Brookfield Basics

I did something over the Thanksgiving Holiday that I very rarely do - watched a morning network TV news show. One of the stories reminded me of why I make this such a rare activity.

The entire foundation of the ten minute spot was the supposition that there is an actual syndrome or disease out there that people can contract, and the name of this syndrome is "Holiday Rage".

The premise was that all of the pressures of additional spending, too many parties to attend or places to go, mourning a lost loved one, and the other familiar stresses that are attendant with the Christmas and New Years season, somehow combine to form a syndrome that we either "catch" or "don't catch", as if it were some form of microbial bacteria or the common cold. The reporter atually interviewed a man in New York City who was seeing his psychiatrist because he had a bad case of "Holiday Rage", and was being "treated" for it. They discussed this with the same level of somber analysis that more serious people might have reserved for pancreatic cancer or kidney disease.

It was yet another sad illustration of how our society has forfeited the notion of individual responsibility. This man couldn't actually be held accountable for his own actions for heaven's sake! He was simply the unwilling and powerless victim of a "syndrome".

Now I do not dispute that the Christmas season is conducive to added strains and difficult emotions. But let's recognize that rage of any kind is nothing more than unrestrained anger which manifests itself in unacceptable behavior.

But most of alll, let's stop this nonsense about calling it a "syndrome". We are human beings, created with thoughts and emotions that can too frequently become dark and conflicted. But along with those thoughts and emotions, we were given the ability, and indeed the responsibility, of MANAGING them.

There is a cure for this "syndrome" and it is far less expensive than a Manhattan psychiatrist. How about we all recognize that our personal conduct and behavior is our own personal responsibility, and that we are not subject to the whim of the latest malaise that our pop-culture saturated media has foisted upon us.

How about we all try a little harder to act like ladies and gentlemen? THAT is the cure for Holiday rage. And in addition, it's a nice Christmas present for everyone on your list!