lofhay

Most people have at least some emotional response to every one of life’s experiences--from childbirth, to a pay raise, to an athletic event, to politics, to religion, to disappointment, to death. The degree of emotion runs from very little to highly exaggerated. When it comes to resolving our differences, we often let our emotions cancel out what little reason we may possess, and the result is not resolution but fighting.

An example of the non-constructive use of emotion can be seen in the TV soundbites of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s ranting (I don’t know what else to call it) about America’s racial discrimination past and present. I do not blame Rev. Wright or any black person for feeling angry about this. I am concerned, however, when it is not dealt with using reason and respect to resolve the unresolved. Highly charged, inflamatory emotions (fear, anger, hate, disrespect) do not help. In fact, they are obstacles which impede any progress, and both whites and blacks have been guilty.

Some say that Rev. Wright’s manner is the familiar one in the culture from which he comes and in which he operates. If so, then perhaps it is time for this culture to take a look at itself and see if there is available a more reasonable, constructive and useful method, both for church services and for racial coming together--one which is conducive to rational problem solving which is more befitting of a modern, civilized, informed humanity. In my opinion, emotion sans reason leads to violence, e.g. lynch mobs, tyranical dictators, spectator fights at athletic events.

Whose judgment would you want to rely on if our President were to be faced with a decision as to whether or not to use a nuclear weapon---a President who responds to threats with anger and fear, or one who maintains a clear mind and responds with calm awareness of possible consequences? Highly emotional states are not conducive to rational thinking. When I observe speakers such as Hitler, Mussolini, Rev. Wright and most TV evangelists, I find them similar in their appeal to unthinking emotions. Contrast this with the methods of Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barak Obama. The latter seem more constructive by far.

DaniGirl

Well when it comes to who I would like to make decisions like nuclear weapon or war, I agree that I would rather have a president that will maintain his cool when put in a bad position then one that will lash out in anger. But until something threatening happens we can never be too sure who would lash out. I mean someone who is level headed for most of there life can all of a sudden lose it when it counts. My mom has always been the cool collected one in my family. Then all of a sudden she kinda went crazy. We later found out that she is bipolar. It was an unexpected situation that caused her to lose it, so I'm just saying you never know til it happens to you.

filtherton

Without emotion, we wouldn't have empathy, sympathy or compassion.

roachboy

the idea of a complete separation of reason from emotion only makes sense in a christian context as an echo of the split between the soul (good) and body (bad bad bad).
in reality, the relation's more complicated.

this is basically two sentences to be inserted above what filtherton said.

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a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

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Zeraph

Your whole thing is emotion = bad emotions but there are good emotions too. How about a president that responds with love and compassion?

percy

If someone shows anger and distress to a situation, it doesn't automatically assume they are irrational, and in turn will make rash decisions. Likewise the same for someone who is calm and collected.

We have a social construct present that tells us the calm person is rational and even more professional. Kind of like the mass media thread regarding people brainwashed by mass communications. We have been told the calm persons are the ones to trust and follow.

Most serial killers are very calm, collected, methodical and professional in their demeaner much like Ghandi, King Jr and Obama.

jewels

One who's strong enough to draw from both his emotional response and intelligence and weighs it all logically, calmly and carefully.

As fitherton and others have said in other words, compassion is what sets a leader apart from a great leader.

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We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess.
Mark Twain

filtherton

I think that the source of the problem isn't found in emotions themselves, but in the fact that as a society we seem to be exceedingly good at emotionally crippling each other.

It helps that emotionally crippled people are more easily manipulated into buying worthless junk. And that emotionally crippled people are easier to control.

Ourcrazymodern?

WHAT? ok.

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BE JUST AND FEAR NOT