A little anger is a good thing if it isn't on your own behalf, if

Host: The early evening light fades softly through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. The world outside is quiet, but inside, there’s an unspoken tension in the air. Jeeny sits at the edge of the couch, her hands folded in her lap, her mind clearly turning over a thought. Jack stands by the window, staring out at the street below, the weight of something heavy pressing down on his thoughts. The silence between them is thick, yet somehow expectant.

Jeeny: (her voice gentle, but with an undercurrent of intensity) “You ever feel like anger is something we’re not allowed to have, Jack? Like, if we show it, it’s a sign of weakness, or that we’re out of control?”

Jack: (without turning, his voice dry, but with an edge) “I don’t know if I’d say weakness, but yeah, anger’s usually seen as something negative. Like it’s the emotion we’re supposed to suppress. The one that makes us lose our cool, you know?”

Jeeny: (nodding thoughtfully, her voice growing softer, almost introspective) “David Simon said, ‘A little anger is a good thing if it isn’t on your own behalf, if it’s for others deserving of your anger, your empathy.’ I think that’s what gets lost sometimes. Anger doesn’t have to be a destructive force—it can be catalytic when it’s aimed at something worth fighting for.”

Host: Jeeny’s words seem to hang in the air, filling the space between them with a new kind of weight. Jack remains still, his gaze distant, as though considering what she said. The room feels quieter now, as though the world outside has faded, waiting for the conversation to deepen.

Jack: (finally turning to face her, his voice low, more reflective now) “So, you’re saying anger’s okay if it’s not about us? That it can be a force for good if we channel it for others? For something bigger than ourselves?”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, her eyes steady with quiet certainty) “Exactly. It’s not about holding onto anger for your own sake—it’s about empathy. It’s about feeling the injustice of something and letting that fire push you to do something about it. Anger in the service of empathy—anger that calls for change, for justice—isn’t just acceptable. It’s necessary.”

Jack: (pauses, his posture shifting slightly as he absorbs her words, his voice quieter now) “But what about when anger starts to consume you? When it feels like it’s taking over, instead of driving you forward? How do you keep it from burning you out?”

Jeeny: (with a deep breath, her voice calm but insistent) “That’s where empathy comes in, Jack. When you feel that anger building, when it starts to feel like it’s taking over, you ground yourself in why you’re angry. It’s not just about rage—it’s about action. Anger that’s rooted in compassion and a desire for change isn’t destructive. It’s the spark. But you have to keep your focus on what you’re fighting for, not just the fire.”

Host: The tension between them seems to dissolve, the room feeling just a little lighter now. Jeeny’s voice carries a quiet confidence, as if she’s found a kind of peace in understanding how to use anger as a tool for good. Jack, his expression thoughtful, seems to be working through the idea in his own way, the weight of it settling in his chest.

Jack: (his voice softer now, more introspective) “So, anger doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’s not about being out of control. It’s about channeling it for something meaningful.”

Jeeny: (with a small smile, her eyes bright with understanding) “Exactly. It’s about knowing when to feel it, when to use it, and when to let it go. Anger that’s rooted in empathy, in fighting for what’s right—it’s not about hurting others. It’s about making the world better. That’s the kind of anger that can fuel change.”

Host: The room feels quieter, but more alive now, as though their conversation has settled into a deeper understanding. Jack stands there, his posture less tense, his thoughts clearly processing the complexity of Jeeny’s words. Outside, the sounds of the world continue, but inside, there’s a shared sense of purpose in the idea that anger—when used wisely—can be a force for good, not destruction.

Jack: (after a long pause, his voice almost a whisper) “Maybe we’ve been thinking about anger all wrong. Maybe it’s not the emotion we need to fear. It’s what we do with it that counts.”

Jeeny: (her smile widening slightly, her voice soft but sure) “Exactly. It’s not the anger that defines us, but the way we channel it. And when we channel it for something greater, something that calls us to action—that’s when it becomes powerful.”

Host: As the room settles back into its rhythm, there’s a new understanding between them, a quiet clarity. The conversation lingers in the air—a reminder that even the most intense emotions, when guided by empathy and purpose, can become forces of change. Jeeny and Jack share a look of silent recognition, knowing that sometimes, it’s the hardest emotions that can lead to the most important transformations.