Why are Americans so kill happy?

[RellioN]

erm...because there are more murders in the U.S.? Is this a trick question?

 

Because there are four times as many murders per capita? Seriously, where are you going with this?

Look at the thread name and OP post. This thread is about why the murder rates in the US are so high. So, why are they?

[Achilles]

Any answer I could provide would be pure speculation on my part. Is there a particular reason that you're seeking my opinion?

[PoiuyWired]

I'm sure they are human. I'm not even sure if you would class the hijackers as evil. The act they committed surely, the people who put them up to it definetly. The bottom line, the act of mass murder and the desire for scores more, is out and out evil and the people responsible get no sympathy whatsoever.

 

Well, on the case of the hijackers, I don't think this would be a good example, since this is quite a special case. Their decision of performing a mission of extreme health hazard (in this case a suicidal terrorist attack) basically means that their death is just the expacted (even desired) result of their own decision, and not anything tragic. The closest thing to tragic on their parts would be their decision on taking ushc a mission, but then that would be a whole different discussion NOT IN THIS THREAD. So technically the death of the hijackers are "war casualty" (especially given that we declared"war" on terrorism) but other victims are tragically victims of a terrorist mass murder.

 

My point. By being a gangsta it is known that your job description would include violent interaction between different rival groups, of which fatal wounds would be a likely result. While I would call gang wars a real "war" but to those who choose to participate in such activities it does carry the same acknowlegement of "death happens" And while it is Legally still murder, it is in fact more along the lines of "conflict casualty"

[Totenkopf]

Why is that Americans love to kill each other? I'd been aware of the huge difference of homocides in countries and the US, but I watched Bowling for Columbine, and it really put things in perspective. Michael Moore pointed to the media, and that's the only thing that I can think of.

 

Is it the media? Is it the fact that Americans live in fear?

 

What do you think?

 

First, the premise here is too sweeping. If Americans were as blood thirsty as your opening statement implies, the murder rate would be much higher than it is. Second, MM is a poor source of heavily slanted info. Why people seem to believe that America is an ultraviolent society, however, does reside in large part with the media (if it bleeds...) and just sensationalism in general.

I, for fact, do not live in fear and suspect that many here don't either. No doubt the area you live in, though, will impact how you view the situation. Some neighborhoods are more dangerous than others, but are generally the exception rather than the rule.

 

@Achilles--my guess is that he/she thinks you're either in denial or is pressing you for a clearer explanation of your position.

[Nancy Allen``]

Leaving aside terrorism, it should be expected that gangs are a rather criminal element. You only need to have a quick look at how they operate to see what a bad idea it would be to join one.

[Rogue Warrior]

Culture of fear.

[JediMaster12]

Rogue Warrior: WHile your contributions are welcome, it would do you justice if you could elaborate. What you have posted can be construed as spam since it doesn't help the conversation any.

 

As to the actual topic, anybody around the world is capable of killing. Not just Americans like to get gungho about things. Yeah part it can come from video games and the like but that is were responsibility comes in the knowing of right and wrong. All people are capable of killing and some of us enjoy the violent nature of things. Me I dig it when I see football guys pummel each other though I don't give a hoot about who goes to the Superbowl. I watch wrestling and war movies. Does that make me kill happy?

We can go into the moral issue of things. We all have a moral compass. It points us in the right direction according to our cultural norms but it doesn't make us go there.

[Rogue Warrior]

Pearl Harbour, classic example. America stayed out of the conflict until they were attacked, then took on a gung ho attitude where they saw fit to kill before they were killed.

[StFrodric]

The perception of American Unilateral Gung Ho behavior has very much been helped along by several EU political leaders who used it to further their nations interests. It was very useful to Chirac in bolsering his position in France for many many years. Several German leaders also played up the US as a bunch of trigger happy yahoos in order to bolster failing support at home. Of course when situations like Bosnia break out and pretty much all of the EU begged the US to send troops we were all good friends again. The EU media culture as well as its political culture feed the idea of the US as kill crazy simply because it benefits them for business and political reasons to do so. The US media plays up bleeds it leads for cash reasons as well. Many media outlets have "special" ad rates contracted out so that during "Breaking Events" they can charge an extra fee for the ad space between the tearful widows and the solemn police Captains announcement etc etc etc.

 

 

If the way the US is depicted was correct we would be knee deep in corpses.

[mimartin]

Pearl Harbour, classic example. America stayed out of the conflict until they were attacked, then took on a gung ho attitude where they saw fit to kill before they were killed.

So are you saying the proper way for the United States to react to the attack on Pearl Harbor was to do nothing? Passively allow the Imperial Japanese military run rough shot over the entire Pacific Rim? Have you actually read about what was going on in Manchuria, Korea and China at that time?

 

Yes, the United States also entered the war in Europe because of this attack. Forgive me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t there a leader over there committing mass genocide against his own people and those of countries he invaded? Murdering these people for no other reason than their cultural and religious differences?

 

You are also mistaken about the United States staying out of the conflict before Pearl Harbor. The reason I did not say unprovoked attack at Pearl Harbor is because the United States and allies had already instituted strong economic sanction against Japan. The United States was also sending equipment to England and the Soviet Union. I do not consider either of these examples of being the act of a neutral nation.

 

I also don’t see how self preservation constitutes someone being “kill happy.” I guarantee that if someone punches me in the nose, they will get a reaction. I wish I could turn the other cheek, but I’m not that strong and I’m going to hit back. Perhaps that is just the American coming out in me.

 

I’m sorry to say I do not see where your “classic example” hold any merit to prove American’s are “kill happy”. Care to enlighten me?

[Rogue Warrior]

No, absolutely not, America had every right to defend themselves. I am saying that, to use a better word, they adopt something of a fearful manner and feel they are to eliminate threats before they are attacked.

[mimartin]

I am saying that, to use a better word, they adopt something of a fearful manner and feel they are to eliminate threats before they are attacked.

I’ll agree with you, in so far as Iraq is concern that America allowed its leaders to invade under the guise of a “preemptive strike". The Iraq War started 58 years after World War II ended, so I fail to see the correlation between the two. I still fail to see what WW II has to do with inspiring American citizens to be “kill happy” in such incidents as Columbine or Virginia Tech (The Topic).

 

Please explain because I cannot fathom how WWII inspired Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold, Seung-Hui Cho or anyone else for that matter to murder innocent victims.

[Rogue Warrior]

Ah, the school shootings. This is a rather difficult topic to discuss because of all the variables, such as victimisation, the mental state of the perpetrators, ect. And that is without going into the whole Doom, Basketball Diaries thing, but look up Dave Grossman and Killology if you want to discuss that aspect of it. The best way I can surmise it is that they hated their lives, they wanted to end it and take as many people as they could with them. Why? Revenge would have a small role to play, such as their police arrest, Harris' rejection from the Marines, bullying. Infamy, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold craved attention. Draw attention to their problems.