----- Original Message ----- From: "Wojtek Sokolowski" <sokol at jhu.edu> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 12:16 PM Subject: RE: BG on BO'R
> Ian:
> > Point taken; don't believe the polls. Approx. 50% of US
> > citizens didn't vote in 2000. 75% didn't vote for Bush............
> >
>
>
> It is not just polls. It is difficult to escape the conclusion that
> US-ers, especially males, tend to be arrogant, mean-spirited, and
> violent people. Not all, of course, but a visibly larger share than in
> other countries. And that tends to cut across all ethnic and class
> lines. A particular characteristic of this trait is its bipolar
> character - the superficial politness that can turn into a violent rage
> in a matter of seconds. For example, Europeans can be rude if you step
> on their toes, but that is as far as most of them will go in most
> conflicting situations, and they are also more likely to express a
> variety of more nuanced emotions. Here, otoh, people are sugary proper
> in most every day interaction, but when things do not go their way, eg.
> someone cuts them off in traffic or expresses opinion they disagree
> with, they are more likely to go ballistic and blow off their tops. An
> the the acceptance of violent, arrogant and vindictive behavior in
> conflict situations (even among those who usually do not engage in such
> behavior) tends to be higher here than in Europe.
>
> This is precisely the point Michael Moore tried to make in _Bowling for
> Columbine_ by contrating US-ers and Canadians.
>
> Wojtek
================
Wojtek, you don't need to convince me the US is full of the types you mention, although I'd need more robust evidence on our counterparts across the planet to be convinced the US is unique on the arrogance front. Remember, despite the horrific levels of violence here, they have come down quite a ways over the past generation or so.
Here's a mainstream critique of what's missing in MM's film:
http://www.prospect.org/webfeatures/2002/11/franke-ruta-g-11-22.html
Yours in post-Thanksgiving misandry,
Ian