Our political language is violent because we are a violent society.

[geek tragedy]

This talk about violent political rhetoric is necessary. Allusions to violence in the political sphere are absolutely inappropriate and can only do harm.

But, let's get something straight. This violent speech isn't being crafted by Frank Luntz somewhere.

It reflects how America thinks. Violence "is as American as apple pie." We love boxing, football, hockey, mixed-martial arts. Hollywood and television feature orgies of violence.

Rural America has a gun fetish. Urban America is a killing field where thousands upon thousands are cut down with guns.

Generations of school children have been exposed to bullying.

And we as a nation have waged war against people in all corners of the globe. Against the Native Americans. Against Central Americans. Against South Americans. Against Africans, Asians, Europeans, and everywhere in-between.

Our 'defense' budget is grotesquely large for a country surrounded on 3/4 sides by Canada and two oceans.

Violent rhetoric in politics is a symptom that needs to be treated. But we also need to cure the disease.

[Zoeisright]

1. Well, THEIR language is violent.

Sorry, there isn't an equivalency on the left.

[geek tragedy]

3. We still live in the larger American society.

No, we on the left do not engage in the same kind of violent rhetoric. But, America as a society does not frown upon violence, so we can expect politicians to speak in a language people can relate to.

[BOG PERSON]

4. oh yes, for sure

left rhetoric has always been bread and roses and general grooviness, never violent, always calm and levelheaded

[gratuitous]

5. And, assuming arguendo there is violent language on the left

I don't see anyone taking pot shots at Republican elected officials, vandalizing Republican offices, or shouting from the congressional gallery about Republican lies and malfeasance.

[XanaDUer]

2. I was disturbed to read in some gossip mag

that the teenage girl Justin Beiber (sp?) is dating is getting death threats from other teenage girls! Is that normal? That they want to slap her, pull her hair, kill her, shoot her, and then they use sexist language about this young woman (whose name eludes me now) "slut", "whore" etc.

What is wrong with American society where this type of stuff is normal now?

[Catherina]

6. America's the most violent country in the history of the world

"America's the most violent country in the history of the world, that's just the way it is. We're all affected by it. “
Spike Lee

[EFerrari]

7. Yes, this language is being crafted by Frank Luntz somewhere.

It is crafted and faxed and repeated endlessly.

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. As George Carlin observed: "we're the only country with rockets and bombs in our national anthem" nt

[AlinPA]

9. Your point about hockey is clear. Any hockey game that I've seen that had a fight among players

was loud with cheers when the fighting started. The longer they fought, the harder people cheered; the more violent it became the more the people were happy and they cheered louder. I stopped going to hockey games a long time ago. When I see one on TV now it is worse. America is a violent place.

[Bandit]

10. Not ALL Americans love violence..hence the Hippie bashing..

It appears to me like the very great majority of those "Americans" that love violence so much vote Republican...Democrats haver always been portrayed as Doves and Republicans as hawks..Something about how our brains are made up I believe...