"Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom."
Patrick Henry
"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever."
Thomas Jefferson
"In circumstances dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that, whilst every prudent Measure should be taken to ward off the impending Judgements... All confidence must be withheld from the Means we use; and reposed only on that GOD who rules in the Armies of Heaven, and without whose Blessing the best human Counsels are but Foolishness--and all created Power Vanity...."
John Hancock
As a California educator for thirty-nine years, most of which was working with high risk teenagers, I learned a very important truth. You are what you know. When dealing with problem students, I often found their problem was related to a behavior their parent had or reinforced. This is very true in my life. My father showed anger on a daily basis, and that is an emotion I am constantly battling to contain.
Of all my weaknesses this one has proven to be the most detrimental to my relationship with family members. It is interesting that I have been able to control my anger outside the family, but it is the off guard situations in the home that haunt me. Anger can destroy a family.
Fortunately for me my internal conviction keeps me from letting it go too far. I have also learned the words "I am sorry." This is an area I have had to work on the most and it will remain that way to maintain that family relationship I love and enjoy.
Of the thousands of families I've worked with during my career, I know that detrimental anger is not a problem unique to me. It also seemed to be an emotion more prevalent in men. We need to look at this emotion and critically evaluate the part it plays in our lives.
Anger Springs from Three Separate Emotions and Creating Safety in your Family will give you a better understanding of this emotion. If you have determined that anger is causing problems for you, you may want to refer to:
http://www.troubledwith.com/Relationships/Anger.cfm
"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment."
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)