Go ahead Bill, kill me. It’s for the people.
I’d not normally write on such a subject, especially here where I focus mostly on my menial art and crafts. The incident with Raja Jackson and Stuart Smith and the multitude of madness ubiquitous elsewhere, compels facing a problem that has become so pervasive, that it’s something everyone must consider.
A few days ago I read an article titled “Pope Leo calls for end to ‘pandemic of arms’ as he prays for victims of Minnesota school shooting” and passed it to several contacts who are upstanding, Constitutionally minded folks. As one who values the US Constitution and Bill of Rights myself, I was intrigued to find such a prominent figure quite unambiguously demanding gun control. A reasonable knee-jerk reaction would perhaps be, “Sure, take my firearms. I suppose it’s about time for Inquisition 2.0.”, but as much as I support the Second Amendment, I’d be a liar and fool to say that things don’t seem sickening with the amount of violence that occurs in America, a place where everyone is supposed to have a fair chance along with inalienable rights.
My counter to such statements as those of the Pope usually involve lamenting the underlying causes rather than the tools of violence, and urging deep contemplation of the abetting paradigm or culture of violence that we’ve allowed to grow amongst us. Video games, Hollywood, Big Music and many other influences, no shortage of them insidious and easy to overlook, are certainly factors in what sometimes seem completely senseless acts of violence. The frightful fact is that they are perhaps not senseless, at least to those committing the violence. Maybe to these individuals, these actions make sense, and maybe because the principles of them have been not only taught, but burnished into them throughout youth, only to arrive if they make it so far, as an adult where it’s just the way things are.
I was awaiting my turn in a clinic lobby when I overheard two men discussing the Raja-Stuart conflict. Hearing it in the context of Pro Wrestling, I assumed it was mere gullibility, a well performed, staged act. But I later saw an article in passing and read through it. A bit embarrassed at my initial inclination to dismiss it, I watched both the preceding and aftermath footage where no room for doubt remained. Raja Jackson was certainly, potentially just a few more punches away from premeditated homicide. An asswhipping gone meshuggah, planned and executed on live television.
I’ve been exposed to a lot of violence throughout my time, and I’ve seen such things in person. I’ve been in both Stuart’s and Raja’s position. And I ‘sympathize’ (as in understand, sort of), with a measure of palpable uneasiness. I have been the one to disrespect and have a harsh lesson handed to me with only the mercy of others to thank for my survival. And I have been severely disrespected and on some occasions harmed in a manner where the matter was not settled immediately, but where I had time to brood, and envision having vengeance on those who harmed me. I am also able to see in retrospect how most of these situations were avoidable in practical ways. I had little to no guidance as a youth, and made many mistakes accordingly, learning most things the hard way. But my point here varies a bit. Let me explain, or try.
If I had to self define, I’d say I’m foremost Libertarian, with a Rightward lean and exceedingly Liberal heart, if that can make sense. I value conservative principles, but I value others too, and I have compassion for the unfortunate, as well as a will to understand. This is where I find conservatism often fails, more eager to judge than to understand, which is not my way. Yet I cringe at the rhetoric of the extreme Left, with their ludicrous terms and what seems relentless lexicon of crazed pugnacity. When I hear the term “Toxic Masculinity”, I become queasy. But not today. I think for the first time, the actually appropriate context for the term is perfectly presented by the Raja Stuart affair.
In the video clip preceding the bludgeoning, where Stuart assails the head of Raja with what I think was a beer can, after a moment of tension, an apology ensues and Stuart explains that, to paraphrase, they were on camera and ‘just working’, and, you know, had to maintain their roles as knuckleheaded, uncompromising toughguys. And here is where I find an almost perfect example of where we are fucking up so severely as a society, or culture, if the word still has merit. In our hyper abundance of easy resources under general rule of law and relative safety, we still promote violence, everywhere. It’s a fetish.
You see, the very fact that an entire industry exists, that is based on pointless machismo, aimless aggression, blatant disrespect, where it is normal to smash a beverage container onto the head of another, and the guy’s stage name just happens to be Syko, well… If this isn’t swiftly becoming obvious, I’ll keep trying to put it in perspective.
There’s an enormous difference between headless, stupid aggression, and say, the righteous warrior, or the soldier that defends a country. In my own experience, I’ll cite jiu-jitsu, where 999 out of 1000 reasonably tough people will get their asses kicked, but in a dignified and respectful way that’s wholesome. Anyone who calls this toxic masculinity can eat a bowl. And anyone who has spent time near serious or professional fighters, from boxers to MMA, knows that there tends to be a code of respect and honor behind the curtains of show business. Yet, off in the peripherals, there’s one of many sideshows where disrespect, meanness and stupidity is being cultivated and fed to the public for entertainment. And it isn’t as if we’re oblivious to the fact we often take entertainment too far here. Professional Wrestling isn’t the only example, and I should make it clear, that however absurd or moronic it may be, it’s but one example, none of which are excuses in themselves. There’s a golden word that despite its applicability to our society, is seldom heard or used. Anomie. If you look up the definition, don’t just consult the typical idiot’s dictionary; look at an unabridged dictionary, where the effects of anomie itself haven’t yet eroded the definition.
If you find yourself wailing in the darkness, lamenting over the senseless violence and suffering of your society, remember that things add up, and overall, one might find it prudent to keep a clean, or cleaner house. Even if none of what I say is applicable, the fact is, that via the sideshow circus of machismo without dignity, someone was nearly beaten to death over cosplay violence. If you look around and see violence everywhere, how rational is it to be surprised or indignant when it comes too close for comfort? I find it perplexing, although positive, that the vast majority of spectators are appalled not only by the Raja-Stuart situation, but most reported acts of senseless violence. They don’t seem proactive though.
I understand where folks are coming from when they bewail the wrath of gun violence. It makes me ill too. I’m one of those who prefers a holistic approach. Raja didn’t use a gun to mutilate Stuart. Most of the ingredients might have been there, perhaps all of them, but no guns were involved. I also differ from the gun control crowd in that I don’t exalt one particular form of violence over others. There remain enormous numbers of people throughout the US and other nations who live under the threat of gunless violence, from criminals or the State. Ignoble violence sucks, whether it’s starvation, a hammer on the forehead or a bullet in the toe.
That said, just as I am not going to advocate a ban of firearms, I cannot recommend we ban Professional Wrestling or even the depravity rampant in Hollywood and elsewhere. As one who holds Liberty sacred, I am in a bad position. Any positive changes in what I call our paradigm of violence would largely be voluntary for me. I meet people on both sides, left-right and in between and one thing I hear consistently from most of them is that most people are good natured and want what’s right. My wisdom is insufficient to evaluate that as true or false. Why we don’t do more voluntarily is a very complex issue, involving many factors, of influence, of profit, of psychology and much more. All I can suggest presently is to consider those you love, your children, parents, friends or whoever, and try a bit to stretch a bit of that love to others too.
While I cannot recall every example I graze over, the Joe Rogan vs LiverKing story comes to mind. Here you had a guy, arguably awkward, but with enough talent that he had a following of millions. More importantly, he has a family. Presumably he was taking steroids and possibly other drugs which were having deleterious effects on his mind. At some point, he issued threats at Rogan, eventually being arrested and humiliated over it, his family probably getting the worst of it. And the universal reaction by nearly every commenter I observed, was to further demean, insult and ridicule the flawed man, as if the justice system and Jesus could never be enough to. It’s as if everyone was primed and eagerly awaiting such an occasion, just to release their vitriol. And some would be foolish enough to view this an endorsement of LiverKing’s actions. No. But my sentiments are of pity — not wanton exacerbation, especially considering his family. In most similar situations, whether equally bizarre or mundane, the standard reaction of the public is collective persecution and gang shaming rather than sober evaluation or rational critique. This cultivates tension and promotes harshness. Harshness and tension aren’t bad, but they have their place, which I don’t think is everywhere on every occasion.
The ‘Pandemic of Arms’ identified by the Pope is rather a pandemic of violence to me, and one that has myriad solutions sitting right beneath our stubborn, stolid faces. I am confident that I’ll never use the term Toxic Masculinity again, but rather than ignore everything the (supposedly) opposing side says and dismissing every point they ever make, I think this is one situation where I can momentarily understand it, where it truly is apropos.
Any time spent on YouTube reading comments will inevitably lead one to wonder if the audience isn’t comprised of piranhas rather than humans. Comments are frequently cruel, impatient, or in anger. YouTube is HUGE! While the manipulation of content by moderators (mostly automated AI) implies it isn’t an accurate reflection of the real world, it bears some revelation of the zeitgeist. Meanness has become normalized. Competition, regardless of context or meaning, has become, or at least perceived, as compulsory. We have television shows where contestants can be humiliated for making sincere efforts, but failing to impress an elected board of judgemental ghouls. Finger pointing is our national shadow sport.
I must be cautious not to foist my personal impressions too boldly, but I have often questioned the merit of even the MMA, which is a legitimate professional sport. Where I question it, is in wondering why so many people want to see their fellow men bludgeon and often injure each other for the sake of sport. I enjoy watching it. But I question myself for it. I certainly see the value in training, or being well prepared for combat, and I think much of it can be healthy. The brain injuries, trauma and abuse received by these heroes of the octagon, however, remain an objective reality. And I am willing to push things this far. I can tolerate it. Although I have the sense that some lines need to be faintly drawn here and there in other areas. And I think it may be wise for everyone to have the personal humility to question themselves too, on occasion. To pause for a moment and reflect. The future depends on it. Things are getting weird. Can you deny this?
Let’s promote a default of respect, responsibility, and kindness, and reserve the bulk of our toughness for the call of duty, rather than the festering pigsty of corrosive slop we’re rewarding with billions of dollars year after year. Problems will probably always exist, and sickness always rear its ugly head somewhere, but there are simple, wholesome steps to minimize it – voluntary steps! The antagonism of the left and deafness of the right won’t help much. We need to really see and understand the framework of our troubles. Treat and view others until they give reason to do otherwise, as you would your own neighbor or family. I can’t decide for you if this involves deciding whether you want to see your brother have his femur shattered and head smashed by a heavyweight mongoloid for the sake of entertainment. That’s an individual choice. With the underlying tone of respect within the MMA, I guess I am neutral on that. As for martial arts, I am 100 percent supportive. Could we at least say that with all the troubles we face, entertainment is maybe a bit too large a part of our lives?
This is trivial in itself though, as many things of greater concern await conscious reflection. The tension and instability of our country and much of the world is stretching the seams. We have some big challenges, from the individual level to the national. I think it’s time we reevaluate the importance of a bygone culture of respect, even if just a veneer. Ideally, this should go deeper and become foundational. It’s much easier said than done. One step at a time, and one extra moment before posting vitriol to challenge oneself with greater wisdom. An affected, forced act of kindness here and there. A will to understand what we judge. Imagining someone you care about in the position of a stranger, or on the screen. Whatever anyone chooses will require consistency, and a starting point.