The question I have is this: Why are Americans so angry? We don’t have to look very far these days to conclude that anger and discontent surrounds us all in one form or another.
I could start with observations about driving on the highway, for example. Courtesy seems to be quite rare, and speeding is on the rise. Town hall meetings erupt more frequently with angry outbursts by disgruntled citizens. Flight attendants get accosted on a regular basis. Violent crime is on the rise. Congressional leaders are in the news almost daily with one angry argument against politicians on the other side. Even Elon Musk publicly expressed his contempt toward corporate America with a searing explicative that was gladly and repeatedly broadcast by every news media outlet so that all of us could share in the excitement. And don’t get me started with our newspeople on both sides of the political spectrum for their participation. News reports highlighting anger and social unrest are ubiquitous. Personally, I lean toward the left politically, but both right- and left-leaning news commentators facilitate the spectacles with biased and angry reporting. It always seems to be one team vs. another. And our already deep divisions widen further.
I have to keep reminding myself that things could be worse for us Americans. As bad as our lives might seem, perhaps we should remember that we don’t live in Gaza. Or the Ukraine for that matter. Most of us have enough food, water and shelter and a thermostat to turn up when the weather gets cold. We forget that compared to the rest of the world, Americans do pretty darn well financially. We forget that gas prices and inflation are much higher in other countries — and lower in practically none. There is always, always, always something to complain about, but honestly, when looking at a bigger global picture, I don’t think that complaints and anger are the correct response of the day. Yet, Americans complain and seem to enjoy being angry as they express that anger about how bad things are with vigor.
I don’t necessarily disagree that we have things to be concerned about. War in Ukraine, war in Gaza, global tensions between superpowers, protests in America regarding gun violence, abortion and LGBTQ rights, perceived economic hardship and rampant inflation, and now even the repeated rise, once again, in antisemitism — all are legitimate issues. Even without a single word from the mouth or tweet of the king of anger and vitriol, Donald Trump, it would be hard to convince our angry fellow citizens that we live in perfectly happy times. And yet …
I had a thought recently as I watched bits and pieces of Rosalynn Carter’s funeral and listened to all of her tributes. Information about her life and her legacy filled prime time news channels for days. She was beloved, honored, praised and remembered for all the good she did for other people in her life. Never was there a mention of any anger she felt toward her husband, her friends, family or coworkers. Her life mission was all about helping others in need, fighting for important causes, and giving her time and energy where she could in the service of others. Note the word “others.”
I suspected that she heard the message that John F. Kennedy gave to the nation in his Inaugural Address in January 1960, when he declared for the whole nation to hear, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” His call was for Americans to reflect on what is important when we ponder our identity as individual citizens and as we shape our national image. Who we are as a nation is always on display for the world at large. I think Roslyn Carter lived that message to its fullest. She was a giver — not a taker.
Both Rosalynn and her husband, past-president Jimmy, lived a life of service to others with morality and decency, with honesty and integrity. They commanded respect from others by their actions and their deeds. They did not demand respect by demanding loyalty. They lived with faith, selflessness and humility. By all measures, they were just good people who thought of others before themselves. And by measure of the news reporting at the time of her funeral and America’s response to her passing, it would be quite fair to say that the life she lived was enviable and a model for our children to follow.
So where does anger fit into the Carter legacy. The answer is that anger fits in nowhere in their personal mission or their life’s work in the service of others. They both accomplished much, and then gave back. No complaints. No excuses. No revenge or hostility or bullying when life dealt difficulties or disappointments. They gave their time and energy for others expecting nothing in return. Their lives sound remarkably refreshing.
America needs more Carter families to shine the light on the correct path that we all need to follow in order to survive as a nation. Our anger today in politics leads to deep divisions in our society, to chaos, revenge and destruction of the pillars that democracy needs to survive in difficult times. The Carters might not have been the most effective political forces Washington has ever seen. But they both stood as models for parents who want to teach their children how best to be successful citizens and leave a proud legacy.
Michael B. Teiger is from West Hartford.
