Embracing aggression

The Golden Globe nominations are out.  But no citations for Kick-Ass?  Not even for the year’s breakout performance by Chloe Moretz, who played ‘Mindy’, the foul-mouthed 11-year-old who’s trained to wipe out organized crime?  I love that movie, and I’m not saying this so you won’t think I’m square. 

I’m sure there are more people who hated the movie for its gratuitous violence.   But it surely grabbed my attention, more than the so-called arthouse movies that figure in the Globes.  It’s about ordinary people wanting to be heroes, and killing scores of bad guys along the way.  That’s not much of a synopsis.  It’s beyond comprehension.  Think American Pie meets Kill Bill, but even more shameless, extreme, and morally reprehensible.  

I like dark and demented themes as much I’m drawn to Merchant-Ivory period dramas.   It must be about getting in touch with my inner Dirty Harry, who co-exists with my inner English manor-living, ruffled-shirt wearing Colin Firth. 

But my love for violence stops there.  Earlier today, in our monthly share-in at the office, a co-worker admonished us to embrace aggression.   He said, “violence burns in some pitted place inside you”.   Through time, we’ve learned to deny it.   We deal with aggressive behavior by rationalizing (“it’s not worth it”); or by coping with it (we whine, curse, wish karma).    He added we should re-ignite the fire to lash back lest we fall first on the canvas.  Surviving requires aggression.

He recommended boxing as a way to improve our skills at fighting back.  Anchor aggression in good footwork.  Don’t get caught off balance. Turn hits into combinations. Make the other guy fight on your terms.

So am I ready to embrace violent behavior?  I really don’t know.   Do I want to add to the meanness that already surrounds us?  I do Thai boxing but only to get those elusive abs.  Besides, I’m hypertensive.  Can’t get too angry.   I would surely die from a stroke before I could throw the first punch.