ALBERT CAMUS AND FRANCOIS MITTERRAND

                                               

ALBERT CAMUS AND FRANCOIS MITTERRAND ..

In my various visits to France, I came to know  that Francois Mitterrand was a great admirer of Albert Camus, often more so than of his rival Jean-Paul Sartre. Mitterrand  liked Camus as a humanist, a moralist, and an author who embodied a conscience in public life. That is why Mitterrand saw Camus as friend and would attend events and functions where Camus was invited . The B&W photo in this post relates to year 1954  when Camus was invited as Chief Guest by Algerian writers in joint Book Release event in Paris. Camus was closely associated with 

Mouloud Feraoun of Algeria. Mouloud Feraoun (1913–1962) was a well-known Muslim writer, educator,  nationalist and a powerful voice against French Colonialism in Algeria He wrote in French language .Although  Camus was against French Colonialism,  he raised his voice firmly and fearlessly against Algerian terrorism and the terrorists who indulged in bomb blasts and killings .

 Francois Mitterrand was a cabinet minister in 1954 . He attended this event as Friend of Camus without being invited. Camus was happy yet  surprised at this visit. Mitterrand was a minister of interior under President Gustave Jules Rene Coty who remained President of the French Republic from 1954 to 1959.Gustave Rene Coty was a right-wing politician who evolved from a moderate republican to a conservative. Rene Coty was followed by Charles de Gaulle as President of the French Republic. Camus and Mitterrand  represented  two different facets of the French left, which experienced significant ideological clashes during that era, particularly regarding the Algerian War. 

Although Camus was not always in agreement with the political left of his time yet Mitterrand's admiration stemmed from Camus's commitment to justice and humanism, even when it meant remaining alone in his position. This admiration became a point of public discussion when a later right-wing president, Nicolas Sarkozy, also attempted to claim Camus's legacy by proposing he be interred in the Panthéon, a move met with some skepticism from French intellectuals who saw it as political point-scoring. In French politics, every act of pantheonisation has  been considered political and partisan. When Charles de Gaulle transferred the remains of the Resistance hero Jean Moulin to the Panthéon in 1964,  people believed him to be buttressing the conservative myth of a nation united against the German occupiers. In a symbolic tit for tat, Francois Mitterrand marked his presidential victory in 1981 by entering the Panthéon alone in order to lay a rose on Moulin’s tomb, reclaiming the legacy of the Resistance for the Left. Mitterrand's connection to Camus, however, is generally seen as a more consistent and personal intellectual alignment. Mitterrand was a right-wing politician in 1954.However, he moved towards the left, opposing Charles de Gaulle after 1958 and becoming the candidate for the socialist and communist left in the 1965 presidential election. After becoming the first secretary of the Socialist Party in 1971, he began a major reorganization of the party that greatly increased its electoral appeal. He remained the President of the French Republic from 1981 to 1995.

It was Mitterrand who abolished the Death Sentence in France in 1981 .

( Avtar Mota )

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ANGER OUTBURSTS IN ADULTHOOD .

                                            

CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND ANGER OUTBURSTS IN ADULTHOOD.

When it comes to childhood trauma, the scars one  carried as a child can quietly resurface years later, often without one  even realising it. For many adults, the impact of painful childhood experiences is evident in their everyday lives, showing up in unexpected ways. Quite often we see  anger being expressed disproportionately to situations by these individuals as  a result of some unresolved childhood trauma . The trauma experienced in childhood can interfere with a person's ability to learn and manage their emotions effectively, leading to frequent outbursts of anger and rage in adulthood. Childhood trauma can lead to being in a constant state of alertness or hypervigilance. This can make a person feel easily triggered and lead to intense startle responses and anger outbursts. Trauma can shape adult relationships in ways that lead to conflict.  Dr Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist working in a New York hospital writes  this :+

"One of the most common long-term effects of childhood trauma is anger. Individuals who experience childhood trauma may struggle to regulate their emotions, leading to outbursts of anger or other negative emotions. Childhood trauma can also lead to a sense of powerlessness, which can cause individuals to feel angry and frustrated with the world around them. Some adults exhibit Intense reactions to very small issues  resulting in  anger outbursts , quite often uncontrollable. Childhood trauma can take many forms, including , a violent parent( father or mother ) , neglect , sexual abuse,  witnessing  severe violence , persistent exposure to violence in family , significant loss,  etc. These  trauma experiences can disrupt a child’s emotional well-being  , sense of  security often leading to feelings of fear, anxiety, and helplessness. " 

Anger is a complex emotion that can manifest in different ways. It can show up as frequent and intense emotional outbursts, including rage, verbally abusive behavior , shouting, accusing, or using sarcasm.Managing anger in adulthood can be challenging, especially for individuals who have experienced childhood trauma. A leading psychologist in the UK writes this :

" The adulthood problem of frequent anger outbursts in people gets more complex as neither family members / close relatives nor the person himself looks at it as a treatable disorder. These outbursts have a tendency to hit a soft target, which can be a sibling or spouse.  In married life, such individuals make their own life and the  life of  their spouse unhappy and full of stress. Some people with this disorder exhibit arrival-departure anger outburst syndrome. They will exhibit anger outbursts at their target upon their return home or departure from home. Arrival due to pent-up emotions and departure due to a feeling of their subsequent non-availability.They magnify small and frivolous issues so as to justify the anger outbursts. Such persons jump into every avoidable issue to remain relevant and central to it. They observe,comment and try to control people beyond limits, imposing their own preferences and solutions . Rarely will they accept responsibility for how they treat others. Rarely will they agree that the problem lies with them, not with the other person, whom they often blame. Rarely do people close to them muster the courage to tell them that they need treatment, not arguments. The problem is certainly a manifestation of some  childhood trauma ."

 Childhood trauma can significantly contribute to persistent irritability in adulthood. For an angry person, normal stress gets compounded, creating health issues and adjustment problems.Such people need to understand the importance of mindfulness in their lives to manage anger. Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Focusing on the present moment can reduce stress and anxiety and start healing. There is no other solution except seeking help or professional counselling. Treatment may involve trauma-focused therapies, mindfulness, or other interventions to develop healthier coping mechanisms. With time, patience, and professional help,  it is possible to heal from childhood trauma and live a fulfilling life.

( Avtar Mota)

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.