It’s true. Americans like violence more than people in any other developed country. This isn’t some new phenomenon either – it has been true for centuries. The United States was founded on violence and genocide, and the country has never looked back.
by David Stone
Assorted Ideas, Large & Small
From slavery to the Trail of Tears to Wounded Knee, America’s history is stained with blood. And today, things are no different. School shootings, mass shootings, police brutality – violence is an American way of life.
See also: 11 Reasons Why Left-Handed People Are Better at Almost Everything
Why is this? Some people say it’s because of the Second Amendment or because America is a “gun culture.” But that’s only part of the story.
The truth is that Americans simply enjoy violence more than other people do. It’s ingrained in our national character. We are a nation of violence, and we always have been.
So, the next time you hear someone say that America is the greatest country in the world, remember this: we’re not great only because of our freedom or our democracy.
We’re also great as a nation of killers, and we may always be.
Violence in America
Violence in America is a problem as large as it is painful. Every day, innocent people are injured or killed in shootings, stabbings and other acts of violence.
The violence is often fueled by gangs, drugs and poverty. It takes a toll on victims, their families and the entire community.
In addition to the physical violence, there is also the emotional violence that comes with living in a violent neighborhood. Children grow up seeing violence and hearing about violence, and it can have a profound effect on their development.
Violence in America is not just a problem for the inner city; it affects cities and towns all across the country. It’s past time for us to come together and address this problem if that’s what we want. But it isn’t.
We mourn victims while officials swear each tragedy “must never happen again.” But they do, and a lot of times, the next is worse.
Can we fix it?
We need to provide more resources for those who are affected by violence, and we need to work to prevent violence before it starts. Violence in America is a problem that we might solve if we work together.
It’s complex and multi-faceted. There is no single cause of violence, and it manifests itself in many different forms.
From mass shootings to domestic abuse, violence has a profound impact on individuals, families and communities across the country.
Despite the violence that occurs daily, there are also many Americans working to prevent it and build peace in their communities. Through violence prevention programs, public awareness campaigns and community-based initiatives, these individuals are working to make America a safer place for everyone.
But so far, America is going in a different direction, even though everyone says that more mayhem is not what they want. And yet, there must be at least a handful of hypocrites in the crowd.
Americans enjoy violence more than other people do
Americans have always had a fascination with violence. From the early days of the frontier, when pioneer settlements were often in pitched territorial battles with Native Americans, to the Wild West days of gunfights and stagecoach robberies, violence has been a part of the American story.
Almost from the day the Pilgrims landed, the European settlers engaged in genocide, stealing land from Native Americans through slaughter and forced resettlement. 18th and 19th Century American governments signed treaties intended to stop the killings and protect the rights of both sides. Just as routinely, they broke those agreements.
Genocide against Native Americans formed the very foundation of American society. Arriving Christians thought of the true Americans as heathens, lesser in God’s eyes, needing to be saved or, more often, killed, their lands taken over for western expansion.
One cause provoking the Revolutionary War was Great Britain’s resistance to the colonies crossing the Appalachian Mountains and seizing more Native American territory. Parliament did not want to pay for the inevitable wars, and the colonies – notoriously – resented paying taxes.
George Washington was one of many personally investing in the expansion
And while the United States has come a long way since those early days, violence is still deeply ingrained in our national character.
The Violence of Slavery Built the American Economy
America’s early economy could never have thrived, especially in the South, without slavery. Virtually all slaves were kidnapped in Africa or their descendants and brutally forced into free labor – if they survived nightmarish conditions in crossing the Atlantic.
And even after slavery was abolished, violence against blacks continued in the form of lynchings and Jim Crow laws, all of which carried on into the 20th Century. And the new century offers something unexpected: the energetic return of Jim Crow racism in voting and representation.
The United States has also been involved in more than its fair share of wars, both foreign and domestic. The Civil War, which was fought over slavery, killed over 600,000 Americans.
It was the deadliest war in American history, but monuments to terrorists fighting to save slavery went up across the country, North and South.
And since then, America has been involved in many other military conflicts, both large and small, many imperialistic efforts in search of profits and power. Violence, more than virtue, is a common theme.
Even today, violence is a popular theme in movies, television, and video games.
So. it should come as no surprise that violence is such a big part of American culture. We are a nation of violence.
Some Possible Causes
There are many reasons why Americans seem to enjoy violence more than other people do. One reason may be that violence is more common in America than it is in other countries.
With such high levels of violence in American society, it’s not surprising that people would become desensitized to it and even find it entertaining.
Another reason may be that violence is a way for people to vent their frustrations and anger. In a country where people are always under pressure to succeed, violence can be seen as a way to let off steam.
Finally, violence is simply more exciting than non-violence while lacking the taboos against it elsewhere.
Whatever the reasons, it’s clear that violence is a part of American culture.
Talk about the consequences of this love of violence
Violence in America is increasingly commonplace. It seems that everywhere you look, there is violence on the news, violence in video games and violence in the streets.
This love of violence is having some serious consequences. First and foremost, it is leading to an increase in crime.
Studies show that violence begets violence, and as more and more people are exposed to violence, either through the media or through firsthand experience, the likelihood of them committing a violent act increases.
In addition, this love of violence is desensitizing people to its true horror. When we see violence on the news or in a movie, we may be shocked initially, but soon it becomes commonplace and we no longer react with the same horror.
This can lead to a change in attitudes towards violence, making it seem like a more acceptable solution to problems.
Finally, this love of violence is leading to an increase in gun sales. In recent years, there has been a surge in gun ownership, as people feel that they need to arm themselves to protect themselves from violent criminals.
Many studies show that the proliferation of firearms seeds rather than restricts violence. But knowing that has not produced change because our love of savagery prohibits it.
All of these factors illustrate the dangerous consequences of our love of violence.
A solution to America’s Love of Violence
It’s no secret that violence is a problem in America. Every day, we see reports of shootings, stabbings, and other acts of brutality.
This mayhem takes a toll on our society, both in terms of human lives lost and the billions of dollars spent on medical care and law enforcement. But what can be done to solve this problem?
There is no easy answer, but there are some potential solutions.
First, we could work to improve gun control laws. This would make it more difficult for people with violent intentions to obtain firearms.
Second, we could invest more in mental health care. This would help to identify people who are at risk of violence and provide them with the treatment they need.
We could also increase funding for law enforcement. This would allow police to investigate crimes more thoroughly and provide additional resources to communities that are plagued by violence.
But greater than any other need is coming to public terms with our All-American love of violence. Americans need to be honest with each other. If we weren’t viscerally committed to brutality and violence, we wouldn’t see it everywhere and invite its increase.
We need to ask frankly if this is what we want as a signature of our nation.
These are just a few of the possible solutions to the problem of violence in America. It will take time and effort to implement these solutions, but we must do something to address this issue. Otherwise, the violence will continue taking a toll from shore to shore.
Conclusion: Violence in America
We’ve discussed why Americans enjoy violence more than other people do. One reason may be that violence is more common in America than it is in other countries.
With such high levels of violence in American society, it’s not surprising that people would become desensitized to it and even find it entertaining. Another reason may be that violence can be seen as a way to vent frustrations and anger.
In a country where people are always under pressure to succeed, violence can be seen as a way to let off steam. Finally, it could be argued that violence is simply more exciting than non-violence.
Whatever the reasons, it’s clear that violence is a part of American culture.
There are consequences for this love of violence. One is that it leads to more crime. Another is that people become desensitized to violence and no longer react with the same horror when they see it.
Some potential solutions to the problem of violence in America include improving gun control laws, investing more in mental health care and increasing funding for law enforcement.
But at some point, we need the cultural maturity to acknowledge the roots of our love for violence. Brutality against slaves and Native Americans made our nation rich and powerful. That knowledge must stand alongside the virtues that we value and other cultures envy.
Recognizing the truth is vital to our national health.
While these solutions will take time and effort to implement, they are essential if we want to address the issue of violence in our society.
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Thank you!
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it’s wrong. Some Americans HATE violence, and HATE to see violence movies or games. I think America is over. Cause of the violence lovers and greedy selfish cruel immoral Americans, including the sly rich Administrators, politicians, and criminals who try to destroy societies for their greediness.
Some normal American people have more humble life styles and not so rich but they’re hard workers. They are not harassing other people and have morals.It doesn’t matter their races.
I’m NOT American but I have met many Americans. I agree that some Americans love violence also greedy, but not “all” Americans.
Thanks for your comment. It’s true that some Americans, including me, detest the violence glamorized all around us, but the evidence is clear that, regardless of what gets said in the press, Americans generally consider violence an acceptable, even attractive part of the culture.