This is sort of a weird topic I've been thinking about which may be more of an R&P post, but lots of cross traffic and violence of course has always had to do a lot with politics.
For context, I'm reading Blood Meridian right now, and watched American Primeval on Netflix earlier this year. Different parts of the country, but both 19th century westerns which highlight the absolute brutality of the American frontier.
It's shocking to read and watch. The idea that you were just never safe. Guy you saw on the street? He may shoot you in broad daylight. Or if you're a woman forbid you look at someone funny next thing you know you're brutally raped and attacked. Gangs ran rampant in full contravention of the law, more or less in open warfare with law enforcement.
This is a part of our history. The American frontier and the Wild West is unique to us as Americans, but that level of depravity and brutality obviously isn't.
So what changed? Did we really get technologically advanced enough where people are too scared to act on these dark impulses? Did law enforcement finally get enough manpower and resources to simply overpower organized resistance? Growth of government? I don't think religion is the answer… society has grown less religious.
Modern civilization itself? It's a jarring thought to me that if I'd been born 150 years ago my chances of being murdered would, I suppose, be hundreds of time higher than they are now.
*Im not saying violence and depravity doesn't exist, it still does obviously. But you can go to the grocery store without the fear, usually, of being the victim of a random shootout, gang incident, etc. Although I guess if your point is humanity is still in the same stage as the Wild West is love to hear arguments in favor of that.
Anyway, just random thoughts.
For context, I'm reading Blood Meridian right now, and watched American Primeval on Netflix earlier this year. Different parts of the country, but both 19th century westerns which highlight the absolute brutality of the American frontier.
It's shocking to read and watch. The idea that you were just never safe. Guy you saw on the street? He may shoot you in broad daylight. Or if you're a woman forbid you look at someone funny next thing you know you're brutally raped and attacked. Gangs ran rampant in full contravention of the law, more or less in open warfare with law enforcement.
This is a part of our history. The American frontier and the Wild West is unique to us as Americans, but that level of depravity and brutality obviously isn't.
So what changed? Did we really get technologically advanced enough where people are too scared to act on these dark impulses? Did law enforcement finally get enough manpower and resources to simply overpower organized resistance? Growth of government? I don't think religion is the answer… society has grown less religious.
Modern civilization itself? It's a jarring thought to me that if I'd been born 150 years ago my chances of being murdered would, I suppose, be hundreds of time higher than they are now.
*Im not saying violence and depravity doesn't exist, it still does obviously. But you can go to the grocery store without the fear, usually, of being the victim of a random shootout, gang incident, etc. Although I guess if your point is humanity is still in the same stage as the Wild West is love to hear arguments in favor of that.
Anyway, just random thoughts.
CNN is an enemy of the state and should be treated as such.