A coworker said to me, “Don’t get angry but…” the rest doesn’t matter. It was that phrase that caught my attention. Like warning me that something irritating is forthcoming will make me like it more. The funny thing to me is that I don’t get angry. I get irritated. Stupid and lazy really piss me off because I have to deal with them and the lazy idiots that inflict stupid and lazy on me. I rarely get angry. It probably says unflattering things about me that I can differentiate between the two.
Anger to me is about an emotional response. Not normally my problem. For me to get angry I would have to really care about something enough, to hold on to the hurt long enough to change something fundamental.
“A strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong;
wrath; ire.” (Dictionary.com)
Wrath sounds exhausting. Ire is a little to petty. Which ever definition you use, there is a lot of emotion pent up in anger. Listen to it when you say it out loud. An -Gerrr! Anger take energy, I’m to lazy to be angry. Just thinking about being angry makes me want to take a nap.
This unique quality, or lack there of, has preserved me from some terrible things going on in the world today. Bigotry and racism are right out. If you’re stupid enough to hate people because of skin pigment, you have way to much energy. You really have to hold on to that anger in the face of some serious evidence that you are probably wrong. Sexism? I’ll work my butt off for a pretty girl. (note the ironic statement) Religion? Sorry, I don’t care enough about the welfare of another person’s immortal soul. There are whole classes of people, things, ideas or situations that I could be angry over, but I’m not. The truth is, I’m just to lazy.
The world would e a better place if more people were just a little more lazy.
The New Word Wars 
Four Steps to Ending Racism in America
1) Stop judging people by their race. In America, that means stop judging people by the color of their skin.
a) NOTE: THIS IS NOT ENOUGH. Race neutrality is not going to end racism in America, it is only the first step for each individual.
2) Address the disparate impact of racism in America. Face the reality. Blacks and people of color have not been treated equally in America. It was wrong; it was a betrayal by America of millions of Americans. This must stop.
a) WHITES: It is not enough to be colorblind. Our society is not colorblind. White Americans against racism cannot be colorblind. We must recognize, understand and fight to the death the impact of racism in America. No, it is not, personally, your fault, if you want to end racism in America, it is, personally, your responsibility. As an American, you have an affirmative duty to ensure that every American is treated equitably.
b) BLACKS: You have a right to be angry. If you’re not angry, you don’t understand the problem. Be angry. Feel it; own it, and then let it go. We cannot change the past. We can only move forward. If you need somebody to be angry at, call me. Just give me a heads up, I have feelings too.
3) Develop a system for recognizing each other. Taking a stand against racism will change your soul, but it will not change the color of your skin. We need a way to recognize our allies. I am open to suggestion. Please, one of you creative types fill in this section.
4) Seek out, cooperate with and support each other to the greatest extent possible. Racism is an attack on Americans. Stop tolerating the unequal treatment of Americans.
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I went back and reread your comments. I don’t understand how you got there from my post.
I do need to ask; Why do you assume that A) Is it anyone’s responsibility to ensure that everyone is treated equitably? B) Blacks have a right to be angry?
As I understand it, the anti-discrimination laws and affirmative action programs are institutional, ratified racism, public legal acts to favor one group over others. These laws and programs have been in effect for more than four generations. How long is it beneficial to unnaturally support one group over another, before it begins to degrade the group you’re trying to assist?
I have a method that eliminates racism? Ignore race. Judge everyone by whatever standard you use. Discrimination is a word that has been co-opted to mean something negative. In truth, it just means to judge. Calling someone a racist is judging. I am not a racist. I judge everyone by the same standard. You either meet the standard or you don’t. Discrimination allows me to mitigate that judgement by evaluating other factors and making allowances for them. I will treat people with mitigating factors differently, but they will still not be deemed to meet my standards.
You can’t outlaw stupid. Discrimination based on color is stupid. I think you should also consider the counter culture of a large portion of the black community, those that hate you because you aren’t black. This mind-set is just as stupid as any other.
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