News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Butterfly on December 26, 2009, 08:56:32 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
Post by: Butterfly on December 26, 2009, 08:56:32 PM
Post by: Butterfly on December 26, 2009, 08:56:32 PM
Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
Life Right Side Up
By Veronique
24 December, 2009
http://tgnotwhatyouthink.blogspot.com/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-dont-want-to-fight.html (http://tgnotwhatyouthink.blogspot.com/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-dont-want-to-fight.html)
Both from what I read in blogs and from my own personal experience, it seems that a lot of trans people are angry. It has even become a cliché: the "angry ->-bleeped-<-." There are reasons to be angry. The world is full of injustice, and it is certainly not a place of justice for trans people. Many experience that directly. Many also have gone through and continue to go through personal hardship. It's difficult to be sanguine when your family has rejected you, you can't get a job, and idiots and bigots tell you that you are deluded. Anger is often what keeps people out of despair and thus keeps them alive.
Life Right Side Up
By Veronique
24 December, 2009
http://tgnotwhatyouthink.blogspot.com/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-dont-want-to-fight.html (http://tgnotwhatyouthink.blogspot.com/2009/12/merry-christmas-i-dont-want-to-fight.html)
Both from what I read in blogs and from my own personal experience, it seems that a lot of trans people are angry. It has even become a cliché: the "angry ->-bleeped-<-." There are reasons to be angry. The world is full of injustice, and it is certainly not a place of justice for trans people. Many experience that directly. Many also have gone through and continue to go through personal hardship. It's difficult to be sanguine when your family has rejected you, you can't get a job, and idiots and bigots tell you that you are deluded. Anger is often what keeps people out of despair and thus keeps them alive.
Title: Re: Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
Post by: Allamakee on December 27, 2009, 05:33:01 AM
Post by: Allamakee on December 27, 2009, 05:33:01 AM
Back when I was suppressing my trans identity, I was known as an angry person. Although basically mellow, I was perpetually dissatisfied and often verbally lashed out at anyone who slighted me. I often felt justified in my thoughts and words, even reveling in them.
But such a negative emotion gave little warmth to me. The glow of self-satisfaction of making cutting remarks quickly waned and then I was back alone, with my unhappiness and simmering anger.
No, chronic anger is not healthy. Physically, emotionally, socially.... it takes a toll. I think Veronique is correct that we shouldn't cooperate with oppression, but we do need to make peace with how we respond to it. A calm, clear-eyed focus on the big picture and the long term makes for more effective activism.
This isn't to say that we won't feel angry at times, or that we should never express anger - I think that, too, would also be unhealthy. But making friends with Anger and indulging it too freely is counter-productive, both in our individual lives and also in our social/political concerns.
But such a negative emotion gave little warmth to me. The glow of self-satisfaction of making cutting remarks quickly waned and then I was back alone, with my unhappiness and simmering anger.
No, chronic anger is not healthy. Physically, emotionally, socially.... it takes a toll. I think Veronique is correct that we shouldn't cooperate with oppression, but we do need to make peace with how we respond to it. A calm, clear-eyed focus on the big picture and the long term makes for more effective activism.
This isn't to say that we won't feel angry at times, or that we should never express anger - I think that, too, would also be unhealthy. But making friends with Anger and indulging it too freely is counter-productive, both in our individual lives and also in our social/political concerns.
Title: Re: Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
Post by: Janet_Girl on December 27, 2009, 09:49:45 AM
Post by: Janet_Girl on December 27, 2009, 09:49:45 AM
Is there something in the water? I was the same way, very angry. Always seemed to be hateful. Somethings still get to me, but mostly I just cry now.
It became so strength sapping. And the secret to dealing with oppression is to think clearly and use the angry that we may feel to focus on what can be done positively.
"He who angers you, controls you", words to remember. Let no one control you.
Janet
It became so strength sapping. And the secret to dealing with oppression is to think clearly and use the angry that we may feel to focus on what can be done positively.
"He who angers you, controls you", words to remember. Let no one control you.
Janet