Its certainly true that Americans have a fascination with violence, but no more so than the people of any other culture. Your comments seem to take a “sky is falling” tone that is based on some real overstatements and much more emotion than fact.

First of all, what a quick check of the statistics reveals is that violeent crime rates reached the lowest level ever recorded in 2005. Crimes against property have shown a similar decrease. Check the Bureau of Justice site as I did. What recent statistics were you using?

Next you comment on the “apparatus of government” and the violence they have done against their citizens. Interesting point here, but equally misleading. True, the crime of slavery has stained our nation forever, but it was the violence of the Civil War which began the march toward equality which must still be completed. You also mention “Pinkerton Detectives”, but, if my memory of history serves me, these were private agents not controlled by the state. But you are right about federal and state soldiers doing violence to strikers; that’s a crime. But isn’t is also true that these events are very few and far between; they certainly vanish next to the exploits of state agents working for China, Russia, Germany, Cambodia, Ruwanda, and many others.

As far as the violence that the US has done other nations in times of war, you should at least note that in the world’s most costly wars, America did use violence as a last resort to restore and defend the freedoms of others. That’s noble, not tragic.

Americans, as you point out do love violent games, movies, and sports. But on the other hand we constantly freak out about kids playing dodge-ball or tag. Go figure. You mention that almost every day we might read in gory detail about the latest shooting; this certainly isn’t true. Even more pathetic is that most violent crimes receive little attention in the media, and there is even less outrage when the violent criminals get to walk. And as far as the innumerable ordinary citizens who, I guess, become blood-thirsty shooters and killers–name one. Everyone who commits road-rage and violence would, by the way, be a criminal.

Finally, you imagine parents, brothers, and uncles of yore telling young boys to duke it out. I certainly can’t imagine how you arrive at this conclusion aside from the use of imagination, but if you have any actual facts please share them.

Dave, the issue of violence and the huge toll it takes on our society is certainly an emotional issue. But why not take a more reasoned approach to the subject? I know its fun to write from the gut with bile and all that, but something more is needed too.