Shefali Tsabary calls for Conscious Parenting.
Tyler Perry asks us to refuse hate.
"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." – Henry Ford
Tracy Ellis Ross says “Human rights, race relations, gender politics, health care, and foreign policy - it's a lot to keep track of, and yet all of these things affect us in our daily lives. Making sense of everything requires meticulous unpacking of feelings, delicate navigation of social norms, and a community of love to help along the way.”
In a recent interview with Heather Cox Richardson, President Joe Biden acknowledged his faith in America by saying “Americans don’t want to be told their not capable.” I agree with Joe Biden.
I believe we are capable of accomplishing many things. Rich or poor, “do something-ers“ or political activists, American citizen or immigrant seeking the safety of asylum, what is common is our sense that togetherness is how we build something great.
Photo by Dibakar Roy on Unsplash
Artist, Author, Activist, Poet and Singer-Songwriter Richard Silvia is founder of YesRising Ventures —Inspiring Global Thinking. He began Teach Love MultiMedia in 2021 to inspire Love, Possibility, and Inclusiveness through the ministry of words, music and art. He has self-published 7 books and a CD You Will Be Loved by The Rick Eva Music Project. The author publishes a Substack newsletter called Radically Relevant. https://linktr.ee/YesRising #TeachLoveMultiMedia a #YesRising Venture.