Despite all our protestations to the contrary, Americans are a F**king Violent People

[Keith Bee]

I read an article on Slate last night about the way this country is "in love" with serial killers (link at bottom of page), and it brought me back to a news story I saw on the tube back in the late 1980s. It was about a kid in California who'd been beaten to death by another kid with an aluminum baseball bat, following an argument at a Little League game.

They had a man (a cop, maybe, or a doctor, not sure about that part) commenting on the incident. I definitely remember the way he shook his head sadly, and then said something that I'm quoting fucking near verbatim because it SEARED itself into my mind:

"This is so tragic," he sighed. "Something that should've been solved with just a few punches thrown now ends up with a dead child."

I was speechless. I'm sure my jaw was halfway to the floor, because this guy was BUYING the premise that violence---"just a few punches thrown"---would have been an APPROPRIATE way to resolve the dispute!

Now, I ask you: Is there really any emotive difference between punching another person in the face, and beating them with a metal club, or stabbing them in the chest, or blowing their head off with a .44 Magnum, or invading another country for no justifiable reason? If there is, I'm sorry, but I'm just not astute enough to see it.

And, in spite of progress made in civil rights, gender equality, science, tech, communication, etc., we still accept this. Glorify it.

Don't think so?

Have you ever gone to see an "action" (read: violent) movie and enjoyed it? I know I have. And I love watching football and hockey.

:patriot:

http://www.slate.com/id/2292427 /

[MrModerate]

1. "Emotive difference?" Perhaps not.

But practical effect, such as the gulf between a bloody nose and tens of thousands dead, yes.

A little perspective, please.

As to the cop/doctor you overheard 25 years ago, perhaps he was saying that young men get into fights more often than anyone else, and usually they are no more serious than a few wild punches -- but this incident went much further. That sounds like a very realistic point of view.

[Keith Bee]

2. That's not what he was saying

He was advocating for "just a few punches being thrown." Please keep in mind that "should've" means should have. And the difference between socking someone in the jaw and mass murder is one of degree, not of kind, as the harmful intent comes from exactly the same place.

[MrModerate]

5. I think you may be reading in a bit too much precision . . .

. . . from a remark you heard a quarter of a century ago.

And the difference in degree between a punch-up and mass murder is so great that it makes no practical sense to treat them the same. As an intellectual exercise, perhaps, but in real life? Not hardly.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Keith Bee]

4. K for Demeter

:-)

[Mimosa]

6. Keith, you're right although some will deny it

Compare the films Americans like to those made in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Most children are exposed to violence from their earliest years. Few 'average' kids are now taught to appreciate fine music, art and literature. Coarseness and vulgarity R U.S. ;)

Our culture is sometimes claimed to have become feminised. Butthat's not really true. Patriarchal values are supported in government as well as our popular culture.

[Bluenorthwest]

9. Aussie films like Road Warrior or Galipoli?

UK films like Clockwork Orange? Snatch? And of course 'films Americans like' are all also huge hits around the world, made here or in NZ. Or Mars. Even the ones we make are liked all over the globe, far better than fare from any other country. The films made in Canada do not usually storm the box office, even in Canada, for example. There is no sense of Canadian cinema as a movement. You are making another argument that Americans are exceptional, and I am saying no, we are not. Except our films are far more popular than the violence free 28 Days series from Britain, for example...good lord.

[boppers]

7. Why focus on just Americans?

Most of recorded History is marked by wars all over the globe, and before humans, other animals were (and are) killing each other for food, territory... before animals, plants were fighting it out.

Nature produces cruel and violent beings, because resources are valuable to living things.

[ChazII]

8. +100

Folks should review the world's history prior to 1492. Thank you for your post boppers.

[Bluenorthwest]

10. I don't like sports.

And I see much of the 'anti-violence' writing to be excuses to write violent scenarios, as you did. A string of them. Couched as 'I don't like violence'. But you like to describe it. And you like to watch 'sports' which are comprised of ritualized violence, and you use the word 'love' to describe your emotions about hockey. Why describe that which you claim to dislike seeing? Hmmmmm?