I FEEL LIKE I’M AT WAR—BUT WHAT AM I MAD ABOUT?

I have been slow to realize something, which has been staring me in the face. Everyone around me is angry now. My oldest son has been angry for days. We confronted each other on the stairs today, staring each other down. I can’t even recall why, but I do remember each of us was spitting mad. Probably I was angry at him for being angry.

I realize this is a time of war for all of us.

But who are we angry with? What are we mad about? Who is the enemy? How can we find him? Does he have a name? Where does he live? Do we know his neighborhood?

Could it be, we are angry at the idea of war? We don’t quite know how America got into this mess. It seemed to happen quickly, a few people shouting, the President, some of his secretaries. I'm mad about that. Video clips of the leader of Iraq brandishing his weapon made me mad—and probably did the same to others as well. So, I was mad at George Bush and Saddam Hussein and probably most of their cabinets and advisors.

I’m mad at the idea of this war. People tell me it’s all about oil. So I’m mad at oil. I want to boycott petroleum and use vegetable oil in my car instead. I’m mad at the fact that young men and woman are dying. I’m really mad at that! And another thing, let me tell you what really gets me angry…

…just about everything, right now.