Widespread Wrath

Something ominous is happening in America's public places; outbursts of rage are becoming increasingly common. Customers in business establishments suddenly explode at the slightest request from staff. Asked to don a mask to limit the spread of COVID, some shoppers have pulled out a gun and shot the store's employee. Airplane flights are being terminated, when passengers assault attendants. Gun violence has dramatically increased. What used to be called road rage seems to have spread to “relentless rage.”

It is as if Americans have severed connections to each other, as they retreat into isolated and alienated enclaves, within which suspicion and fear of the other dominate. We have become politically and ideologically sequestered. In an attempt to acquire some measure of comfort, we seek the refuge of like-minded people, in order to let our fear and tension lessen, while we keep to our in-groups.

We have become intolerant of opposing perspectives, as if they are literally a threat to our existence. There is no longer much of a middle ground, where we may meet, listen to each other's stories, and come together. We retreat to our safe silos, taking comfort from those who share our concerns, and demonize those outside our confined bubble. There is a loss of unity, and of some common purpose. We've come to view the situation as a win-lose predicament, and we ferociously fight to be the winner.

What are the causes of this wrath and alienation? There have been numerous explanations offered—most often stemming from the opposing political persuasions that we hold. Another common interpretation is the vicissitudes forced upon us by COVID-19. Americans have been forced to hibernate and isolate, which has been an unbearable stress on socially-inclined individuals. One's imagination and dreads can become overwhelming under those conditions.

Additionally, the mystery of and misinformation about COVID have added to the anxieties. Rumor and apprehension quickly spread. Conflicting messages from the government and authorities have caused confusion and inspired conspiracy theories. Thus, problems of society—climate crisis, decay of democracy, inequality—have gotten set aside or fester in the minds of the populace. So COVID has definitely played its role in society's wrath. 

But the seeds of rage had already been planted well before this strain of corona virus entered the scene. Rudeness and alienation have relentlessly been on the increase in recent decades. Society has become progressively polarized. The internet's anonymity has allowed and encouraged some people to attack others. The domination of government by the rich and powerful has caused the country's leadership to ignore citizens' needs. As a result, frustration and anger have grown, as people have turned against the government's abandonment of their concerns and welfare. This anger and alienation culminated in the election of Trump, who further encouraged the rage and divisions.

Where do we go from here? No one knows. We are in a time of upheaval, which causes us to fight for our survival and each other. Will society's problems finally get attention, or will chaos continue to increase? Threats from without tend to pull a citizenry together. Threats from within tear us apart.

Unfounded Fear

Modern society's behavior is often driven by fear. It is ironic that many of those fears are unfounded. We create most of them in our heads. What is paradoxical about the situation is that today's societies are much less threatened than our ancestors' were. They had good reason to be apprehensive of their world, since they were not nearly as powerful as many of the predators they faced. An adequate level of fear was appropriate for them—much like the trepidation exhibited by small and vulnerable critters like mice and birds.

However, today's humans have become the most powerful creatures on the planet, so we no longer need to feel anywhere near the fear level that our deep ancestors did. We are top dog. So why are we so frightened? I believe there are two principle reasons: (1) the more power we acquire, the more we worry that some human stranger will take over and wield power over us, and (2) our polarized society readily turns our opponents into wicked enemies.

In the first case our problem is that we instinctively seek power, whenever we feel uncertain or not in control. We believe that if we build and impenetrable wall or a formidable weapon, we can intimidate any potential foes. They will fear us and leave us alone. And yet, this belief usually leads to an arms race, as our newly-acquired power now seems like a threat to them. So they will seek ways to fortify themselves, to ward us off. Whichever side acquires the greater power at any time, will often find themselves drawn into using that power—not necessarily out of fear, but as much due just to the temptation to see what we can gain by using it.

In the second case we easily succumb to the fear of the opposing clan in a polarized society. There is little inclination to try to understand them, since we become convinced that they are bad and we are good. We readily respond to that primordial feeling of dread of the other. We readily adopt stories of their evilness or unworthiness. This deep-seated fear rises quickly within us, as we experience a rush of adrenaline—which again was useful, when long ago we were surrounded by fearsome threats. Emotions such as anger, ignorance, and misunderstanding feed the problem. 

How do we counter our fears? There are several antidotes, such as fostering empathy, respect, and understanding of the other—which are the core aspects of nonviolence. It's not easy. It's work. It can help to appreciate that feelings such as fear once made more sense for our species, when we were weak, but can be lessened, now that we are strong. It's time to grow up.

Love Leads

I believe that, deep within, each of us inherently knows love is a meaningful and valuable virtue. I say this, despite the evidence that there seems to be an abundance of loathsome and dreadful behavior taking place on the part of humans, all over the world. The propensity for the media—as well as every one of us—is to put an inordinate amount of attention to the harmful things we humans do, rather than to our caring and helpful side. Negative press (or gossip about a neighbor) is noticed far more than positive press.

I do not think that our species would have survived to this point, had not love been a natural instinct of ours. Every one of us desires to experience love and willingly offers it, particularly in positive and healthy relationships. Similarly, we inherently prefer peace to violence—given the choice. I am convinced that only confused, fearful, and deluded people commit violence and act with hatred. People who are happy and fulfilled to not do these despicable things.

As a result of what I believe to be that innate potential to lean toward love and peace, we have established communities and religions that emphasize these virtues. At the core of every legitimate religion is the conviction that peace and love are vital virtues. These values have for millennia provided sustenance and moral support, which have helped their adherents to thrive and survive. No rightful religion teaches hatred and violence.

So why, one might reasonably ask, is there so much suffering and evil going on in the world? Why do the media feature so much of what seems to be bad behavior? Why do some supposed followers of various religions commit such atrocious actions against believers of other religions? I have no definitive answers to provide. These are perennial questions that philosophers, sociologists, civil authorities, and theologians have pondered and debated for eons.

The human record is not a pretty one. Aside from the media's fixation on violence, we have engaged in countless wars and destroyed so many of the structures, societies, and institutions that were lovingly and beneficially created. Our negative attributes have so often seemed to overshadow our positive attributes.

It appears to me that what's going on is that something gets in the way of our acting upon what I consider to be our natural and beneficial instincts. What might that be? I believe that fear is the primary barrier to wholesome behavior. Those in power—who wish to maintain their grip on power—find it useful for them to sow fear, which is an emotion that is often augmented by anger, selfishness, ego, and laziness.

It is a ceaseless struggle that we humans seemed doomed to face. Do we go to the dark side—fear, anger, hatred—or do we encourage our inspired and instinctive side? The jury seems to be currently deliberating on the opposing faces of humanity.