Ya know, despite all our protestations, 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/

[Buzz Clik]

1. I think you misread the reaction:

"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!"

He was not saying that violence was acceptable, but he could not believe that a 12-year-old (or younger) was capable of beating another child to death. When tempers among boys boil over the top, it used to be swearing, punching, and then hoping for someone to break it up.

[Keith Bee]

2. "SHOULD'VE"

Should have. How am I misreading THAT?

[Buzz Clik]

16. This is pointless. We're parsing words based on your memory from 20 years ago.

I have no idea what he meant. You can only relate your impressions. That's as far as it goes.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. "12 yr old" didn't this happen also in Egland a few years ago when 7 yr olds killed a 5 yr old?

[Buzz Clik]

18. No idea. However, this thread was specific to the US.

[Keith Bee]

3. To the two

who unrecced: The truth is painful sometimes, isn't it?

[rhett o rick]

6. I think there are people hired to unrec damn near everything. Which of course is stupid. nm

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. The Gladiators

[rhett o rick]

7. i agree. nm

[Amonester]

8. Especially when just ONE punch could result in the same....

resolve as the one that the alum bat did.

What happened to "talking" differences out?

[flvegan]

9. It's not just the Americans. Most humans are violent in one regard or another.

Some are better at it, so to speak, than others. Don't look for that to lessen any time in the future, either.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. except for the Bushmen in Africa...The Gods Must Be Crazy

[Keith Bee]

11. Just let it go, E's D

The people HERE don't wanna HEAR.

[flvegan]

14. Are you making an implication towards me

or just responding to the responding poster? If you're making an implication about me, I'd suggest you explain yourself with crystal clarity.

[Zanzoobar]

17. Didn't they start a war over a coke bottle?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

20. lol well not a war but the tribe began kluncking each other over the head for use of

that bloody bottle

[Keith Bee]

12. Seven unrecs for the facts

Go back to masturbating over William & Kate, fools.

[Zanzoobar]

13. Americans are no more violent than the rest of the world.

More in some cases, less in others. It's relative.

[Canuckistanian]

15. Wasn't this the point of "Bowling for Columbine"?

Despite having just as many per capita guns as Canada, why is the death rate from firearms so much higher?

And why is the military so revered to the point of reverence? Other countries are just as free, but they don't need to bomb their perceived enemies just to prove it.

Americans seem to crave deadly retribution for almost any slight. I don't know why.

[Iggo]

19. Call me violent again and I will F**king KILL YOU!!!

:crazy:

[KG]

21. violence is deeply ingrained in the american culture.