You have to admit it feels good to get things off your chest.
Sometimes, even if you have to apologize later, just telling someone off or speaking out loud gives you a great sense of relief.
Last weekend I was asked to MC a ‘Rant.’
The event was a fundraiser sponsored by the Langley chapter of the GoGos, Grandmothers to Grandmothers.
This organization is one of 250 clubs across Canada, established by the Stephen Lewis Foundation to support the thousands of African grandmothers who are raising over 15 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS across the African continent.
The club had asked some local people to be guest ranters and then, after a break, audience members could pay to rant for two minutes on a subject of their choice. The topics varied from diets to coffee makers and teenagers to abortion.
One lady even brought visual aids to help her vent about the lack of vegetables in the vegetable packages of vegetable noodle bowls. Certainly a topic that has affected all of us.
There were lots of laughs and some serious moments that got us all thinking and you could see each of the speakers was relieved to speak their mind.
One of the most famous spots for outspoken speakers is Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park, London. It has long been known as a venue for people to get up and speak on a topic of their choice, release their frustrations and anger or just try to express a point of view.
We had similar spot in our home, it was called Dad’s chair.
Many opinions, observations and edicts were issued from that chair, mostly concerning idiot politicians or inept B.C hockey or football players.
Simply asking Dad for money could start a rant that would start on a Saskatchewan homestead, cover half a century, and end with the statement that money didn’t grow on trees. We all knew it by heart.
Today, most of the ranting is done online. Facebook, Twitter and thousands of blogs give faceless people the opportunity to sound off and tell you what they think about a particular subject. All too often though, the ‘send’ key is pushed in anger and there is no way to get it back.
I have long lobbied for a 10-minute delay on the send button.
After you have pounded the daylights out of the keyboard and told someone exactly what you think of them, their business, their family and their children, you would have 10 minutes to catch your breath, have a cup of tea, and reduce you heart rate. Then after re-reading your message, you could push delete, save face and still get invited to family functions.
One of Langley’s best ranters retired this week. My friend Bob, a long time journalist and editor, laid down his pen. I always admired his insight, his honesty and his courage.
Like me, he came from the ‘old Langley’ and was great at bridging the good old days with what we have today. We need more people who aren’t afraid to speak out and sign their name to it.
My Dad always said, “A good speaker stands up to be seen, speaks up to be heard and sits down to be appreciated.
He also said, “Even if you’re wrong, be wrong at the top of your voice, people will listen.
At least that’s what McGregor says.