Anger, vengeance and retaliation
Saturday, 1 January 2011
One might ask as to why this scribe is writing on a subject that is ever so universal and is applicable to the entire human race. The only thing he can say in his defence is that all three attributes have special connotations in the context of Bangladesh. Incidentally, anger is also predominant in the animal world. Of late anger has gathered extraordinary momentum amongst the people of the country. It is our view that a good deal of it is the result of our feeling of insecurity, socially, and vulnerability, economically. When we say we, we mean the people belonging to the lower middle class and below who constitute over 50 per cent of our entire population. On the other hand, we have also become rather intolerant of opposing views.
While anger at a heightened level consumes oneself, display of anger for a right cause, at the right time and on the right occasion may at times prove beneficial. The trouble is that we are usually angry at the wrong time at wrong places and for wrong reasons. One often tends to be angry at an individual for which the concerned individual may have nothing to do. Anger often clouds one's sense of judgment. Besides, it can even cause sudden death by shooting up one's blood pressure levels. We lose more by being angry than not being angry. More often than not as an after-thought we have simply been remorse and regretted and have cursed ourselves for being angry.
Of late, most Bangladeshis operate from the premise of anger born out of utter frustration and a kind of hopelessness. Anger, like violence, breeds anger. People who thrive on coterie and partisan thinking, their domain is full of anger. These people are angry with every one. They are particularly angry when things are not going their way.
Incidentally, vengeance and retaliation are interlinked. One could, however, be vengeful and choose the path of retaliation without being angry. Many people in this country believe that best way to get even or avenge a wrong done to them is to follow the path of vengeance and retaliation. With the passing of the days matters are getting worse; in the process, our moral and ethical base is getting weaker by the day.
Let us now turn our attention to some real-life situations. We find it rather absurd that a certain report published by the Bangladesh chapter of TIB has caused some anguish and anger amongst some elements of the administration. We are no analyst of consequence, political, social, economic or otherwise, but it does not take much intelligence to understand as to why TIB is being treated as the villain in this particular instance. It is our feeling that they are up in arms against TIB simply because their cover has been blown away or else one wonders as to why this feeling of insecurity and undue concern?
All the three factors have gathered accelerated momentum now, an expression of which is the increased level of killing and murders amongst all sections of the society. Look at the violence and vandalism that take place on a regular basis in our educational institutions. Everybody is out to settle their differences through the barrel of a gun, an iron rod, a hatchet or a club. In the meantime, political rivalries are also seeking their resolution in senseless violence and vengeance. Now-a-days more than ever before you do come across anger at work amongst people of all sections of the population. Anger also seems to dominate even at the higher echelon of the society. Recall the instance/s where one of our venerable lawmakers assaulted a Traffic Sergeant on duty when he wanted to verify the documents of his vehicle or some such thing. Surely, you cannot fail to notice the angry faces of some of our managers of the state when delivering a speech in public primarily directed to individuals with dissident views or the Opposition.
Look at what anger has done to the society at large. Husbands are murdering wives; young men are throwing acid on girls since they failed to make them respond to their gestures of love and affection. People are angry, they are breaking cars and setting factories on fire either of their own volition or incited by their mentors. Either way, it is an ugly manifestation of anger, vengeance and retaliation
These days, one hears that such degrading elements cannot be contained without a social awareness-building. True as it may be, the fact remains that unless the administration takes the lead in real earnest and in an even-handed, fair and firm way nothing can be achieved and the scenario is likely to be worse than better. If we are to be a modern-day civilised nation we must reject anger, vengeance and retaliation, for that the first step is to bring about a drastic change in our political culture for the better.
(E-mail:
chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com)
While anger at a heightened level consumes oneself, display of anger for a right cause, at the right time and on the right occasion may at times prove beneficial. The trouble is that we are usually angry at the wrong time at wrong places and for wrong reasons. One often tends to be angry at an individual for which the concerned individual may have nothing to do. Anger often clouds one's sense of judgment. Besides, it can even cause sudden death by shooting up one's blood pressure levels. We lose more by being angry than not being angry. More often than not as an after-thought we have simply been remorse and regretted and have cursed ourselves for being angry.
Of late, most Bangladeshis operate from the premise of anger born out of utter frustration and a kind of hopelessness. Anger, like violence, breeds anger. People who thrive on coterie and partisan thinking, their domain is full of anger. These people are angry with every one. They are particularly angry when things are not going their way.
Incidentally, vengeance and retaliation are interlinked. One could, however, be vengeful and choose the path of retaliation without being angry. Many people in this country believe that best way to get even or avenge a wrong done to them is to follow the path of vengeance and retaliation. With the passing of the days matters are getting worse; in the process, our moral and ethical base is getting weaker by the day.
Let us now turn our attention to some real-life situations. We find it rather absurd that a certain report published by the Bangladesh chapter of TIB has caused some anguish and anger amongst some elements of the administration. We are no analyst of consequence, political, social, economic or otherwise, but it does not take much intelligence to understand as to why TIB is being treated as the villain in this particular instance. It is our feeling that they are up in arms against TIB simply because their cover has been blown away or else one wonders as to why this feeling of insecurity and undue concern?
All the three factors have gathered accelerated momentum now, an expression of which is the increased level of killing and murders amongst all sections of the society. Look at the violence and vandalism that take place on a regular basis in our educational institutions. Everybody is out to settle their differences through the barrel of a gun, an iron rod, a hatchet or a club. In the meantime, political rivalries are also seeking their resolution in senseless violence and vengeance. Now-a-days more than ever before you do come across anger at work amongst people of all sections of the population. Anger also seems to dominate even at the higher echelon of the society. Recall the instance/s where one of our venerable lawmakers assaulted a Traffic Sergeant on duty when he wanted to verify the documents of his vehicle or some such thing. Surely, you cannot fail to notice the angry faces of some of our managers of the state when delivering a speech in public primarily directed to individuals with dissident views or the Opposition.
Look at what anger has done to the society at large. Husbands are murdering wives; young men are throwing acid on girls since they failed to make them respond to their gestures of love and affection. People are angry, they are breaking cars and setting factories on fire either of their own volition or incited by their mentors. Either way, it is an ugly manifestation of anger, vengeance and retaliation
These days, one hears that such degrading elements cannot be contained without a social awareness-building. True as it may be, the fact remains that unless the administration takes the lead in real earnest and in an even-handed, fair and firm way nothing can be achieved and the scenario is likely to be worse than better. If we are to be a modern-day civilised nation we must reject anger, vengeance and retaliation, for that the first step is to bring about a drastic change in our political culture for the better.
(E-mail:
chowdhury.shamsher@yahoo.com)