One of the books I’m presently reading is Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point”.  I just finished the part where the author talks about the Bernhard Goetz trial in New York.  I remember that case.  Being a lifelong New Yorker, it’s hard not to.  I remember what they used to say back in the day about Times Square.  You couldn’t walk through it without being harassed by the amount of porn/strip clubs/etc.  It’s nothing like it is now, almost like it’s own by Disney, it’s so touristy.

Back in those days, taking the subway was an adventure on to itself.  My father, who hasn’t lived in New York for over 20 years, still remembers it back in the day as being dangerous.  Back in 1984, Bernie Goetz shot 4 young men on a subway car, who allegedly tried to mug him.  Sitting next to the young men on the subway, they targeted him, attempting to rob him of his wallet, when Bernie pulled out a gun and shot all 4 men, wounding them.  A jury found him “not guilty”.  This was back in the day in 1984, when the crime rate in New York was at a high, Goetz was seen as a hero.  Assaults and robbery was commonplace in the subway system, but Goetz fought back.

Now, before you think you know what I’m going to say, hold up.  As much as I remember living in New York at that time, and being robbed with my mother once in my childhood, I do not believe what Goetz did was right.  Trust me when I say this, Goetz knew what he was doing when he sat in that train car, near these guys, with a gun in his pocket.  He was itching for a fight, as some who are angry do.  He wanted a reason to get into a fight, and he got it.  This is not righteous anger.

For those who are wondering what righteous anger is, it’s more associated with the Christian faith.  It’s generally spoken in respect to God’s anger on his children in the old testament.  People may speak about “eye for an eye”, but eventually folks will escalate it like a tennis match, back and forth, and then the world would end up like one giant Hatfield vs. McCoy battle royale, with no one the victor.  This is from someone who goes through the occasional “public transit” rage, and let me tell you, sometimes, I want to take a swing at people on the train for various acts of their public stupidity, but it’s on me if I react poorly, because I didn’t have to take a swing at anyone.

Anger, whether deemed righteous, or not, should never result in fists flying.  I know there are folks that may have gone through some of the most heinous conditions, but there is always another way out.  The second you allow your rage to control you by physically retaliating, you have told the world “I am not smart enough to figure out a proper recourse”.  And if that offends you, you need to reexamine the level of fear associated with the changes necessary to get you out of the situation you’re in.  I understand this sounds far too simple for some of the various complex problems some folks have, but in many cases, it’s the simplest solutions that is the proper action to resolve a complicated issue.

Ok, I think I just wrote that for someone who needed to read it.  In any case, you are stronger than you think.  Don’t be ruled by our emotions, take responsibility for them.  And understand that everything you do has a price.  Whether it be good or bad is completely up to you.