I have committed true violence in my life. I’ve had a very few instances (gratefully), where my options were simply to engage and kill or submit and die – yet here I am, with the memories still intact and air still flowing through my lungs.
The core of violence can’t be explained. Many of the gunnie blogs I read are written by, read by or haunted by men and women who have experienced this core event called violence, whether in combat or civilian life. It’s effect on them varies from long term struggles with PTSD to quiet acceptance of the experience and a prayer to never – ever – enter the “core” again. The very core of violence simply can’t be explained to someone who has been fortunate enough to avoid its embrace.
Still, it seems as though our society has developed a hunger for violence . . . .
What prompted this post was reading the stories of the massacre at the new Batman premier in Aurora, Colorado last night. I’ve not seen the movie. Probably won’t. Yet even the previews seem to reveal an orgy of violence. It’s a trend I’ve noticed over the past 30 years or so. The depictions of violence have become very detailed, very intimate, extremely visual . . . .
There have been a number of discussions on the boards I frequent about the flash mob of a Wal-Mart store in Oregon – 300+ kids running through the store, smashing watermelons, terrorizing the folks in the store. When you see the video you realize it was a joyful experience for them . . . .
South of me in St. Louis the city has struggled with the knock-out game. An attacker simply runs up to a victim and does their very best to knock out the person with a single blow to the head. An interview with one of the attackers revealed he had over 300 “confirmed” . . . .
Just a few days ago Chicago experienced this “game” with a 13 year old and a 15 year old killing an older man with a single blow to the head . . . 13 . . . 15
It is safer in the valleys of Afghanistan that the canyons of Chicago – LA – Atlanta – Detroit – New Orleans – NYC . . . .
We have a President who has glommed on to the simplest of re-election strategies . . . . they’re rich, you’re not – I’ll take what’s theirs and give it to you . . . . he’s consciously feeding hatred towards folks that others see as better off. And as the economy worsens – that bar is being lowered every day. In the very near future – VERY NEAR FUTURE – simply having a job will make you better off. As he destroys more jobs, puts more small business out of business – the bar for “wealth” lowers, the envy is stoked, the job creators are made the villains, frustrations grow, OWS movements evolve and devolve into chaos . . . .
And, the very core of violence comes closer to each and every person.
I freely admit to being fearful for my country. I live in rural Iowa. When folks take by weapons classes and express that they are beginning to feel unsafe . . . . well, Iowa is the canary in the coalmine, and the canary is having a hard time breathing right now.
“Something Wicked This Way Comes” – with all its seduction and promises. It’s emotional release. Its power. Its empowerment – even though that empowerment is very fleeting.
More and more there is a Willingness for Violence . . . .
Scares the hell out of me . . . .
UPDATE – 7/23/12
And so it continues . . . . .
At the core is the "Everybody has their own truth" concept prevalent in our culture. What people don't get is that without absolutes of right and wrong it boils down to a relativism of what each person wants to do. I want to knock you out? That's OK - it's my truth that there is nothing immoral about that. You may not like it but tough - it's my truth and if you demand YOUR truth you have no legs to stand on when I demand mine.
ReplyDelete+1 to ProudHillbilly
DeleteIt is a scary time.
ReplyDeleteProud - Agree with Matt, +1 from me as well. We have certainly moved away from the moral foundations I grew up with, and not to our benefit.
ReplyDeleteMatt - yep, in full agreement
AGirl - yep, certainly one more item of evidence that carrying each and every day is a wise choice.
And me... and total agreement with Matt and PH!
ReplyDeleteNothing more to add, except another +1.
ReplyDelete