Yesterday was letter day on NPR's "All Things Considered," and there was an especially insightful and intelligent letter sent in by a listener regarding the abuse of prisoners in Iraq. I wish I could quote the letter-writer, but I do not have a copy of his letter.
What he said, in essence, was this: that people shouldn't be so shocked by the photographs of the prisoner abuse, that the photos needed to be placed in context. And the context he placed them in was that of police brutality and fraternity hazing: the American approval of violence in the interest of group bonding.
That is indeed the issue. A few years ago, there was physical abuse of players by players at the New Orleans Saints training camp. No one was charged with anything; it was hardly mentioned in the news. In a culture of men, it is "weak" to accuse your perpetrators of abuse. And in a culture of athletics, it is acceptable to be abusive. Consider all of the decades that Bobby Knight was allowed--by schools, players and parents--to abuse the boys on his teams. Consider that Mike Tyson, who has been convicted of rape and multiple assaults, is still a hero to many boys and men.
It's no different with girls. Girls are beaten up in school and no one does anything. Parents don't even call the police because "she asked me not to." Every day, over and over, we teach children and adolescents that violence is not only acceptable, but is indeed part of a group transaction. The person who fights back--like the shotgun-toting mother in Dazed and Confused, is considered the strange one.
Thousands of American parents still hit their children with belts, extension cords, bats and fists. They hit each other. They cheer when prisoners and people accused of crimes are beaten by police. They take swings at other parents at soccer games. They threaten you with death if they don't like the sign you carry in a protest.
Considering how many American military women have been sexually assaulted, raped and then threatened by American military men, why is anyone surprised that non-defensive violence is popular in the military?
What he said, in essence, was this: that people shouldn't be so shocked by the photographs of the prisoner abuse, that the photos needed to be placed in context. And the context he placed them in was that of police brutality and fraternity hazing: the American approval of violence in the interest of group bonding.
That is indeed the issue. A few years ago, there was physical abuse of players by players at the New Orleans Saints training camp. No one was charged with anything; it was hardly mentioned in the news. In a culture of men, it is "weak" to accuse your perpetrators of abuse. And in a culture of athletics, it is acceptable to be abusive. Consider all of the decades that Bobby Knight was allowed--by schools, players and parents--to abuse the boys on his teams. Consider that Mike Tyson, who has been convicted of rape and multiple assaults, is still a hero to many boys and men.
It's no different with girls. Girls are beaten up in school and no one does anything. Parents don't even call the police because "she asked me not to." Every day, over and over, we teach children and adolescents that violence is not only acceptable, but is indeed part of a group transaction. The person who fights back--like the shotgun-toting mother in Dazed and Confused, is considered the strange one.
Thousands of American parents still hit their children with belts, extension cords, bats and fists. They hit each other. They cheer when prisoners and people accused of crimes are beaten by police. They take swings at other parents at soccer games. They threaten you with death if they don't like the sign you carry in a protest.
Considering how many American military women have been sexually assaulted, raped and then threatened by American military men, why is anyone surprised that non-defensive violence is popular in the military?
posted by Diane at 10:02 AM
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