Photo by Alexandra Mirghe on Unsplash (edited)

What does it take for you to get angry? We have all had experiences that light us up, get our heart pounding, and our adrenaline coursing. What are those experiences for you? How about some of these:

• Getting cut off by another driver on the road.
• Persistent, random noises like the clicking of a pen.
• A mosquito buzzing in your ear.
• Being constantly interrupted when you are talking.
• Someone lecturing you or giving unsolicited advice.
• Being lied to, ignored, overlooked, or dismissed.

Check, check, check…

Then there are things that take anger and morph it into outrage. Such outrage speaks to a fierceness and indignation that goes far beyond the incidental. These are the things that make us scream silently or loudly, even if no one else is listening though we might wish someone would. They are the events and ways that violate our moral code and value system, or even safety.

There is a lot going on in the world right now that warrants outrage. If you spend any time scrolling on social media or listening to the news, the weight of a world in distress will be felt quickly. It does not take long to feel outrage at the multitude of injustices that relentlessly tear apart the fabric of societies and the lives of people, too often, to the death.

There is no minimizing the horror of a broken ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, or the wretched bombing in Ukraine by Russia leaving shopping malls, residential buildings and civilians in piles of rubble. There is no dismissing the devastating and deadly global impact of the 83% slash in U.S. foreign aid, or the violent clashes in Türkiye over political detentions. Can we really overlook the death of 3,000 people in the Congo over a two-week period over mining resources like the valuable mineral coltan that is used in the production of smartphones – like the one some of you may be holding in your hand as you read this post?

For those of us in the refugee serving sector, we have been repeatedly devastated by the brutal and callous treatment of tens of thousands of men, women and children in the United States who are detained in cold and violent detention centres, some of whom could have come to Canada if our government would see that the U.S. is NOT a safe place for refugees.

Consider the Venezuelan asylum seekers who had no ties to gangs but were scooped up this past week and deported to a notoriously brutal prison in El Salvador. They were humiliated in front of cameras for the world to see and denied due process. There is question if some of them are still alive.

These kinds of things are crushing. Then they move us to outrage at this playing of judge, jury and executioner that shows up all around the world, and that we cannot get away from, tied to some of these things by something as simple as having a phone.

What about here at home, here in Canada? We cry with outrage at the mistreatment we are receiving through tariffs and insults and threats to our sovereignty. And rightly so. But can we then turn around and shut the door to those who have been shouting similar cries, begging us to hear them? None of us have our lives on the line. Maybe our livelihoods, but not our lives.

Can we take that truth and see the opportunity we have in front of us? Can we take our outrage at our experiences and let it motivate us to be different toward others, not just pull together for ourselves?

We can choose not to play judge, jury and executioner with people who want, like us, to be treated with respect and due process. They have come to us hoping to receive it. We can choose not to humiliate people or deny them due process by giving them the only access they may ever have to a fair hearing. We can stand up with outrage for being drawn into blaming the vulnerable for problems we have had since long before they ever showed up at our borders or in our communities.

Be angry. Be outraged. At the right things.

Act. Take the opportunity to be different than those who play judge, jury, and executioner.

Provide respect. Expect Canada to give due process to men, women, and children seeking refuge and protection.

Save more than your livelihood or way of life. Save lives.