Don't Make Big Decisions When You Are Angry

Disclaimer:  All posts on this blog are the opinions of the author.  They are not approved by anyone and should not be read as representing anyone other than herself.

Every teacher has done it.  We responded very quickly to an e-mail from a parent.  The e-mail made us angry, and we felt we had to respond right away.  Responding when angry is the fastest way to make a situation worse.  It is when you say the thing you wouldn't have aid if you had taken a moment to think about it.  It is when your inhibitions are the lowest.  Since inhibition is another word for wisdom, you make the foolish choices when you are angry.  In a couple of faculty meetings per year, we are reminded that we shouldn't hit send when we are angry.  We should talk it through with another teacher and have them read our response before sending.

This same concept should apply outside of teaching and e-mail.  It should apply to all of our lives.  We should not make big decisions when we are angry.

Now, I am going to stop blogging and start meddling.  This concept should also apply to your vote.  Given that it is really important to use wisdom in voting, it is a bad idea to decide based on anger.  My family is split right now when it comes to the Republican primary.  My dad defends Donald Trump every chance he gets, while my mother and I are frightened that this could actually happen.  Mom and I are for Rubio, but we will both accept any nominee that is NOT Donald Trump.  My dad, on the other hand, feels that people are tired of politicians and that it is time for someone who is not a politician.  Forget the fact that you wouldn't apply this logic to any other profession.  You would never hear someone say, "I am tired of surgeons thinking they are gods, so I think it is time for someone who is not a surgeon to perform my cardiac bypass."  My Granny recently posed the question as to why Trump was doing so unexpectedly well, and my dad proudly said, "It is because people are angry with the politicians."  My response was, "Yes, and people always make great decisions when they are angry."

I get why people are angry.  I really do.  Between Supreme Court rulings and the Bruce Jenner hoopla, last year was rough for social conservatives.  I know that; I am one.  That doesn't mean I am ready to hand over the most important job on the planet to any angry guy without thinking through whether or not he actually represents your values.  A few examples:
- If you are upset about gay marriage, it is probably because you are concerned about the fall of the Biblical definition of marriage.  Does it make sense, then, to vote for the guy who has been married three times just because he also opposes gay marriage?  Does he actually represent your values?  Do you care that he doesn't just because you are angry?
- If you are angry about the current administration's lack of willingness to use the words "radical Islam" when describing terrorism, it may initially appeal to you that this candidate wants to keep out the Muslims.  Can you still say he represents your values when he says they should be killed with bullets dipped in pig's blood?  Is this something you would say, or do you just cheer for the anger because you are angry?
- If you are angry about illegal immigrants, it sounds good to hear Donald Trump talk about building a wall; but in your anger, have you taken the time to recognize the number of jobs Mr. Trump has sent to Mexico and China?  Is that really what you have in mind, or are you just angry?

Trump gets a lot of unwarranted credit for "telling it like it is."  People who say that are not listening.  He says whatever the angry people in front of him want him to say.  When he is speaking to Christians, he "quotes" scripture, hoping we won't notice that he misquotes it.  I recently said this to someone, who said, "Well, everyone does that."  I agree, but he is getting credit for NOT doing it WHLE DOING IT.  I just don't understand.

If you are a Republican, I beg you to consider your primary vote carefully.  Don't let your anger rule your decisions.  If you think through things dispassionately and still believe Donald Trump represents what you want in an office with the authority to appoint Supreme Court justices, launch nuclear weapons, and act as "Comforter in Chief" when a disaster happens, then your vote is yours to do with what you will.  If, however, you are going to vote out of anger, I ask you not to "hit send" as teachers are reminded.  Your vote is too important to make it an outlet for your emotional state.