Dead Buddha's Blog

The violence of American politics and media finds its roots in the character of the American people. It is inherent in our self-image as gunslingers, gangstas, bitches, tomb-raiders, mavericks, hunters, top guns and so many more, the list could fill pages. Our heroes have always had True Grit and names like Thelma and Louise. Only the tallest men become presidents, only the toughest broads can serve in congress. Why should media commentators be any different? I suspect that the real violence we see in an action like the shooting of a Kennedy or Reagan or this Gifford event is nothing more or less than an acting out of our collective self-image.

Is this what makes America great? Is America great? Does “America” even exist other than as an image of the great society, policeman to the world, purveyor of ultra violent sports, action films and gunship diplomacy? What would America be if it were not the world’s largest arms manufacturer, largest distributor of drugs, largest consumer of non-renewable energy, longest participant in foreign wars, home to the largest unrestrained multinational corporations?

I would suggest that perhaps the problem is not a few crazy people affected by violent political commentary but our profound unwillingness to see through our own self-image. It is a self-image that is constantly reinforced by our music. Film, TV, political dialog, advertising, fashion, education, religion and by our own willingness to revel in such illusions. Thus we perceive each other through the lens of these illusions and must fear.