Some of the angriest people in the
world are self-described pacifists.
This isn't to say that anger can't be a constructive emotion. It can be a great galvanizing force if used to destroy something unjust and awful in order to build something better—which can be achieved if you don't become hateful and let it consume you. There is also nothing wrong with striving to be a pacifist. But some who say they're pacifistic are unwilling to acknowledge the more constructive anger they feel, because they've been led to believe that all anger is inherently negative. And with that denial, it can't be used as a motivator to protect the good in the world and fight for people who are disenfranchised. Instead, it often festers into a variety of ire that's harmful to oneself and sometimes others.
This isn't to say that anger can't be a constructive emotion. It can be a great galvanizing force if used to destroy something unjust and awful in order to build something better—which can be achieved if you don't become hateful and let it consume you. There is also nothing wrong with striving to be a pacifist. But some who say they're pacifistic are unwilling to acknowledge the more constructive anger they feel, because they've been led to believe that all anger is inherently negative. And with that denial, it can't be used as a motivator to protect the good in the world and fight for people who are disenfranchised. Instead, it often festers into a variety of ire that's harmful to oneself and sometimes others.
