Vengeance is Sweet. Really?

Editor:
Have you ever wished to wreak vengeance upon someone or something? Happens all the time, so don’t feel bad. Some people deserve a kick in the posterior, or a good verbal knock-down. It is a natural thing to seek possible retribution upon someone who, seemingly, harmed you.

Problem is retribution is often cyclical. A fist begets a fist, as they say. The sweetness of vengeance can become unpleasantly sour. Have you ever heard of this adage: “Vengeance is a lazy form of grief”? What does that mean?

Well, when we are offended, and have a reason to seek vengeance, we feel like the victim, and feel sorry for ourselves. This self-sorrow develops into possible anger and hate. Suddenly, we are ready to inflict some whoop-ass.

This resentment leads you towards negative fantasies about your ex, an unfriendly neighbor, uncooperative fellow employee, and what terrible things should happen to them.

You want to piss someone off and maintain your own self respect? How about turning your grief into a process that gets your life back on track, and restoring your self-confidence and sense of purpose.

Hoping that your ex’s bald spot grows, or your neighbor’s illegally-parked car should be towed may feel satisfying, but these feelings are actually self-destructive, in the long run. The pain and bad luck of others can make good stories; in fact, they often do, in many a movie. But in our best and silent moments, we know that their pain won’t make us feel better. In fact, we are only hurting ourselves.

Now, if you are a psychopath, the pain you inflict will certainly bring a smile to your face, but if you are a well-mannered person, the pain of others will not benefit you. Harming others is like drinking poison, and waiting and hoping that other people will die. The poison of mistrust, hate and vengeance is in you, eating away at your self-respect and psyche.

You want to piss someone off and maintain your own self respect? How about turning your grief into a process that gets your life back on track, and restoring your self-confidence and sense of purpose.

The best release of your emotions and grief would be succeeding in living a happy, successful life. It will demand self-determination and hard work. You can get unruly and emotionally insecure, or you can take the bull by the horns and make a good day for yourself.

We are seeing this on the international plane. Russia has invaded the Ukraine, and the world is calling for President Putin’s head on a platter. Oh yes, vengeance would be sweet, but the process to deliver this vengeance will cost many people their lives, with horror’s unspeakably-experienced by more than Ukrainians.

The sweetest revenge the Ukraine can exert, with the West’s help, is for it to not only survive(perhaps with less territory than pre-invasion), but to become a future democracy, prosperous and free.

Steven Kaszab
Bradford, Ontario