Am I belligerent

During a recent attempt to gain clarification on a very important personal matter in my life, it was noted that my ".... behavior could be interpreted by a rational person as belligerent". Originally, I took this comment as a veiled threat to my continued tenure. While reviewing the situation with my colleagues, they also felt that I may have pushed too hard. They do agree with me, and continue to have the same opinion as me, but since I have to provide for my family I backed off ( I knew I should have dallied more in the lottery). I have also considered the comment as name-calling. but I guess those I'm dealing with either don't fully understand the situation, or are unwilling to. In either case, I thought it would be interesting to interpret my attitude, using the definition presented. The following is the online dictionary definition of belligerent, as well as my interpretation. Writing it has calmed me some. For now.

Do I think I'm belligerent ? If the context is in a belligerent tone, which is synonymous with aggressive, and the aggressive context is having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends; "an aggressive businessman", then I guess I'm belligerent. I wouldn't consider myself either at war, or wanting to fight, unless in the context of fighting for my rights, or fighting to get a clearer understanding of a situation that is confusing to me.

belligerent \Bel*lig"er*ent\, a. [L. bellum war + gerens, -entis, waging, p. pr. of gerere to wage: cf. F. bellig['e]rant. See Bellicose, Jest.] 1. Waging war; carrying on war. ``Belligerent powers.'' --E. Everett. 2. Pertaining, or tending, to war; of or relating to belligerents; as, a belligerent tone; belligerent rights. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

belligerent adj 1: characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight; "aggressive acts against another country"; "a belligerent tone" [syn: aggressive] 2: engaged in war; "belligerent (or warring) nations"; "a fighting war" [syn: fighting, militant, war-ridden, warring] n : someone who fights (or is fighting) [syn: combatant, battler, fighter, scrapper]

aggressive adj 1: having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends; "an aggressive businessman"; "an aggressive basketball player"; "he was aggressive and imperious; positive in his convictions"; "aggressive drivers" [ant: unaggressive] 2: marked by aggressive ambition and energy and initiative; "an aggressive young exective"; "a pushful insurance agent"; "a pushing youth intent on getting on in the world" [syn: enterprising, pushful, pushing, pushy] 3: tending to spread quickly; "an aggressive tumor" [syn: fast-growing(a)] 4: characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight; "aggressive acts against another country"; "a belligerent tone" [syn: belligerent]