Quote Originally Posted by Crazed Rabbit
I rarely watch TV. Hardly ever even watched it when we had it. Just the very rare news, the occasional movie (free HBO in college-so no commercials now!), or the simpsons.

Now...back to the topic(or at least it's cousin, twice removed); the reason America is so violent.

Some contenders:
1) The drug war
2) gang turf wars and the like
3) the culture (I'm against it, seems like an easy way to cop out without getting to the reason).

Anyone have any ideas?

Crazed Rabbit
The War on Drugs and the Gang Turf Wars are really part of the culture I think. One would have to go futher back then that. One of the main reasons for violence in the United States is our desire and ingrained philosophy of rugged individualism.

I read (or is it red) a book about the Scot-Irish influence on the culture of the United States - and this was one of groups that had a lot of influence on our culture. The rugged individualism is one of the traits the author wanted to place as a benefit of the Scots-Irish immigrants. If its true or not is for each one of us to decide.

Then if one takes a good look at our history - American's have always associated themselve with figures that shapped from that mold for the most part - even if its not completely true of the individual in question.

The United States was also a nation founded on opposition to oppressive government - which would lead one to question the government in everything it does, however the culture of the United States also instilled into us that its okay to use violence to solve our disputes. How many times growing up do you hear your father say its okay to fight as long as you did not start it?

Hell I learned how to pick a fight without throwing the first punch just for that reason alone.

Violence is shown to us everyday - in our media, in our writings, and yes even in our everyday life. When you live in a society that likes violent entertainment - some of its bound to wear off into how the society functions.

Kind of rambling I know - but the thought has only begin to gain formulation in my head - and it takes many monthes of thinking before I could come up with a rational and coherient thought on the magnitude of the question. What is amazing is that no one will ever actually agree on why the American Culture has a tendency to violence - I guess there are just to many factors to agree on any one or even two main reasons for it.

But what the hell its easy to blame Hollywood for pumping us the entertainment that we want to buy. (Hows that for blaming Hollywood and pointing out ourselves at the same time.)