Editor:
That was curious advice being handed out by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in the May 6 edition of the Optimist's Mental Health Week section, suggesting that anger (along with sadness and fear) could have a beneficial potential.
Well, the courts for one might beg to differ, as the tool they seem to regularly rely on in disposing of the increasing incidents of road rage, supermarket rage and now anti-masking/anti-Asian rage is to employ “diversionary” “alternative” measures consisting of mandatory attendance in anger management therapy sessions.
Anger actually is different from the other two emotions cited and is obviously a necessary prelude to the wave of gang violence currently plaguing the Lower Mainland.
Anger can also be highly damaging to interpersonal relationships as anger tends to beget anger, tension, anxiety, fear, suspicion and retaliation, and could result in the loss of friendships, relationships, jobs, even life itself - not so fear and sadness as such. Its routine expression is typically the tool used by those holding power for purposes of exerting control and intimidation over others.
Perhaps the CMHA could follow up with a presentation on engendering more ‘positive’ aspects of human emotions, such as general amicability and cooperative attitudes, attributes that are sorely in need in this trying time.
Ed Davis
