Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-24
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

The difference is simply that in indig-
nation something is regarded as wrong
because it is wrong; the indignant per-
son admits to himself that what was
said or done-especially that was said
would have been equally wrong if some
one else had told about it to him.
Thus it will be seen that the strictly
personal sense does go out of the equa-
ton, leaving indignation as an actual
although theoretical emotion, or, rather,
an actual feeling largely involving the
theoretical or purely ideal aspects of
the case.
In true indignity there is always an
offense against personal dignity, which
any other right-thinking person will feel
as keenly as the one offended, when he
knows that the insult was gratuitouS
and undeserved.
Injustice is the keynote. AS long as
civilized human beings are civilized hui
man beings there will be, deep in the
heart, mind and soul of every decent
man and woman, an inherent sense of
justice and injustice.
Some call it conscience, but after all
1t makes little difference. what it is
called. When a friend relates an af-
front given him and you become more
indignant than he because you are far
Their away from it and can see it in a
better, clearer light, your sense of
justice is outraged.
You know him to be man to whom
no contempt is deserving. That is why
you resent, with sudden yelling of
anger, the incivility which he was
forced to bear.
Thus indignation, as distinguished
from anger. becomes everybodys affair.
He who possesses the mind and heart
to become indignant will live a more
worthy life, everything else being equal,
than he who retreats into his shell and
lets the insults and affrontS offered
others roll off his back
Let him but back with his strength
the weakness of another and help right
the wrong which another has suffered
by reason of loyalty or other trait, he
will have a sense of mastery not known
to the crowd
What matter if he becomes en-
broiled?
Life surely was not intended to be
simply bed of roses, even for the man
with large rose garden. If he does
not know indignation over the woes of
little child, or has never come to the
aid of a friend. he has missed some
thing in this life for all his garden of
roses.
X X X X
Possibly it is easier to feel indignant
over ones own wrongs than over the
wrongs of others. Yet it is only by
feeling indignant for ones self first that
one may go on to the impersonal in
dlgnation over the insults offered
others.
1t will then be found, as DR.. Fernald
states, that this pure indignation, from
which another and not ones self may
profit, is never followed by regret. 1t
needs no repentance, for one never re-
penis duty, and proper indignation is
a duty OF civilized man.
The Old Testament writer's knew in
dignation; they waxed wroth over the
wrongs of the innocent ones of earth:
they went around barefooted, half clad,
happy with their lamentations in be-
half Of the doWntrodden.
Read Isaiah If you would know the
strength, the poetry and the sublirlity
OF indignation in its uncomfortable
form. Few today will be able to achieve
such heights, but all can benefit BY
proper indignation when the hour
strikes