I admit to being comfortably removed from a lot of social media’s ANGRY CAPITALIZATION and #%$^& words for longer than is normal.
An overseas cocoon, removed from a lot of news, swaddled me. It was a happy place where celebs were just famous people. Where yet to come was the U.S. 2016 election–when it would feel like the whole country was getting a nasty divorce.
So returning to the U.S. for home assignment around August 2016 was kind of like one reaching for a cup of coffee upon waking up, only to have the pot poured on them. My kids watched the scrolling newsfeed with golfball eyes.
What I hoped would simmer down after November turned out to be the new norm: A new way of speaking to each other, or perhaps sweeping each other–into large, labeled categories that don’t see one another.
(I admit to laughing out loud at a bumper sticker for the 2020 election:
It’s All the (Out)rage
Now, my teenagers are fascinated by the train wreck political scene. They explore which sides they’re on of each debate.
In a time when anger is hot, how can I help my kids respond with ears-and-hearts-wide-open self-control?
Since I’ve been mulling over it, of course I decided to write about it.
Today on FamilyLife.com, I’m writing about Raising Kids in Outrage Culture. An excerpt:
What if our anger isn’t bringing about more of what’s right, but more of what’s wrong instead?
Power feels comforting when held by those who share our opinions. Regarding outrage culture, HuffPost warns, “Productive discourse is dying, trampled over by closed minds who value comfortable opinion-holding over uncomfortable soul-searching.”
Consider propaganda before World War II. It offered a single commentary or perspective on news. Then exaggerated news till it wasn’t really news. A bigger nose there, a sweeping statement there. An “enemy” people group extinguished there. (emphasis added)
I’d love to know your thoughts on this topic. Hop on over and check it out!
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