Posted on 01/11/2011 12:00:07 PM PST by NoLibZone
The late New York Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously preached that culture is more important than politics. He was talking about the success of a society, but I can't help but think that the aphorism is especially apropos now.
We are a culture that fetishizes violence. Look anywhere, and you'll see it. It's in our language, our sports, our entertainment, and yes, our political rhetoric.
And it's probably true that -- as many have recently speculated -- violence-laced rhetoric or images might be enough to inspire someone who is already mentally unstable to act out.
The underlying violent culture is, I think, much more important than our political rhetoric. (Yes, some would argue that politics is just a reflection of the culture, but Moynihan saw a separation, and I agree.)
Yet it is ironic that the same people who typically mock the notion that violent movies, music or video games could influence behavior seem to think a former governor of Alaska's PAC could do so.
So far, of course, there is zero evidence to suggest that Jared Loughner -- the man charged with shooting Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others -- ever saw Palin's now-notorious map, or was, in any way, influenced by her. (That didn't stop some, seeking to score cheap political points, from immediately blaming her.) Moreover, there is (as of now) no evidence that anybody's political rhetoric triggered this horrific attack.
Still, the finger-pointing has fueled a hot topic: examining how heated political rhetoric might have caused this tragedy.
While such rhetoric may be a problem, the alternative is arguably worse. What is the opposite of heated political rhetoric? Political apathy -- or, on the extreme end of the spectrum, censoring political speech.
Political speech is, and ought to remain, the most protected speech (that's part of the reason I would say this shooting was an attack on democracy itself).
And speaking of censorship, while our nation debates whether to blame Sarah Palin for something she had no connection to or responsibility for -- there once was a time when it was clear that pop culture actually did lead to an assassination attempt on a U.S. president.
John Hinckley, of course, was inspired by Travis Bickle -- the title character in the 1976 movie "Taxi Driver" who tried to kill the president. Hoping to impress Jodie Foster (who was featured in the movie), the deranged Hinckley shot Ronald Reagan in 1981. But I don't recall political pundits blaming Robert De Niro (who played Bickle) or Martin Scorsese (the director) or Foster. (I'm sure some cultural conservatives did blame them, but the media did not.)
(While I oppose censorship, responsible adults -- movie and music producers, and yes, politicians -- should police themselves and, for the good of America, tone down the violence. Ultimately, it comes down to this: Do you want your life's work to be a force for good or evil in the world?)
In the end, though, I believe in personal responsibility. Blaming the political milieu -- or "Hollywood" (or whatever) -- does not absolve the one man who was allegedly responsible for the heinous act in Tucson. But when we're searching for a reason to explain such madness, I would argue that culture, is, in fact, more important than politics.
In their attempt to defend the shooter the left disregards their nonstop 24/7 graphic violence industry.
Southern California’s Hollywood films.
Rap music.
Northern California’s graphic video games.
These industries fund the DNC and must not be considered as an influence on this nut .
When the left is preaching death and violence against GWB, Dick Cheney or Rush Limbaugh, there is NEVER a call from libs for civility or toning down of the rhetoric. This crap is so hypocritical and self-serving it doesn’t warrant a serious response.
Would not be surprised if the guy was a gamer.
Taxi Driver was inspired by the diaries of Arthur Bremer (who tried to kill George Wallace).
They are focused on the fact that Repubs were targeting her for being too much of a Democrat, in order to ignore the fact that some of her own side were targeting her for being not enough of a Democrat.
And they are ignoring the noticeable fact that the moment this happened, the sheriff knew exactly who the perp was. Exactly.
Political jousting was always rough, even back in the early days of the nation. In 1828 the campaign between Andrew Jackson and the incumbent president, John Quincy Adams, may have been the nastiest in American history. The dignified Adams was literally called a pimp while Jackson was accused of adultery and murder. Almost makes today's presidential campaigns seem tame. Well, I said, almost.
Like Matt Lewis, the author of the posted article, I believe in personal responsibility. That being the case, I hereby assign all guilt for the Tucson massacre to Jared Lee Loughner, the mentally disturbed man that actually did the shooting, willfully and deliberately taking six innocent lives, one that of a child, and wounding 14, including a congressional Representative, Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ). Had he not been stopped by brave bystanders, he would have killed or wounded many more. Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh and/or alleged 'uncivil' political rhetoric didn't do that, Jared Loughner did - and these ridiculous attempts by the last elections losers - the Democrats - to pretend that somehow, some way, conservative public personalities that hold no office and cannot affect anyone's life in a substantive way 'caused' the disturbed man to start shooting is simply unacceptable, demonstrating a desperate, cynical attempt by the losers to silence and shame the winners, with absolutely no basis in fact for their wild and evidence-free accusations. It won't work.
Let the Bodies Hit the Floor
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/d/drowning_pool/let_the_bodies_hit_the_floor.html
is the song Loughner used as background music to his on-line flag-burning video.
One can’t blame anyone other than Loughner for what happened, but if there was a proximate “trigger” for his madness, it more likely lies in pop culture lyrics such as this than anything Palin ever said. We have direct evidence that this song “inspired” him in some way, whereas there is zero evidence he knew or cared about what Palin was saying etc.
Excellent post! Don’t expect the MSM and the lib “elites” to be embarrassed when they realize this guy is a psychotic stalker with no ties to any particular political group-he wasn’t even a registered voter! They’ll push instead for gun control, “free” mental health treatment, and “speech codes”.
So far, of course, there is zero evidence to suggest that Jared Loughner -- the man charged with shooting Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others -- ever saw Palin's now-notorious map, or was, in any way, influenced by her. (That didn't stop some, seeking to score cheap political points, from immediately blaming her.) Moreover, there is (as of now) no evidence that anybody's political rhetoric triggered this horrific attack.That's the kind of reasoning a good LEO uses when a lynch-mob mentality takes hold.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. Hollywood is obsessed with making gratuitously violent, sick movies and video games. They're the ones who are poisoning the minds of mentally ill people.
When I go to the movies, you're forced to sit through the previews of this trash.
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