Reply #8: I don't think, as a whole, Americans -truly- love war. [View All]

[Shandris]

The key word, of course, is 'truly'. You can see this in the faces of parents who are for a military conflict until the time comes for their son or daughter to go - then you have the (often) 'split-reaction'. The boastfully proud father and the teary-eyed mother (yes, this is a stereotype; I have seen this response more commonly, although I have seen the exact opposite as well. I found nothing more...odd...than the chest-beating mother and the quiet, teary father who gave me pleading looks of understanding).

But do we enjoy WATCHING a war? Oh yes, CNN and the Gulf War proved that. The joystick jockeys of war make it look so FUN, after all, and hey, they never even see where the bomb lands! (Note the sarcasm, please) I used to really enjoy war-like video games; I still do, but only those that are old-time historical simulations. When men would be forced to face men on the field of battle, and where victory wasn't gained from a mile and a half away (ie, anything pre-gun, like the Chinese Three Kingdom era and so forth). But I can't find entertainment in things like Call of Duty or Modern War anymore, and I think I'm probably better off for it (although many I'm sure will find my enjoyment of pre-gun war simulations to be just as bad; it happens). I don't wish I was in a war, and I don't want to see TRUE violence displayed as entertainment on my television/computer (ie, real-life bloodsports or gladiatorial contests). I get the feeling that I'm in a minority in that opinion though; I have little difficulty imagining large crowds showing up for actual bloodsports like in the Roman days (no, American Football doesn't count, even though I don't find that too incredibly entertaining more than a couple games a year at most). Just so long as the spectators KNOW they aren't going to get involved.

I'd be interested in seeing how many people would show up to simply spectate a (for example) gladiatorial contest to the death (maybe involving prisoners?), and how many would show up if there were a lottery involved -- and the 'winners' would be who the prisoners fought. I suspect the attendance would drop immediately and dramatically -- because while we Americans like to watch a war, we don't want to be in one.

Sorry so lengthy, just woke up and head hurts quite a bit, finding thought formulation a bit difficult. :)