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Buenos Aires, Sunday, November 5, 2006

Father Oscar Pezzarini

Why do we get angry?

For some time now we witness “anger”. Although the human being has a strong character which makes it grow angry as it looks for the best for itself and for others, it seems to me that nowadays we became somewhat more “sensitive”, as if anything would make us react, get angry, up to the point of “assaulting” others in an almost ruthless way. Maybe at first we are “tempted” to look up or to a side, paying attention to those with great responsibilities, which may be all right, but let us not forget our own close responsibilities which many times demand a distinct and committed answer and not some “simple anger” because things don't work out or are not done, and we do not realize that carrying out things may be in our reach.

For some time now we witness “anger”. Although the human being has a strong character which makes it grow angry as it looks for the best for itself and for others, it seems to me that nowadays we became somewhat more “sensitive”, as if anything would make us react, get angry, up to the point of “assaulting” others in an almost ruthless way.

We experience this at every level, at family level, at the workplace, at leadership levels, in the small or large groups we cope with.

Some time ago I overheard a Priest as he referred to certain people and certain types of anger, saying “why don't they get mad about much deeper and important reasons?”

This makes me reflect on:

- Are parents who get mad because of many issues actually getting angry about the most important things? Is their anger always caused because they look for the best of their children, do they get angry because they ran out of means to make some time to spend with their children, in order to be able to listen to them, to bear them company, or to show interest for what is going on with them? Or do they get angry because they react when things can't be changed anymore, when it is too late, or simply because they feel “bothered” in their comfort?

- Do our social, political leaders and our Government officials who grow quite mad due to opinions of those who disagree with them or who want to contribute to the best of society from somewhere else, do they grow mad all the same when confronted with the pain and sorrow of those who suffer, with children who starve to death, with abandoned old people, or with those who must spend hours waiting for things which belong to them?

Thus we could go on listing and wondering about the many reasons which make us grow angry, and sincerely I don't know if they all are worthwhile or if the “anger” which we experience daily makes us really worry and deliver our efforts in search of those solutions many people need.

Maybe at first we are “tempted” to look up or to a side, paying attention to those with great responsibilities, which may be all right, but let us not forget our own close responsibilities which many times demand a distinct and committed answer and not some “simple anger” because things don't work out or are not done, and we do not realize that carrying out things may be in our reach.

Father Oscar Pezzarini
Provincial Superior of the Work of Don Orione in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Mexico

Father Oscar Pezzarini together with Fr. Leonardo Abregú makes us reflect on Saturdays from 8 to 12 AM (GMT-03:00)with "VENTANA A LA VIDA", the Don Orione radio program he conducts on FM PROVIDENCIA, 90.3 MHz together with some residents of the Claypole Cottolengo (Raúl Romero, María Laura Andrada, Alberto Zoroch, Américo Torres), with the production of Roberto Beluzzo and Ignacio Cavalli as technical operator. You can also listen to FM PROVIDENCIA by clicking here.

Pequeño Cottolengo Don Orione 0800-333-6746 in Argentina, or +54 (11) 4268-7722 from abroad.

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